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06/11/2010: "Manipur blockade likely to be lifted shortly: Pillai Iboyaima Laithangbam The Hindu"
Manipur blockade likely to be lifted shortly: Pillai Iboyaima Laithangbam The Hindu
Two fasting leaders arrested after their condition deteriorated — PHOTO: RITU RAJ KONWAR
President of the Manipur People's Party Nimaichand Luwang (second from left) and vice-president Sapam Dhananjoy (second from right) being brought to hospital after their arrest, in Imphal on Thursday. They were on a fast-unto-death since Monday.
IMPHAL: Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai and leaders of the Naga Students Federation (NSF) indicated on Thursday that the blockade imposed on Manipur by the NSF on May 3 would be lifted shortly.
But there is no word from the All-Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM), which has blocked National Highways 39 and 53, the lifeline of Manipur, since April 11 in protest against the conduct of the elections to the Autonomous District Councils.
NSF leaders entered Manipur through the Mao gate on May 3 “to watch the situation” ahead of a proposed visit to Manipur by Thuingaleng Muivah, general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim. But they were turned away. Soon after their return to Nagaland, they announced the blockade.
Talking to a news channel, Mr. Pillai said the blockade might be lifted shortly. But it would have been better if the Manipur government allowed Mr. Muivah to visit his home village. He said the State government had feared that Mr. Muivah would sabotage the ADC elections. Talking to journalists at Shillong a few days ago, Mr. Pillai wanted the blockade lifted. The limit of tolerance was crossed, he said, and the organisers would be pulled up. A five-member delegation of the NSF is in New Delhi.
Reports said the NSF had written to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, hinting that the blockade might be relaxed “within a short period of time” in view of the appeals by several organisations.
Nevertheless, the NSF said it still objected to the deployment of the State forces in what it regarded as the Naga areas and the promulgation of the prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. However, much water has flowed under the bridge: the Manipur government declared a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the acting presidents of the ANSAM and the United Naga Council, both close allies of the NSF, following a directive from the High Court.
Furthermore, Nagaland has started suffering from a counter-blockade imposed by several organisations at Karbi Along, a district of Assam, after the NSF rejected appeals to lift the blockade on Manipur. The supporters of the counter- blockade damaged oil tankers and goods-laden trucks. Truckers now refuse to ply to Nagaland.
The police arrested the Manipur People's Party president Nimaichand Luwang and vice-president Sapam Dhananjoy, who have been on a fast unto death Since Monday demanding the lifting of the blockade. They were taken to hospital for nose-feeding after their conditioned worsened.
Talking to journalists, Manipur People's Party leaders said both the leaders would continue their protest in prison. They charged the government with failure to take any concrete step to clinch an agreement with the tribal bodies that imposed the blockade.
Naga students slam Manipur govt over ties with NSCN Mizoram Express Nation
NSCN leaders Muivah and Issac
Aizawl/Imphal: The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) said on Thursday that Manipur government was deliberaltely “casting a malicious and cheap propaganda” against the organisation. Earlier on June 5, Manipur government spokesperson Mr. K. Ranjit had accused ANSAM of acting as the “mouthpiece of NSCN (IM)”.
The NSCN(IM) is demanding secession of Naga Hills in Manipur to Greater Nagalim.
“The allegation of interpreting the act of ongoing economic blockade as a mouthpiece of NSCN (IM) and a movement instigated by vested organizations to achieve the objective of the NSCN – IM to disintegrate Manipur is an expression of disgruntled opinion to marginalize the failure of the state government,” ANSAM said in a statement.
The organisation futher added that Mr. K. Ranjit while addressing the inaugural function of Thoubal Babu Bazar to to garner the sympathy and support for the government “has no relevance”.
“This is rather an attempt to build up communal card and add fuel to the burning fire,” ANSAM said. The Nagas’ have rejected the 3rd Amendment (2008) of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 1971 which they said deprived them of their rights over their land. “The imposition of unwanted legislation has become obvious as a clandestine design to marginalize, colonize and systemically annihilates the tribal people’s rights by the state govt. of Manipur,” they said.
