On the Home Minister's visit
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: November 03 2011 -

Home Minister P Chidambaram at Senapati on 02 November 2011 :: Pix by Jimmy Leivon

For a state like Manipur which is situated in the periphery of the country and where there is a strong sense of alienation, of neglect among the people which has found expression in various ways including armed insurrection, the visit of one of the most prominent ministers of the Government of India- the Home Minister is, to say the least, an important event.

The visit of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram also assumes significance in view of the present troubled situation in the state. For the past two/three months, the people of the state has been going through very difficult times because of the twin blockades on the two life lines of Manipur, one imposed by the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee for creation of a full-fledged Sadar Hills District and the other by the UNC against the very idea as they believe it would slice away 'their land' in its creation.

In a move welcomed by many sections of the the society, organizations and political parties, the SHDDC, right on the eve of the Home Minister's visit to the state, suspended its three months long economic blockade following an agreement reached with the Government of Manipur.

But the UNC and other Naga Bodies reacted strongly to this agreement between the SHDDC and the Government of Manipur, denouncing it and accusing the state government of trying to incite communal conflict between the communities. Consequently, besides continuing with the counter economic blockade, the Naga body has also announced total bandh from midnight of November 3 for three days.

It would appear, it is not yet time for the common people to heave a sigh of relief - their days of suffering is not going to end in a hurry.

In this context, we are heartened to learn of the inclusion in the itinerary of the Home Minister's visit, besides the inauguration of much needed infrastructural requirements of the interior districts, of a review meeting of the law and order situation and scarcity of essential commodities.

We attach a lot importance to this meeting and look forward to seeing some concrete steps coming out of it which would mitigate the suffering of the common people. And beyond the immediate goal of easing the hardship of the people, it would be much appreciated if some long term mechanism is evolved to tackle frequent blockades on the lifelines of Manipur.

Establishing of a Highway Protection Force dedicated to securing the supply lines of this land locked state, which has been talked about much, should be given a serious thought, especially after the Supreme Court's pronouncements on the need to take preventive action against rail and road blockades and allowing the police a free hand without any influence in doing so.

This is especially important for Manipur, where blockades on the highway has become endemic with every other organization resorting to this form of protest for all and sundry issues.

The proposed meeting, we believe, would also go into the cause of the present crisis in the state; here also the Home Minister's inputs and interventions would help in inching towards a resolution of this delicate issue.

Another issue which has exercised and agonized the people of state is the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958. The sentiment of the people of Manipur against this draconian act most aptly represented by Irom Sharmila's fast which completed 11 years yesterday demanding its repeal.

But unfortunately, there hasn't been any serious acknowledgement this sentiment, in terms of concrete action on ground.

The Jeevan Reddy Committee which was set up to review the AFSPA 1958 in its recommendations clearly stated that "It is highly desirable and advisable to repeal this Act altogether," and that , "…a major consequence of the proposed course would be to erase the feeling of discrimination and alienation among the people of the North-eastern States that they have been subjected to, what they call, "draconian" enactment made especially for them".

But the recommendations were not followed through much to the disappointment of people of the state. The Home Minister himself had expressed the need to revisit the AFSPA 1958 recently.

We would urge the Home Minister to act on his pronouncement. Do not give in to jingoist elements who equate repealing this act as weakening the armed forces, summon the required political will, repeal the act.

The gesture will earn the centre heaps of goodwill from the people of Manipur in particular and the whole of the North East in general.