Witoubou Newmai
Often we start off our critical inquiry, asking whether the regressive affairs between the Manipur Government and the southern Nagas are attributed to misdiagnoses of the problems. Actually, overwhelming of interests has been the hallmark of affairs all along, and thus, no standard completion of any dialogue on important issues is seen so far.
The ever flip-flop stand of the successive Manipur Governments in dealing with things has been the cause for the complex issues in Manipur today. Resorting to pain-killer measures or adhocism by the successive Manipur Governments, especially when it comes to dealing with the Nagas, has been consolidating the labyrinthine issues. If there is no boldness or courage with the Manipur Government, the Nagas may not expect any issue resolved. The nature of the issues attached with the southern Nagas demands boldness and courage from the former.
On March 19, 2017, the United Naga Council (UNC) and the State Government of Manipur signed an agreement that “the grievances of the United Naga Council which led to the imposition of the economic blockade by former was recognized as there was non-adherence to the four Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the Government of India’s assurance on the matter.” The Government of Manipur agreed to start consultation with all stakeholders to redress the same. The signing of this agreement was witnessed by Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in-charge of Northeast.
Undermining this agreement, the State Government of Manipur began to trigger its cog to whirr and completed what was left behind by the previous Ibobi Singh Government in forming the districts. Newspaper reports on the constitution of a boundary commission on the new districts, “no roll back of new districts” comment from Chief Minister N Biren Singh, followed by government activities in the newly created districts have badly assaulted the tenets of dialogues/tripartite talks.
However, what had really transpired in the talks on August 11 is not precisely known. According to sources, the UNC delegates demanded clarifications from Manipur State Government representatives on the matter, even threatening to walk out of the venue. Somehow, the parties involved in the talks managed to sign another agreement at the end of the day while also agreeing to meet again next month.
For keen observers of the issue, the posture of the Manipur Government after the March 19, 2017 tripartite talks has given a foretaste of what may lie ahead. It is time for the State Government of Manipur to realize that its age-old smokescreen policies will no longer be effective with the Nagas today.
The UNC may not waste time and energy further if the Manipur Government does not exhibit courage and boldness towards addressing the district creation issue. The UNC also should not hesitate to note that the way the district creation issue is trending should not be at the expense of Naga unity.
As stated earlier, no matter how ‘high’ political strategies are or how sophisticated are diplomatic reasons, if they are not understood by the masses on time, the situation will definitely impede the way forward to peace. Towards this end, the UNC must try to see if there is disconnect between it and the masses. In case of any repair needed, programs to understand together with the people should be initiated immediately by the UNC.