Stating that present inconvenience arising out of the ongoing economic blockade is “not intentional but demonstration of loud and clear spontaneous expression” of the tribal people in Manipur hills to “secure their rightful place in the democratic set up”, ANSAM said, “After the state government fails to respond the genuine appeal to review the unwanted Act of 2008, ANSAM has been compelled to initiate vigorous steps.”
Indian region on verge of collapse RAHUL BEDI in New Delhi Irish Times
INDIA’S REMOTE northeastern Manipur state, which borders Burma, is on the verge of economic collapse following a two-month blockade of its two key highways by supporters of a regional separatist tribal leader. The insurgency-ridden state’s three million people, largely dependent on imports from mainland India or contiguous provinces like Nagaland, Assam and Mizoram – transported via the two blockaded roads – face not only a shortage of essential food and fuel but also crucial medical supplies and equipment. Persistent shortages have forced several hospitals in the capital Imphal and the surrounding Valley region, home to about two million people, to shut down.
Other government-run hospitals have gradually stopped admitting seriously ill patients as there are neither oxygen cylinders nor intravenous fluids to support them nor fuel to run life-sustaining intensive care units. Infrequent airlift of emergency medical supplies from Assam aboard military transport aircraft have simply not been adequate to keep the hospitals functional.
“We have to close down and have warned all patients in the intensive care unit to find alternatives,” Dr K H Palin, head of Imphal’s largest Shija hospital, said yesterday. Thousands of agitated Naga tribespeople began their blockade of two vital highways connecting Manipur to the rest of India in early April to protest against local elections – taking place after two decades – believing they would deprive them of their rights.
Their agitation was exacerbated 10 days later by the state government banning Naga separatist leader Thuingaleng Muivah from visiting his village inside Manipur. The local authorities feared that if permitted to enter the state, Mr Muivah – who heads the Nagaland National Socialist Council (IM) militant group that conducted India’s longest-running insurgency until a ceasefire in 1997 – would stir up separatist passions creating security problems.
Mr Muivah, who alternates between Amsterdam and Bangkok, returning periodically to New Delhi to participate in peace talks with the federal government, has long claimed large swathes of Manipuri territory as part of his movement. It was launched in the late 1950s to establish a larger “Nagaland for Christ”.
Meanwhile, in Imphal’s normally teeming central market, only locally produced vegetables, fruit and fish are available at highly inflated rates. Everything else, including rice, that is the staple food of the locals, is either non-existent or, for the little there is available, is unaffordable for most.
Three convoys of supplies moved in recently with a police escort, which proved inadequate, to meet soaring demand, resulting in crowds of screaming locals besieging shops. Those crowds had to be broken up by security personnel swinging bamboo canes. So far, the State and federal governments have failed to find a solution to the impasse. Feeble attempts by senior federal interior ministry officials to neutralise the stand-off have only emboldened the warring factions, intensifying local misery. India’s seven northeastern states, including Manipur, have for decades been wracked by armed insurgencies for varying degrees of autonomy, self-determination and independence.
Poor level of maturity shown by Naga Students Organisations Nongsaibam Kongba Road Imphal
Jawaharlal Nehru said, ‘A people is known by the way they treat their animals.’ Dog is considered to be the best friend of man. Finding a dog in Nagaland is rare because Nagas eat dogs. This shows how civilized they are. The blocking of highways shows the lack of human concern of Nagaland. Terrorist Thuengaleng Muivah talks of Bible lines in his speeches. They have learnt nothing from Bible. They just got foreign western country names for themselves and built structures with a cross. This is an imported variety of identity they are pursuing. This is their choice. We are not bothered. The thing is it is very very funny Muivah talking about unreachable concepts like universal peace and brotherhood as he sucks the blood of other tribes around his own.
The boundaries of Assam has been violated by Nagaland. Not only that Assamese villages have been attacked and villagers, their crop and cattle have been burnt by Naga miscreants. Still All Assam Students Union (AASU) or any other organization never blocked highways to Nagaland. This shows the maturity of the Assamese. Naga Students Federation (NSF) has lost all humanity to their ethnicity.
