Witoubou Newmai
Lack of space for a diplomatic or dialogue intervention has been the main reason for the myriad problems dogging the State of Manipur for this long. The unwillingness to genuinely diagnose chronic issues by successive State governments in Manipur has also shrunk the space for finding solutions to resentment in the hills.
With new leadership in the State, it is everyone's prayer that new initiatives and approaches of this leadership will be genuine. At least for now, the impression in the hills on the new leadership is quite encouraging. The change of atmosphere is also attributed to the ousting of the Ibobi Singh Government.
The lack of a meeting point in the past several years between the Manipur Government and the hills can well be a thing of the past if this encouraging trend continues. It may be a bit early to come to the conclusion that things have changed for the better, but it will not be unsafe to say that a platform is being laid to begin the intervention for soul searching dialogue in this peculiar state defined by the estrangement of the hills from the valley. The recent admission of the Manipur Government of its wrong-doing on the district creation issue has been considered the ‘ice breaking’ point.
On the 139th day of economic blockade, the Manipur Government said it “recognized the grievances” of the UNC. The Manipur Government also admitted that “there was non-adherence” to the four Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) signed between the Naga people and the Manipur Government over the district creation issue. The Manipur Government’s agreement to “start consultation with all stake holders” on the issue is a huge achievement of the UNC.
With this new development, space for intervention, consultation, dialogue and diplomacy has been created. In other words, the trend provides room to address all forms of suppression and oppression.
Biren Singh ought to learn a lesson or two on why Ibobi Singh had failed to earn the respect of the hill people. The former Chief Minister’s three consecutive terms is not enough to earn him the statesmanship tag. The hill people in Manipur do not accept him as their leader.
The present State of Manipur is filled with many peoples’ movements. Any leadership insensitive to any of these movements by ignoring the language of dialogue, diplomacy and consultation will invite trouble. It is high time for any leadership to realize that measures of suppression and oppression employed by the successive governments in the State of Manipur did not bring any good to the society.
