High
profile visits have a funny effect on Manipur. The State Government puts up
extra shows, often pompous, so that beggings have a desired effect. And when
high commands do visit, they remain silent on issues that are affecting the
tiny state. For example, the issue of armed conflict and imposition of martial
law such as AFSPA, is something which the central leaders try to undermine and or
skip. Similarly the State Government tries its best to show its loyalty to the
visiting dignitaries by not highlighting these issues. The State Government does
not bother to think twice what the people of Manipur and outside Manipur
interprets their acts of omission and overt obsession with the dignataries. For
them, only the visiting dignitaries are the priority. The recent visit of India’s
President Pranab Mukherjee to Manipur on 15 April shows similar pattern but
being a rubber stamp, the show shone less compared to the visit of Prime
Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and National Advisory Board, Chairperson Sonia
Gandhi who inaugurated numerous incomplete mega projects in Manipur in December
2011.
The
Official & Unofficial Versions of Boycott
We
witnessed two versions of boycott to the visit of the President of India. As
usual, the armed opposition groups were in the forefront. The Coordinating Committee (CoreCom) consisting
of six armed opposition groups formed in July 2011, which according to Veronica Khangchian is an ever-present danger in
South Asia, formed to carry forward the national liberation movement in Manipur,
and intended to establish a United Front to bring unity among revolutionary
groups to free Manipur from India’s “colonial regime”, justified the boycott
stating that
the visit is yet another ploy by the
Government of India to continue its domination of the erstwhile independent
Manipur. Further, they contended that the visit is “merely an eyewash under the
pretext of development projects while the real objective is to prolong India’s
grip on Manipur.”
But
there was also an “official” clamp-down. State security forces prohibited the
commoners from venturing out. While the armed opposition groups made the
boycott public, the state actors created a boycott-like situation where the
general public did not want to take the risk of being harassed or mishandled or
being detained in the name of security. For instance, as reported in the
newspapers, whoever went out for any purpose were frisked and some were
detained and beaten up. The actions of the combined forces made the boycott a
complete success. The general strike affected the educational institutions;
government offices, commercial areas including the Khwairamband Keithel,
entertainment centres, oil pumps, and movement of vehicles, etc. Most roads
wore deserted looks and at least Imphal was in a complete shutdown mode. Only
visible movements were those of the security forces.
Earlier
experiences from visits by dignitaries have taught us that the issues of
Manipur were always sidelined by them. Dr Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi in their
visits in year 2011 never mentioned about the prevailing armed conflict, AFSPA,
or militarization. Similar was the case of former President Pratibha Patil. Deliberate
is the word that can sum up their indifferences. Another way of putting their
indifferences into perspectives can perhaps be that the State Government has
acted only with the blessings of the central leaders. Perhaps it explains why
none of those involved in scams in Manipur were investigated or punished
despite exposures by the media and others. Thus, the boycott call given by the
armed opposition groups received institutional support of the State Government,
so that civil society organizations could not venture out and air their
grievances or demand a fair government. Perhaps, that is the reason why the
State Government took every precaution to silence the voice of the civil society
organizations, and their attempts to expose the misdeeds of the Government.
United
NGOs Mission Manipur (UNM-M) was the only exception and dared to raise certain
issues with the visiting dignitary. In its press release, UNM-M put forth a 15-charter of demands to
the Government of India that included repeal of AFSPA, to establish 20 (twenty)
Special Investigation Teams to investigate all the 1528 cases of extra judicial
killings (PIL before the Supreme Court) and cases of rape under AFSPA/counter
insurgency, to take legal measures to ensure justice to the families of
those affected by awarding appropriate punishment to the perpetrators within a
period of one year constituting Independent Commissions for Conflict Resolution
in the state and also to develop a framework on pre-negotiation, negotiation
and post negotiation with special monitoring mechanisms with due representation
of civil society and NGOs and also by engaging International Community as a
Third Party to the negotiation process to settle the long standing political
conflict in the state, revival of the Manipur Human Rights Commission, discussions
and debates on the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement in the
Parliament and State Assemblies, etc.