Nagaland trucks hit Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 09 2010: Eight more goods laden trucks heading toward Dimapur in Nagaland were reportedly targeted and damaged by unidentified persons in Assam early morning today.
The incident occurred at around 4 am today at Amarjan along National Highway 39 in Karbi-Anglong district of Assam. Over and above setting on fire a Nagaland-bound oil tanker at Gholaghat, another goods laden truck was been overturned by unidentified persons at Amarjan yesterday.
Manipur blockade: Public unrest feared India Blooms News Service
Imphal, June 9 (IBNS): As the indefinite economic blockade on Manipur enforced by Nagas reached the eve of completing two months on Wednesday, the state faced acute shortage of food and live-saving medicines, with a threat of public violent unrest looming large.
“The food crisis is simply acute and also there is a severe shortage of life saving medicines with the blockade on and still no chance of breaking the deadlock,” N Biren Singh, Manipur government spokesperson, said. The indefinite economic blockade on National Highway 39 (Imphal-Dimapur) and 53 (Imphal-Jiribam) was launched by the All Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM) since April 12 against the Manipur government’s ban on entry of Naga rebel leader Th. Muivah.
Muivah’s proposed visit to his birthplace Somdal, in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, was banned by the Manipur government on the plea that his visit could create communal tension. Police-public clashes on May 6, the day Muivah was scheduled to visit Somdal, had claimed three lives and left about 50 others injured.
Muivah’s Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) has been demanding a greater ‘Nagalim’, which includes Naga-dominated areas of Manipur – a demand to which Manipur government is opposed to.
As the economic blockade stood on the eve of completing two months, this landlocked state has been left to dire consequences. “Hungry people can get angry fast. We cannot rule out violent protests against short-supply of essential commodities by the people,” Biren Singh said.
Trucks carrying essential goods have been stranded on the way, even as the government opened a small trickle of supply of food materials and medicines though an alternate route, which is, however, to less to meet the demand-supply gap.
Some commodities were also airlifted to the state, but the people of the state do not view this as permanent solution. A kilogram of rice comes for Rs 70, compared to the Rs 20-Rs 24 elsewhere, a litre of petrol is priced at Rs 200, while a cooking gas cylinder is priced at Rs 1,000-Rs 1,200.
Medicines are in such short supply that barring the emergency operations, hospitals have long ago stopped all other surgeries. The Manipur Government had issued arrest warrant against ANSAM acting president Davud Choro and United Naga Council (UNC) acting president Samson Remei.
The UNC also supports the indefinite economic blockade.
Posted by Reson on 2010-06-09
This news is very far away from the truth. All Naga Student Association, Manipur (ANSAM) never launch blockade related to Muivah's proposed visit to his hometown in Manipur. ANSAM launches economic blockade to protest against the callousness and suppressive act of Manipur govt that forcefully held ADC election which is totally against the wishes of the people of the land. The problem and solution solely rest in the hand Ibobi govt. but this govt doesn’t want to bring peace at this time as Ibobi is gaining political advantage as he could successfully instill in the mind of some Meitei societies that he is fighting for territorial integrity of Manipur by preventing Mr Muivah from entering Manipur. And this is how you too got the wrong news.
Manipur Blockade: A Tale of Vested Political Interests and Exclusivist Narratives Idsa Comment (Institute for Defence studies and analysis Namrata Goswami
In a liberal democracy like India, pluralism should ideally inform everyday life. Sadly, this is not always the case on the ground. The latest blockade of the National Highway 39 (NH-39) connecting Imphal (Manipur) with Kohima (Nagaland) by the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and the All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM) since April 12, 2010 is one such example of an exclusivist and intolerant attitude, unacceptable in a democracy like India that celebrates ‘unity in diversity’. It not only goes against the very idea of ‘humanitarianism’ but is also based on deep seated ‘meaningless’ ethnic hatreds of the other. Worst of all, when the rest of India and the world are marching ahead in an interactive and inclusive way despite numerous odds, the people of Manipur and Nagaland are marching backward: towards nostalgia, territorial exclusivity, xenophobia and ‘ghetto like’ tendencies which are out of sync with the modern world.
