The English literature has it that the Sixth Anniversary is an occasion associated with gifting in "wooden" materials. The UCM having gone past its "Steel" Anniversary with its reinforced-steely determination to achieve its original objective, is now passing through its "Wooden Anniversary" period.

It is not merely for the namesake but more on the qualitative meanings attached to the word "Wood" - manifestation of its associated utility that stands for multifarious shapes and sizes and designs with a utilitarian objectives, the UCM has to mould itself to it for a brighter future of Manipur. Of course, it is a tall order though.

Challenges for the UCM

If UCM was born out of the miscarriage of the conceptualization of the Naga Appeasement Policy of the Government of India by attempting to impose the Naga ceasefire with no territorial limits despite the democratically organized public opinion that stood firm against it, the unfinished tasks ahead are as vital as they are sensitive in plotting the political movement to ensure the integrity of the State of Manipur, and to engineer the mechanism of moulding up a healthy socio-emotional integrity of the people living in it.

Blinking 'signs' and 'symptoms'

If the past incidence of events, particularly of 1993-96 of the ethnic cleansing war against the Kukis waged by their brethren Nagas goaded by NSCN(IM), initiated by UNC and led by NLG and duly supported by ANSVF and all other socio-religious organizations, are of any indicator, let us try to learn lessons from these and act accordingly.

The saying that "History repeats itself' will soon be upon us if the authorities concerned neglect the same as usual. Inasmuch as the UNC and the ANSVF issued Quit Notices to the Kukis during 1993-96, the Nagas are now, in 2006, served the Government of Manipur in various forms such as:

(i) Vandalism:
Besmearing of the writings on official sign boards of the Government of Manipur in all the Naga infested areas, changing them into "Government of Nagalim.." in place of 'Government of Manipur' and 'This is Nagalim' etc.

If the Governments both at the State and the Centre behaved the way as they did during the ethnic cleansing war 1993-96, we are in for big trouble. In fact, trouble is already brewing up due to lack of governance and policing.

Where are the so-called District Administration and District Police?
If for some reason if they find it red hot to handle it, can't they ask the assistance of the security forces operating in the areas?
Or has the co-operation between the local officials and the SF vanished?
What are the chief bureaucrats doing at the HQ if their limbs at the district-levels failed?
How much time does it take to remove the offending sign boards heralding falsehood by the District Administration if they cannot rewrite them?
Are District Administration joining hands with unlawful elements?

Leave alone in the Hill areas, look around Imphal, the capital city presenting an eye-sore spectacle where cadres of the movement such as MEELAL are carrying on with a campaign freely committing criminal acts?

Can't the city police wake up and take action and let them pay compensation for the damages caused? Are they not aware of the organization? When the police can show its fang to the innocents, terrorizing them at the sight of the Police instead of giving them solace and protection?

(ii) Burning of text-books
Misdirected non-cooperation movement duly bedevilled by mistaken loyalty will not be without its wages telling upon the academic health of the innocent students who were fuelled for ugly incident of burning down of their own text books! Can any other worse curse be heaped upon oneself while the ding-dong of controversy rages the academic year is already halfway through?

In the valley, the Meiteis, instead of trying to build up the lingua franca of the state to an acceptable status, are trying to kowtow those who are equally all out against another unwieldy imposition on Manipuri scripts which case is still sub-judiced in the court is now forced to be closely connected with the integrity issue of the day, does not seem to bother them!

A non-issue has been transformed into one despite the facts that Manipuri is already a MIL and a living state lingua franca which cannot be dislodged. In fact, the language does not required such an ill-timed patronization when far important issues are on the anvil. It seems to them that the integrity of Manipur hardly matters with them; perhaps they will be satisfied with their bloated Kangla name only!

(iii) Withdrawing of taxes

The so-called non-cooperative movement unleashed by the UNC raises more questions than answers, and less cover and justification for their intended objective. And most of all this piece is indeed most unpatriotic, and mark of disloyalty and some form of thievery to the tune of over Rs 14 lakhs.

Apart from what they are doing, it is time for the Revenue department to wake up to claim which is legally and administratively belonging to the Government and ask for the return of the same in good grace, and without question of 'loss of face'; or face the legal consequences.