Immediate Cash
Generally
visits by dignitaries present the threats of exposing wrong doings of the State
governments, the scenario is different in the case of Manipur. Such visits are
taken to be opportunities for getting ‘immediate cash’ ensuing from contract and
construction works, renovation of roads and construction of wooden barricade
along the stretch of Imphal Airport to the sites of visits, etc. as a part of the make-shift
arrangements for the visits. In the recent case, the preparation inside the
Adimjati Complex was a sight to behold. Literally, state officials and
politicians made a beeline to the hitherto forgotten and dead campus. The
missing equipment procured during the visits of Dr Manmohan Singh and Sonia
Gandhi with an estimated cost of rupees thirty lakhs, which has to be bought
all over again, is a grim reminder of how much quick money is made by the
Government officials during high profile visits by politicians and heads of state.
Immediate
cash factor also pertains to road fencing in the name of preparation of VVIP
visits. This preparation is done in-spite of the boycott call given by the AOG.
Although the State Government is aware that not a living soul is likely to
venture out as a result of the boycott call given by the armed opposition
groups, nevertheless, in the name of security, they go full throttle to
barricade roads. Perhaps, rituals pay and the state government as security ritual
constructed fences at the cost of public money.
Culture of Fooling VVIP Dignitaries
A
new culture has developed by the state official particularly the ruling
government of fooling the visiting VVIP dignitaries in the last few years and
they are successful in fooling the visiting dignitaries including the President,
PM and Sonia Gandhi. Or it could be that the visiting dignitaries are aware of
the situation but they are happy receiving a royal treatment rather than
looking around for reality as they are part of the problem. For instance, Adim
Jati Complex which has been a dead campus for ages came alive only after
receiving news that the President of India would be visiting the Complex. To be
on time of the visit, a memorial stone was erected on a temporary park. The
President was requested to inaugurate a Girls Hostel which was already in
existence and occupied by inmates for the last many years. In a similar manner,
PM and Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the incomplete buildings such as the City
Convention Centre, Inter-State Bus Terminus and Assembly Building during their
visits in 2011.
Adimjati
& Tribal Development
When
the news of the President’s visit to the dead campus of Adimjati was confirmed,
it was crowded by politicians, particularly tribal politicians who have not
visited the campus for ages. There were also the self appointed tribal activists
crowding the campus, who all of a sudden started talking about tribal rights
without understanding that Adimjati also comprises of not onlt the Scheduled
Tribes but also the Scheduled Castes. At the same time, state officials of the Adimjati
complained that the government is not giving fund for the ashram without
bothering to investigate why the funds were not sanctioned. The overall
atmosphere reeked with blame against an anti-tribal Government.
One
must realise that Adimjatis across India is facing a natural death given that responsibilities
Adimjati once shouldered have been replaced by other institutions and
departments, such as Directorate of Education School and Higher Education as
well as education system under the Autonomous District Council (ADC). So it is
surprising when the President observed that he is not happy with the condition
of Adimjati, perhaps, it was a passing comment targeted to make the tribal brethrens
happy. If he was genuinely concerned about tribal development, then he could
have extended a visit to the adjacent Indira Gandhi National Tribal University
(IGNTU), Regional Campus, Manipur which is within the Adim Jati campus. It is
worthwhile to recall that IGNTU was conceived for providing higher education to
the tribal population (not employment which many tribal activists claim). But
neither the President nor the tribal activists floated the idea of paying a visit
to the University.
The
Winner
Various
stakeholders involved in the visit of the President are basking in the false
glory that each one of them emerged as the winners in executing their plans. It
could be true or otherwise it could be all wrong if we see from perspective of the
stakeholders in totality. In fact, the real winner is the Government of India
who touches all section of society by various means but executed their plan in
a hidden way. Say for example, the Government of India was successful in
politically managing to advertise that Government is very much concerned about
Manipur. Each visit by the heads of the State and top rung leaders assured development
of the state. In the most overt manner, each visit has continued to undermine
the core issues affecting Manipur. This can be interpreted as a message that the
Government of India does not give a damn about the issue of self-determination
and human rights violations occurring in the state.
This article was published in The Sangai Express on Sunday, April 21, 2013
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