Figure 1. NH-39
]
Why has this crisis suddenly come about between Manipur and Nagaland and that too, at this particular juncture? Meiteis and Nagas have been at odds, violently so at times, due to the demand by the Nagas, specifically by armed outfits like the National Socialist Council of Nagalim led by Thuingaleng Muivah and Isaac Chisi Swu [NSCN (IM)] that the four hill districts of Manipur, namely, Chandel, Tamenglong, Senapati and Ukhrul, be included as part of their “Greater Nagalim” (See Map below). Meiteis are wary of this territorial demand as it would result in the loss of 90 per cent of their territory and they being left with just 10 per cent territory comprising of the Imphal valley. Moreover, non-Naga tribes like the Kukis and the Thadous (the largest hill tribe in Manipur) inhabit the hill districts along with the Naga tribes and are against the unification agenda of the NSCN (IM).
Figure 2: Map of the NSCN (IM)’s Greater Nagalim
Source: www.nscnonline.org
Given these differences between Meiteis and Nagas, the present blockade of the NH -39 has come about because of three reasons:-
First, the blockade was started on April 12, 2010 by ANSAM protesting against the holding of elections to six Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in the hill districts of Manipur. Over 200,000 voters were exercising their ‘right to vote’ to elect 39 representatives to the ADCs of Chandel, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, and Senapati districts. These elections were being held after a gap of 20 years. The first phase of the elections was held on May 26, 2010 in Chandel, Churachandpur and Sadar Hills in Manipur. The second phase was held on June 2, 2010 in Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati districts. And this is where the sub-text of inter-ethnic politics is playing out its destructive role. From an inter-ethnic perspective (read Naga versus Meitei), holding of elections to the ADCs especially in Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Senapati and Chandel districts have two significant political implications.
i. The participation of the people in the hill districts, especially in Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati districts in these elections is a “thumbs down” to the Naga territorial unification agenda as it gives representation to Nagas within Manipur in democratic institutions, in which they will have their due say. It also creates an added fear for armed groups like the NSCN (IM) that the ADC elections could prop up alternative Naga leaders, who may see positive political stakes in being a part of Manipur and thus enjoying enough political autonomy and representation through the ADCs. Significantly, eight houses belonging to the candidates contesting in the ADC elections were attacked at Ukhrul Headquarters on May 31, 2010, just days before the scheduled June 2, 2010 ADC elections to intimidate people and force them to stay away from the election process. Significantly, most of the candidates whose houses were attacked belonged to the Tangkhul tribe that dominates Ukhrul and which supposedly supports the NSCN (IM)’s Nagalim project.
ii. The Ibobi Singh led Manipur state government has its own vested political agenda as well in this crisis, namely, using the ADC elections to negate the Naga unification demand. Hence, both parties are playing their own political games with the common man caught in between. Consequently, in this Naga-Meitei divide, the voices of tribes like the Kukis, who are supportive of the ADC elections, are being lost.
Second, when the ongoing crisis over the ADC elections was on, Thuingaleng Muivah, the General Secretary of the NSCN (IM) announced on May 4, 2010 that he intended to visit his native village, Somdal in Ukhrul district. This move was indeed motivated to earn political mileage from the ADC issue as well as visibly demonstrate his commitment to the Nagalim project to Nagas in Ukhrul at a time when many Tangkhul Nagas have started to express scepticism about the NSCN (IM)’s extortions and heavy handed ways. Subsequently, on being denied entry into Manipur by the Manipur state government, the NSCN (IM) led by Muivah also joined the blockade from the first week of May.
Third, the Naga Students’ Federation, in its latest meeting in the last week of May decided to intensify the blockade of NH-39 as a reaction to the Ibobi Singh Government’s decision to disallow NSF activists from entering Oinam village in Senapati district. Also, the NSF demands the withdrawal of section 144 of CrPC which has been imposed on Naga inhabited areas of Manipur since May 3, 2010.