(iv) Objection to construction of Tipaimukh dam

Unabashed stand taken by the CATD duly backed by the UNC, NWUM, ANSAM, NPMHR rings hollowness but loud sounding of egocentric ethnic psyche, and their presumption that they alone have the ultimate data and knowledge concerning the project, failed to give credence to the fact that a Government worthy its name definitely commands access to variety of information available with them at all level.

Raising the bogey of ethnicity is indeed unfortunate besides being hyperbolic and many of the scholars and social workers unwittingly walk into their trap and forcibly became 'strange bed-fellows' while trying to take the role of being pacifists!

In this struggle for integrity of Manipur there is no room for neutrality and the wily and unholy attempt to infiltrate into other communities' affairs pretending to stand by them in the time of their difficulties such as the so-called mass rape incident, indeed is unfortunate and uninvited.

To allay some of their so-called misgivings, Government of Manipur may come out with White Paper on the issue though this may not pacify them but the public must also be informed of the subject and their stand; and should not become a prey to uncalled armed-twisting of these elements.

Mother nature has sent signals time and again in the form of flowering bamboos, a precursor to the coming of innumerable rodents playing havoc to vegetation and the snakes invading into the privacy of human habitation etc, speak volumes concerning the bogey of raising loud-mouthed cry on environment etc.

It only subscribes to the need of human contrivances to relieve them of recurrences of such phenomena. The Kukis (in undivided sense) are prepared to bring in development to do away with such condition being suffered by the areas for so long, and Tamenglong as the most backward district.

Tamenglong as the most backward district needs such a project for the upliftment of people living there. In any case, since the Zeliangrong areas are way up the stream the question of inundation is much lesser than that of their counterparts though the harvest of the project will bring equal benefit for all people.

It has been said that whereas the Kukis will be inundated up to their chin, the Zeliangrongs at an ankle deep only. Objection to this project amounts to being in for a "dog in the manger" policy!

(v) Display of placards, slogans of unimaginable hysterical cries ranging from "Welcome to Nagalim - CM of Manipur" within Manipur itself, "Naga integration is our birth right", "Respect Nagas right to self determination" have echoed the hills of the state so much so that much of self-importance and self-glorification have gone into the thinking that they have forgotten that they are Christians and that no other people than the Nagas matters!

On top of this, they proclaim "Nagaland for Christ"! Euphemistically speaking, the Nagas still owe an apology to the Kukis for having treated them too uncharitably and harshly and in an unchristian like brutality that need not be narrated again with their unmatched strength of their militants in the NSCN(IM).

For all said and done, lack of governance is writ large in the developing situation, and as alleged by the founding president, UCM, there seems to be undeniable evidences of collaboration between the Nagas and the Government as may be manifested in the course of action, and inaction.

Under such social milieu, it is time to remind the bureaucrats belonging to both civil and police services of their oath of allegiance and duties at the time of their induction into various services since they have completely failed to live upto it.

Due to failing of the bureaucrats to fulfil their duties faithfully and loyally, and timely tackling of problems, corruption had flourished, and aided by their political bosses, the state has been catapulted to being known as one of the most corrupted states in India.

Imagine - the latest rates of illicit gratification for a job have gone upto Rs. 7 lacs and for the tribal between Rs. 1 to 2 lacs. Bandh culture has widely mushroomed and practiced, and used it successfully as pressure tactics to bend the authorities concerned. Special situation calls for special measures for forming vigilantes and direct action by the people is called for.

UCM as the Acme organisation for Manipur, by a compulsive situation, will have to get itself involved in taming the shrews of varied hues; with the kind of upheavals seizing Manipur today, some effective measures, however, unpleasant and difficult they may be, have to be taken in time and effectively based on popular and broad-based decisions on democratic principles.

Naga Appeasement Policy percolating through various strata ranging from Governments at the Centre and States. NGOs of all shades (both of hills and valley notwithstanding, it should not however feel enfeebled but with moral strength and courage let is say very loudly and clearly: 'Enough is enough' and 'Thus far okay, but no further'.