Missed oppurtunity
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: October 19 2011 -

The economic blockade imposed by the SHDDC has entered its 86th day today and as things stand now there is no likelihood of any resolution of the problem in sight despite two happenings which promised some glimmer of hope.

The first one was a visit of the Chief Minister O Ibobi to New Delhi on October 12 where he was supposed to meet the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and the Home Minister Chidambaram to specifically discuss the situation prevailing in Manipur in the aftermath of the economic blockade imposed by the SHDDC and the UNC.

Though the onus of finding a resolution to this almost intractable issue lies with the government of Manipur, any help from any quarter should be welcomed by everyone.

Precisely for this reason we were looking forward to his deliberations with the Prime Minister as well as the Home Minister. For there was every likelihood that the centre might intervene with some concrete proposal which could help break the impasse. Nothing of the sort happened.

Maybe the UPA government at the centre is too occupied fending itself off from attacks from all quarters which have pushed them against the wall, the loss of the Hissar Lok Sabha seat and the clean wipe out in all the three assembly seats bypolls in Haryana a clear manifestation the present position of Congress.

The other possibilities could be that the Centre does not have anything concrete to offer which could break the deadlock and hence not inclined to take any initiative which might in all likelihood antagonize a certain section of the people.

Also there is no denying the fact that Manipur does not figure among the priority areas of New Delhi. And even if Centre is seized of the prevailing situation here in Manipur, given the present condition of the UPA government which is marked by tentativeness, there is little possibility of any bold step being initiated.

Which leaves us to find a solution from within. The other happening which raised expectation of a breakthrough was the Joint Consultative Meeting of civil society organizations with the SHDDC at Kangpoki which was held on August 17.

Some of the more influential civil society organizations and students' bodies of the state took part in the discussion which went on for some length of time but nothing tangible came out.

For the SHDDC, the meeting gave them the much needed shot in its arm as all the civil society organizations extended support to the demand for Sadar Hills as rightful and legitimate demand.

The CSOs though had differences as to the continuation of the economic blockade.

While organizations some organizations like FRIENDS and Mapi Council were reportedly for strengthening the economic blockade to further pressurize the government some like the Senior Citizens Manipur and AMUCO proposed lifting of the economic blockade taking into consideration the suffering of all sections of the society.

NIPCO is reported to have pointed out the need for readjustment of Sadar Hills area so as to address the concerns of various communities and to ensure peaceful coexistence for all.

Though a welcome move, the deliberations did not result in any change in the status quo. The SHDDC should have used the pretext and context provided by this deliberation to lift the blockade.

It is an opportunity lost. Continuing with the economic blockade will only bring diminishing returns now, the sooner it is lifted the better for all concern.

Side by side, this exercise of engaging with the CSOs should be continued and should try to extend to other organization which is are opposed to the formation of Sadar Hills for various reasons.