The consequences of this blockade are manifold.
First, it has rekindled ethnic hatred and divides between Nagas and Meiteis so much so that the President of the Naga civil society body, the Naga Hoho (Naga Apex Tribal Council), Keviletuo Kiewhuo stated on May 22, 2010 in Kohima that “we want the total separation of the people, that is the Nagas and the Meiteis. We have to live as different identities, we cannot co-exist anymore." The convener of the Coordination Committee of Naga Civil Society, Neingulo Krome, and its member secretary, Rosemary Dzuvichu, similarly argued that “The Nagas are fully aware that after more than six decades of political struggle, our future are [sic] bound together not only with our neighbours but also with the world’s community in a global village. But if our aspiration to attain our rightful humanity is constantly denied, we would rather face the challenges with the worth of human person than to live with humiliation.”
Second, the divide has become intensely politicised with the NSCN (IM) General Secretary Muivah and Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh stoking dangerous ethnic divides.
Third, Manipur is facing a humanitarian tragedy of sorts. One kilogram of rice now costs Rs. 30; a litre of petrol is priced between Rs. 150 and Rs. 200. Diesel is not available in gas stations and a LPG cylinder is priced between Rs. 1000 and Rs. 1500. The Public Distribution System (PDS) is closed. Worse still, the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, two main hospitals in Manipur, have stopped functioning due to non-availability of medicines.
Despite all this, not much has been written in the national media in contrast to the intense media focus on the blockade of the Kashmir valley in August 2008 over the Amarnath land dispute. The Union government’s role in igniting the crisis must be noted as well. When Muivah made his request to visit his village amidst the ADC election crisis in Manipur, and Ibobi Singh agreed, the Centre should have known that this will ignite negative passions amongst the Meiteis, who fear the NSCN (IM)’s agenda of Greater Nagalim. Muivah visiting Manipur during the Naga protests against the ADCs only validates Meitei fears that these areas will one day become a part of Nagalim. The Chief Minister of Manipur also appears to have drawn political mileage out of it by refusing entry to Muivah despite appearing ambiguous when he was first approached on the issue by the Centre.
What can be done?
Four steps need to be immediately taken to defuse the ongoing crisis.
First, the Naga Baptist Church Council has come forward to work towards defusing the crisis in consultation with the Manipur Church. This is perhaps a viable way, given the influence Church leaders enjoy in Naga society.
Second, the Union and state governments should work together to lift the blockade of a national highway. Such acts should be declared unconstitutional and anyone responsible for it must be held accountable in a court of law and given due punishment for disruption of public life. This will deter future blockades.
Third, the NH-53, from Silchar in Assam via Jiribam (Manipur) for movement of goods into Manipur is not a realistic option as the terrain is difficult for heavy trucks to ply upon. Airlifting of basic commodities and medicines should therefore be the first option.
Fourth, a committee of inquiry should be constituted by the Union government, comprising both influential Meiteis and Nagas in order to find ways and means to resolve the crisis quickly.
While ethnic divides are a reality in pluralistic societies like India, they are not intractable. Divisions of this kind can be handled through a framework of pluralism and inclusive thinking. The first and most important thing to do is to condemn such exclusivist narratives, and work towards meaningful bridging of the divide. For this to happen, one needs to go beyond the local state structures, which feed on ethnic divides for narrow political gains. Societies on both sides have to be brought together. While the Naga Hoho is appreciated for its efforts at reconciliation between Naga tribes, its recent statements about the inevitability of the Meitei-Naga divide smacks of irresponsibility and must be fittingly refuted and condemned as it only makes life difficult for the common man living in these heterogeneous ethnic spaces. Finally, it is social cohesion and determination by local communities to bring about peace that can realistically tide over vested political interests and narrow destructive narratives that seem to be informing the present crisis between Manipur and Nagaland.
Food Scare as Naga Protesters Block Roads By LAWI WENG The Irrawaddy
Commodity prices have risen sharply in northern India after Naga protesters blocked two vital highways connecting Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram for two months, say border sources.
