Reign of Terror

Leichombam Kullajit *

"Do you have any idea how many women; girls were raped by Awa during 'Seven Years of Devastation' and how many people were killed during those times?" In a weird tone Tamo Singhajit asked, turning his face towards me.
"Yeah... but certainly not sure about it."
"This is the problem," he raised his voice.
"Because nobody knows it and not anyone tries to know about it... we are all their offspring, we're all their sons and daughters that is why we're fighting; we're killing each other everyday. And it will continue for more sometime now" he continued.

Looking at the present political imbroglio stretching from Afghanistan to Swat Valley in Pakistan; Bangladesh Rifles mutiny to Myanmar's military junta and finally breathtaking scenic of Manipur's hilly region to Imphal valley, there is undoubtedly one common discernment for sure that is hatred, anger, distrust among the same people and at the same place. I don't know much about how Talibanised is Pakistan, yet I would definitely believe that we're not lesser than them - an insane society, cross-roads of no head-ways. This is the infinite discussion where neither have you the solutions nor I have the reasons.

The other day I had joined a candle light vigil at Delhi's Janter Manter where dozens of college students, professionals, and some older generation took part and chanting slogan against the brutal killing of Dr. Thingnam Kishan, a Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Kasom Khullen in Ukhrul District of Manipur and two of his staff members - Rajen and Token. I don't know what was exactly in their minds, but by peeping through at their appearance, one is certainly sure that they have the sense of hatred, anger, and insecurity about their life; about their future way back to Manipur. Some spoke about their friendship relations with Kishan, some spoke about the ongoing conflict, some spoke about the divide-rule policy of the Central Government and some raised their angst against those perpetrators.

- Candle Light Vigil to mark the protest of Killings at Jantar Mantar on 7th March 2009 - Click here for more pictures.

But little questions that cropped up in my mind just after the rally was that, why have we organized this protest rally - Was Dr. Kishan good enough to be a social being, who led thousands of people from an insatiable society? Did we organize this because he belonged to a community and was killed by members of another community? Did we organize this because he was a civil servant? Or because he was a young and bright officer? Did we organized this because he was a good husband, who cared very much of his family? Did we organized this protest because he was killed by a known militant group, which is actually based outside the state?

Now the point is: if you're occupied by these few issues on your mind than you should be ready to accept that you're also part of the same game-conspiracy. The harsh reality is that we never try to ponder how deeply wounded/fractured our society is. Everyday at least 2 - 3 people get killed in Manipur either by State security forces or non-state actors, etc. Does anybody raise an alarm for this? Every alternate day, we have seen people throwing their venomous speech against each other. Does anyone raise their hands up to stop this?

The rally reminds me the simillar protest rally organized at the same place against the alleged mass rape case in Churchandpur's Lungthulien and Parbung in January 2006 by a well-known militant group. Apart from that there are hundreds of such gross human right violations in the state. Does anybody dare to speak against it?

Dr Kishan was a good man, and he must be good person; he had a vision, he must have a vision, but how many people did know him and what great and remarkable service he had done for Manipur? The argument is rather not his service to the society but as a human being why couldn't he lived and enjoyed a meaningful life as we do. In fact there are hundreds of such persons who lose their lives while doing duties for the masses. There are thousands of parents who everyday wait for their lost children and never sure of their return.

First of all, we need to create an image of oneness among ourselves. But for that matter we need to shed our self-made image that are usually termed as - "Meitei chauvinism", "Narrow Naga politics", and "Unmindful Kuki demand". We need to fight collectively and not let overcome by such sinister design of communal politics played by few dozen of thugs. And we must resolve that a person like Kishan should not be lost in vain. Otherwise we would lose hundred more Dr. Kishans.

Peace in compromise

Is there anybody on earth who doesn't want peace? No doubt everyone would want peace. And this is one what all human race had been wanting from generation to generation, all castes, creeds, religions, are striving for - sometimes through violence or non-violence means. Both or either of the two methods could be used. But which will be long lasting is anybody's guess. Yet one has to choose from one of them, whether you want peace by violence or non-violence means. You can't use both of them simultaneously.

This is what, over the years, the people of militancy-affected northeast states of India have been yearning for. Sadly this very beautiful word - peace - has been tumultuously used by few people having pseudo colonial mindset on the lines of ethnic. Peace doesn't come from a barrel or by randomly killing, kidnapping and extortions. You can't raise your voice for peace by pointing your gun toward a civilian. Peace is something created from our body, heart, soul... with spirituality. Peace has always been among humanity's highest values - for some, supreme. Peace is also seen as concord, or harmony and tranquillity. When you fight for something nobody will disturb you. But if you have your eyes only the result, neither will you be a virtuous person nor you will get the result. You will be like a trader, who only believes in profit. And sometimes, winning a heart is more important than winning a goal.

Whosoever may be the killers, of a young and bright officer, but it only manifests how their tender mindset has been largely affected by some unknown diseases and how their myopic vision would trigger such large-scale protest. Even the worst law can not validate for that gruesome act.

Now the questions to most of the right thinking individuals are – what kind of peace are you talking about, which do you want? Will killing your brethren regularly bring you peace? Would dividing people on the lines of ethic bring you more benefit? What are you fighting for? Will you give your keys to "outsider" to look after your deserted house? Will those outsider help to get your dream? Is it to show that you can do everything? Is it to tell to the world you want peace - only for namesake? Is it for fear that those unarmed civilian will disturb your peace process? Is it a show to boost your lost moral character? Or is it to wipe out "other" communities so as to secure your unfulfilled dream? Sadly, None of these seems to have an answer.

Then why does a peace seeking party break this serenity time and again? The answer is they can't see and think beyond the environment where they exist. Once they realise how big the world is, they would understand what peace is all about.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had said, "We must build dike of courage to hold back the flood of fear... That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind... The time is always right to do the right thing... Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal."

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* * Leichombam Kullajit contributes regularly to e-pao.net. The writer is based in Delhi and writes about the events of Manipur and their socio-economic relevance. The writer can be contacted at kullajit(dot)leichombam(at)gmail(dot)com. This article was webcasted on 20th March, 2009.

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