If leader of Hizbul-Muzahideen wants to visit Kashmir, will India allow him ?

Khangembam Romesh *

Here the term 'sincerity' is desperately related with the question of identity of Muivah. Who is Muivah? What lies behind his proposed visit to Manipur? Whether the claim of his planned visit as 'not non-natural' is valid or invalid? Taking the legal into account, these questions may be taken into consideration. There are also certain things involved other than the legal.

On what motive he is visiting his birth place after a long decade? What is the morality of his proposed meeting and interaction with the people especially Nagas, being as a law breaker/destroyer of Republic India?

The validity or invalidity of his tour is to be judged in the light of particular laws enacted by the respective state in the interest of the people. Cases involving a terrorist or a groups of terrorist are to be looked after by the state's legal code (if it would affect directly or indirectly the state) according to the situation (not necessarily all the time, but at certain state of affairs based on the probable outcome, may be violent or not but no matter).

In case of Muivah, I hope, both India Government and Manipur Government must agree that he is not above the people of Manipur; despite being born in Manipur. If he is just visiting his mother state, then what is the logic of his claim that he don't need to take permission from Manipur Government. Everybody knows what his claim indicates for. Then, why should he be allowed to enter Manipur. I think, India Government must know better.

If the rebel leader of the outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen plans to visit Kashmir to motivate innocent public in the name of peace under the banner of India-Pakistan Peace Dialogue-should India Government allow him to enter Kashmir? When I wish to go to Manipur, there is no restriction, no need to obtain permission, because I am different from Muivah. My act and intentions are quite different from that of his.

The particular act performed by an individual or a group can determine, what is his/her hidden agenda. Muivah could have been born in a different time at Somdal in Ukrul district, but his position in life and all his personal characteristics have been completely different from what he was.

Based on the contingency of some particular aspect of his present personality (say, twist of events and circumstances), his life (I would say as a whole), the fact of his being the person he is now, is just a terrorist, nothing else. The kind of understanding a person will have of his own identity is irreducibly distinct from the sort of understanding he can have of the identity of other of the people.

The events of the past and present life of Muivah being wholly different from what we are. His vivid distinctness about the contingency of his own life (or whatever he had been involved), has been the fact that of killing many innocent people, violation of other's rights, destroying other properties, demanding to take away properties of others just for a particular benefit (of a specific group), but which are not theirs or given and in turn threatening to the security of the country/state. This is what he has done so far, seems like still continuing.

Considering his inner motive that reflects from what he used to deliver at many events, how can one say the proposed visit is fair and just for peace. The incident of burning down loaded goods trucks coming to Manipur by NSCN (IM) armed cadres at Khuzuma (Nagaland) is that kind of violent action (may be deemed as one of terrorist activities), perhaps beyond the 'ground rule' of the peace talk.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has to clarify in this regard (whether this act violates the ground rule or not), if there is sincerity in their peace policy. In case, if it were happened the violation of ground rule of the cease fire agreement between NSCN (IM) and India Government, what action has to be taken against them? Despite the existence of peace talk, such dreadful activities are being still carried out by NSCN (IM) within the territory of Nagaland.

I wonder how the MHA considers the planned trip as Muivah's home visit. Has Muivah ever assert himself as a Manipuri at certain episode? My inclination, at this point, would be to have more of a think about the proposed trip and to revisit what Muivah and NSCN (IM) have done earlier on the land of Manipur (can be recalled the gruesome killings of Dr Kishan, Baby Lungnila Elizabeth, the incident of Shirui that took place some time back). The Central Government has to rework over the matter of the proposed visit of Muivah taking the situation severely into account.

If the peace talk between Delhi and NSCN (IM) implemented effectively and confines the agreement only in Nagaland, then Muivah may not have entertained the scheme of touring Manipur. Why did Muivah plan to come to Manipur from Delhi via Kolkata by air to Dimapur and to travel by road to Somdal taking the land route on NH-39 (as per the indication in the wireless crash message from the Union Home Ministry). Why not via Imphal towards Ukhrul?

So as I think, the issue of 'sincerity' in both Central Government and NSCN (IM) is a BIG question mark? What I want to comment is that the proposed tour is 'non-natural'. This visit is not that kind of the emotional attachment bonded between Muivah and his birth place. If so, what has he done so far for Manipur? Nothing, he is just a terrorist, not a leader.

Muivah and the Naga frontal organisations UNC, ANSAM, NPMHR, and NWUM have no right to profoundly claim the proposed unofficial trip of Muivah as "not non-natural". The violation of a law and the punishable offence may be meted out to NSCN (IM), the Naga frontal organisations or individuals depending upon the situation. Because it has now, become a serious threat to the integrity of a state that belongs to independent India.

In the present confrontation, there is no question of inherent Naga right. All Nagas in Manipur have every right as being Manipuri, but not for Muivah. The NSCN (IM) should not use the words 'Meitei neighbour', because Manipur is not the land of Meities only. They should understand it.