Sources who live in Manipur said everything—food, fuel,, gas and medicine—is in short supply in markets after anti-government protesters blocked the two main highways connecting Manipur to the rest of India.
Min Tang, a Chin ethnic who lives in Manipur, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday, “ Everything is expensive here because there is limited access.”
A 50-kilogram bag of rice that cost 800 rupee last month is now 1,350 rupee. A pot of gas to cook rice was 300 rupee and is now 1,500 rupee, he said.
Two highways have been blocked by demonstrators since early April, when Naga activists took up their positions in protest against local elections, and after the Delhi government denied 75-year-old Naga leader Thuingaleng Isak Muivah permission to visit his birthplace in Sombal village in Ukhrul District, Manipur.
Thuingaleng Muivah is the secretary of the the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), based in Nagaland, Indian's oldest insurgent group, which entered a cease-fire with the Delhi government in 1997.
The Delhi government said Muivah's visit to Manipur could create unrest in the community. On May 6, two people were killed as they gathered to welcome their leader on the border and about 50 people were injured when the authorities used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has deployed more troops along the border to prevent Muivah from entering the country.
The Irish Times reported on Thursday that government hospitals have gradually stopped admitting seriously ill patients because there are no oxygen cylinders, intravenous fluids or fuel to run life-sustaining intensive care units.
Dr K. H. Palin, the head of the largest hospital in Manipur said,“We have to close down, and we have warned all patients in the intensive care unit to find alternatives.”
The Indian army has used airplanes to transport emergency supplies to several hospitals in the capital of Imphal, and the surrounding valley region. But, the hospitals still don't have enough medicine to serve the estimated two million population in the area.
The Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram areas largely rely on agriculture products from Delhi, the capital of India. The authorities are now using planes to transport rice and other commodities into the area.
Min Tang said that the situation is getting worse. The demonstrators say they will continue to block the road until the government allows their leader to visit his birthplace.
“They use the blockade as a political method, but the two million people who live here are in trouble,” he said.
PRESS RELEASE
Dated 10th June 2010
Rejoinder to K. Ranjit’s statement – “ANSAM acts as mouthpiece of NSCN (IM)
With reference to the news report published in the Imphal Free Press – “ANSAM acts as mouthpiece of NSCN (IM)” by K. Ranjit dated 5th June 2010, is overtly casting a malicious and cheap propaganda against ANSAM in particular and the tribal people in general. The allegation of interpreting the act of ongoing economic blockade as a mouthpiece of NSCN (IM) and a movement instigated by vested organizations to achieve the objective of the NSCN – IM to disintegrate Manipur is an expression of disgruntled opinion to marginalize the failure of the state government.
The attempt of Mr. K. Ranjit while addressing the inaugural function of Thoubal Babu Bazar to cry fowl against ANSAM as the caused of the untold miseries of the people to garner the sympathy and support for the govt. has not relevance. This is rather an attempt to build up communal card and add fuel to the burning fire. Such parochial episode amount to distorting the tribal issue to cover his incompetence and his nexus with some valley based armed group. This is an irresponsible approach which is uncalled for and highly condemnable.
In fact the present agitation has been carried out after communicating through democratic representation the recommendation of the tribal people arrived at the grass root findings to reject in its present form the 3rd Amendment (2008) of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 1971 was not respected by the state governments. All through the democratic process explore peaceful means to approach the state government for addressing the tribal people’s rights.
However, the imposition of unwanted legislation has become obvious as a clandestine design to marginalize, colonize and systemically annihilates the tribal people’s rights by the state govt. of Manipur. The ongoing people’s movements for amendment to the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 1971 have been manifested in clear terms.
The present inconvenience arising out of the ongoing economic blockade is not intentional but demonstration of loud and clear spontaneous expression of the tribal people interest to secure their rightful place in the democratic set up. After the state government fails to respond the genuine appeal to review the unwanted Act of 2008, ANSAM has been compelled to initiate vigorous steps.
