Why not ATSUM-T or UNC or NSCN-IM impose Economic Blockade for Ten Years ?
- Part 2 -

Dr. Khomdon Lisam *

Benefits of imposing ten years blockade along Imphal- Dimapur Highway

Ten years Economic Blockade along the Imphal- Dimapur Highway will be just like a silent Atom Bomb to the valley. We may suffer to the extreme for a limited time. But quickly, we will recover and start looking for alternative ways of sustaining ourselves. How can we achieve sovereignty if we can not sustain ourselves during 10 years blockade. This will be an useful lessons for the valley people which comprises of Meiteis, Meitei Pangans, Nagas and Kukis. Some of the possible benefits may be:

1. They valley people will try their best to be 100% self sufficient in production of rice, fish , vegetables, oils, sugar and other essential items'
2. They valley people will be compelled to do double cropping and triple cropping to increase food production.
3. All other National Highways connecting Myanmar, Mizoram, Cachar will be developed and maintained bringing the people closer together. Can you imagine, although Tipaimukh produces many highly intelligent officers, 50% of Tipaimukh people die without seeing Imphal during his/her lifetime. This is gross injustice to the people of Tipaimukh.
4. They valley will start using our own products and we will no longer buy materials from outsiders.
5. They valley will explore and negotiate with Government of India and neighbouring country, Myanmar for import of petroleum, diesel, Kerosine, LPG, food products and expand the Indo-Myanmar Trade agreement. 6. The valley people will learn what work–culture is.
7. The corruption will die its own death.
8. Elections will be far less expensive
9. They valley will boycott the Imphal-Dimapur Highway for good. It may be open for cyclists and adventure sports.
10. Politicians will be more honest and more reliable.
11. They valley people will start loving mother land and try for unity of all ethnic groups in Manipur.
12. The administration will become more transparent and more accountable.

Suggestions:

We, the valley people should have the courage not to use and boycott the Imphal-Dimapur highway. We may suffer for some time but we will be able to recover and find a permanent solution. The Imphal-Dimapur Highway should be completely forgotten and no money should be invested for repairing of this road. I appeal to the Hon'ble Chief Minister, all Ministers, MLAs to consider the following suggestions to make ourselves free from economic blockades.

o The National Highways – Imphal-Jiribam, Imphal –Aizawl , Imphal Moreh, Tongjei Maril ( Old Cachar road ) should be made Four Land Highways not only to bring materials from outside but more importantly to bring the people closer to each other. Presently it is easier and faster to reach America than to reach Tipaimukh. A separate scheme should be prepared and ask for funding as a special package from the Prime Minister and International banks. Omar Abdulla, Chief Minister of J & K is asking the Prime Minister to sanction Rs. 44000 crores for flood relief in Kashmir. We may request only half Rs. 20,000 crores for Manipur. Sanctioning of this money will depend on the language, effectiveness and power of advocacy of our political leaders with the Prime Minister.

o The construction and maintenance of the above mentioned highways should be taken up as No.-1 priority under state PWD. The Ring Road of Imphal can wait.

o Establishment of a separate cadre of National Highway protection force as a part of the State Force to ensure security of drivers and vehicles smooth passage of vehicles along all national highways in consultation with the Government of India.

o Encourage double and triple cropping to increase productivity and attain self sufficiency in agricultural products as a time-bound Programme by invigorating agriculture department, training of farmers, ensuring availability of fertilizers, improving irrigation facilities etc. Rice, Potatoes, Onions, Vegetables etc can be made self- sufficient by utilising thousands of hectares of paddy fields, which remained un-utilized immediately after harvest.

o Encourage and support expansion of private fish farms to make the production of fish self sufficient.

o Encourage and support companies producing medicinal Oxygen and Nitrous oxide in Manipur.

o Encourage and support bulk production and storage of LPG in Manipur. Four months supply should be made available at any point of time.

o Improve the functioning of the Manipur State Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, Imphal on modern management lines to cater to the needs of the state to make it business friendly and profit making. This company should not meet the same fate as that of Spinning Mill, Sugar factory , Cement factory, Cycle Corporation and MSRTC which brought ruins to Manipur due to mismanagement.

o Increase the capacity for bulk storage of Petrol, Diesel, Kerosine for at least four months supply in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd fulfilling the legal requirements for the safe storage and handling of these materials.

o Explore alternative sources of supply of essential items –Petrol, Diesel, Kerosine, LPG cylinders, consumables etc. by expanding the Indo-Myanmar Trade Agreement. The import items under the Indo-Myanmar Trade agreement should include these items by increasing the number of items from 22 to around 100 items. Similarly the export items should include two wheelers , bicycles, cars (including second hand cars) , medicines. Presently , Myanmar is importing even second hand cars from Japan. The Manipur Police or Assam Rifles should stop harassing the drivers, traders and passengers in the Imphal-Moreh Highway. There should be only one check post on the route from Moreh to Imphal. Another viable option is establishing business relations with Mizoram and Cachar .

o If the present legal system is not sufficient, kindly consider enacting another law making the Economic Blockade illegal.

o Encourage drivers and passengers to file complaints against anybody threatening them in the national highway.

o Increase ex-gratia payment to Rs, 10 lakhs for drivers and passengers killed during Economic blockade.

o If the Hon'ble Chief Minister decides to use the Imphal-Dimapur highway, then the posting of about 500-1000 security personnel (Manipur Police, Assam Rifles , CRPF, IRB etc) at Mao under the joint command under a senior Police Officer not below the rank of IGP will be required . The security cover of those 200-500 truck vehicles stranded at Mao should be taken up with meticulous planning taking all possible areas like accommodation, food supply , public relations , Declaration of Curfew or IPC 144 in Mao area closing business during the Economic Blockade will be required. The Mao Gate should be properly guarded and Mao Bazar should be covered by the Economic blockade. No vehicle should be released during blockade without adequate security.

o If the Hon'ble Chief Minister decides to agree to the demands of ATSUM-T)\ or UNC then a Pact of "No Economic Blockade for at least five years" should be signed before reaching the agreement. Let them impose Economic blockade for 10 years or more. No pack, No agreement .

o People directly responsible for killing , kidnapping or extortion of illegal; tax should be booked and punished according to law to do justice and instil public confidence .

In conclusion, I want to say that the Hon'ble Chief Minister with his absolute majority will be able to translate these suggestions into action. It depends upon the political will, courage and guts of the Hon'ble Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues.

Concluded....