The tribal people can not accept such wrong and malicious agenda of the state govt. through their Ministers. Come what may the only option left for the tribal people is to out rightly defend their rights.
Publicity wing
ANSAM
“The Gods must be going crazy” Asangba Tzudir Morungexpress
Far beyond the ‘polluted spaces’ of talks on ‘peace’ and ‘Sovereignty’ lies a greater problem called the state emergency – Our state has plunged into a precarious state of emergency beyond law and order situation not because the security of the state is threatened but in the State Government’s failure to respond to the current fiscal crisis in addition to its emotional callus vis-à-vis the revision of pay (Are the reasons given by the Finance department of the Government of Nagaland in response to CANSSEA’s demand for 6th ROP, out of bounds of skepticism?) and corruption of the worst degree. It is not just a law and order situation, rather a grave constitutional breakdown.
The state emergency under article 356 of the Indian Constitution which comes under the state of emergency is also known as the ‘Presidents rule.’ In India, a state of emergency refers to a period of governance under an altered constitutional setup that can be proclaimed by the President of India, when he perceives grave threats to the nation from internal and external sources or from financial situations of crisis. State emergency is declared on failure of constitutional machinery in a state. In layman’s language, this means when the government in a state is not able to function as per the Constitution, the state comes under the direct control of the central government, exercised through the governor of the state. Article 356 allows the president to dismiss a state government on the advice of the governor of the concerned state or on his own if he is satisfied that the administration of the state cannot be carried out according to the provisions of the constitution. Article 356 gave wide powers to central government to assert its authority over a state if civil unrest occurred and the state government didn’t have the means to end the unrest. During such an emergency, the President can take over the entire work of the executive, and the Governor administers the state in the name of the President and the Legislative Assembly can be dissolved or may remain in suspended animation.
Another kind of emergency coming under the state of emergency which can be declared by the president is the financial emergency coming under article 360. If the President is satisfied that there is an economic situation in which the financial stability or credit of India or any of its state is threatened, he or she can declare financial emergency. Such an emergency must be approved by the Parliament within two months. It remains enforced till the President revokes it.
I may be proved wrong, but the government seems to be cold footed about the current situation and the people unwilling to come out of one’s own comfort zone or maybe the governmental technique itself leaves them out as helpless and voiceless subjects of the government. One wonders whether the governmental technologies and policies of our state have “normalized” the current crisis into a normal “exceptional situation” which is out of bounds of constitutional law? Has it become a paradigm of our government? The theological understanding of salvation and the idea of pastoral power as ‘God for all and all for God,’ when framed in secular context, can be aptly cited as a governmental technology in manufacturing subjects to their “sovereign power” which gives them the “right” to rule over its citizens. Our own people have started to stake claim for even their basic rights that are most generally as well as naturally given. Nonetheless, on the flip side though, I do not have a righteous statue but we tend to look for our rights and fight for the same. We also have various human rights groups. But, have we ever pondered upon the umpteen human wrongs?’
The question goes, ‘Where are you from?’ I am From Nagaland, comes the reply. Where do you live in Nagaland? Questions further… seriously, where do you live in Nagaland when the whole of its area of 16579 km square is almost covered by fishery projects itself. The great rains and floods during the time of Noah had a thorough cleansing effect on the sins of the Earth; another cleansing should come through the Presidents rule and a CBI raid to cleanse the sins of all the facets of corruption. I am obnoxious, though I may not be politically or diplomatically correct but constitutionally speaking I might be injecting some impregnable sense.
It may sound too strong a claim but I am tempted to say that we have reached a stage from which it is really difficult to imagine a pragmatic future, and going by the records of the current state of affairs of our state, only makes my claim, justifiable. Even the ‘Gods must be going crazy.’
Asangba Tzudir Centre for Philosophy,
JNU, New Delhi.
Extortion alarm in gardens
PULLOCK DUTTA
Guwahati, June 10: Militant outfits from Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have served extortion notices to small tea growers of Assam who own gardens along the border with the two states.
The development has forced the small tea growers’ association to appeal to the state government to provide security to these planters. Activities in many of these gardens have also come to a standstill for the past couple of weeks, as the labourers are scared to venture out to the gardens for fear of militants.
The secretary of the Assam Small Tea Growers Association, Karuna Mahanta, said militant outfits from Nagaland have demanded Rs 500 per bigha per year as tax from at least 4,000 small tea growers in Tinsukia and Sivasagar districts.
“The planters have been asked to vacate the land if the amount is not paid immediately,” Mahanta said.
The Assam Small Tea Growers Association, with nearly 70,000 members, contributes nearly 25 per cent to the state’s total tea production.
Mahanta said most of these notices were served to planters who own gardens under Margherita sub-division in Tinsukia district bordering Arunachal Pradesh and Charaideo sub-division in Sivasagar district bordering Nagaland.
A small tea grower in Lekhapani in Tinsukia district said over phone that armed militants frequently visit his garden and threaten his labourers. “These armed men regularly send messages to me through my labourers to pay up or vacate the land. I have lodged a complaint with police,” he said on condition of anonymity.
Many planters, he said, had already paid up. “These are very remote areas and the militants from outside the state hold sway,” he said.
A senior police official in Tinsukia district said there were a few complaints about Naga militants serving extortion notices to planters in the border areas. “These areas are very remote and it is not easy to provide security to all the planters,” he said.
The secretary of the tea growers’ association said most of these planters are indirectly guarding the state’s border by growing tea on government land.
“The government should provide security to these planters, otherwise Nagaland will grab these areas which belong to Assam,” Mahanta said. Assam is at loggerheads with Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh over border disputes for several decades now with both the states accusing Assam of grabbing land.
Dispur recently planned to provide land to surrendered militants in the state’s border areas to start tea plantations. The move, Dispur believes, will help rehabilitate the surrendered militants and also protect government land from encroachment.
Press Statement Zeliangrong Interim body
June 11, 2010
The Zeliangrong Interim Body (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland) [ZIB] condemns in the strongest term the Ibobi led Government of Manipur’s (GOM) act of criminalizing two Naga social leaders, Samson Remei, President, United Naga Council (UNC) and David Choro, President, All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) by declaring as WANTED persons with a catch price.
The unprecedented acts of Ibobi Government are nothing but to continue the subjugation, suppression and inhuman treatment meted out to the Manipur tribal people and deliberate attempts to annihilate the Nagas.
Mandated by the Naga people, the United Naga Council is demanding the deferment of election to the house of Manipur Hill Areas District Council under the present form and content of Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 2008, as the Act endanger the very existence of Hill people as indigenous and tribal people; it has diluted and corrupted the constitutionally given rights of the tribals. Many representations were made to the authorities and the GOM pointing out these defects in the law and the taking away of the rights of the tribal through the present Act. However, Ibobi led GOM did not even acknowledge or respond to the various representations made by the tribals. As a result, All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and its constituent units were compelled to resort to the economic blockade as a last resort.
Despite taking such strong actions, the GOM has not made any positive overtures, instead it has sent in more security forces and also issued arrest warrants and put wanted tags on Naga social leaders. Further the Ibobi led GOM has categorically rejected the genuine and legitimate demands of the tribals and has gone ahead with the election. This game plan and evil design of Ibobi and his GOM has not been understood by non-tribals, instead they have supported the militarization of tribal lands and suppression of their rights.
It is pertinent to note that some years back, when the Meitei people were demanding inclusion within the 8th and 11th Schedule of the Indian Constitution and also for inclusion of Meitei in Other Backward Class (OBC) of India, the tribal people, particularly the Naga, supported their struggle. However, none of these organizations have come forward to speak up for the rights of the tribals.
Therefore, we are left with no option but to fully endorse the 5 days ultimatum served to Government of Manipur by UNC and further proclaim that we shall undertake all possible actions to ensure the same is carried out. The Ibobi led Government will be sole responsible for anything untoward incidents occurred.
Sd/-
(N. GONMEI)
Convenor, ZIB (AMN)
