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Indians often complain that when they visit the North East, they are asked if they have come from India.

Conversely, many North Easterners are asked for a passport, as they are mistaken to be foreigners.

There is a communication gap and there are problems of distance; but lack of governance and the media’s obsession with happenings in Delhi has widened the gulf further.

As the economic blockade of Manipur by Naga rebels enters the second month, the miseries of common Manipuri citizens have seldom found space on the so-called national media.

The price of petrol has gone up to Rs 150 a litre and a gas cylinder costs Rs 2,000.Delhi either seems asleep or too weak to take any action to break this blockade.

I am reminded of another era and another blockade.

I refer to the oil pipeline blockade organised by Assam agitators in 1980s.The idea was that if the oil remained blocked in the pipeline through winter, the heavy crude would freeze.

Oil experts had warned that if the oil was not flushed out, the whole pipeline would have to be replaced as cleaning the wax would cost more than a new pipeline.

We had the no-nonsense Indira Gandhi as the prime minister then.

She ordered the army to solve the problem.

Secretly, the army sent its engineers to the Gujarat oil fields and trained soldiers in complex operations (codenamed Amar Prem).

Once the army was ready, in a swift operation, the troops were airlifted to oil fields and in a fortnight, Operation Indra Vajra broke the oil blockade.

The Assam agitation never recovered from that blow and such a tactic has never been attempted again.

The saddest part is that today the National Socialist Council of Nagaland rebels are a shadow of their former self.

There is very little support for them in Nagaland, since their leader Thuingaleng Muivah is himself from Manipur.

It is possible to call the rebel’s bluff and end the blockade.

If need be, the Indian government should threaten to revoke the ceasefire and resume operations.

But such is the lethargy/indifference of the Centre that a small group of trouble makers have been holding the whole state of Manipur to ransom.

The media silence is glaring in contrast to the shrill noises made when a couple of years ago Kashmir valley faced a similar blockade in Jammu.

But there is another major failing that this episode has brought to light, namely the utter paralysis of decision-making.

Seems Union Home Minister P Chidambaram is so overwhelmed by the Naxals and Pakistan-sponsored terrorism that the woes of Manipuris are not registered in Delhi.

Our think tank Inpad was at the forefront of demanding the reform of higher decision making apparatus and had hoped that now that the National Security Council and its associate organisations are in place, security issues would receive due attention and see refined decision-making.

The reason to voice this disappointment is that the kind of deep psychological wound this would inflict on the Manipuris would create trouble in the future.

Are Indian citizens of Imphal not as important as those living in the Kashmir valley? .

The saddest part is that there is a non-violent solution, though a temporary one! Manipur has a common border with Myanmar (Burma) at Moreh.

A limited border trade is permitted across the border.

What stops the government from importing petroleum products from Myanmar? The infrastructure up to Moreh is reasonably developed and the road to the border post runs mostly through Meitei-dominated (Meitei are the majority ethnic group in Manipur) areas.

Simultaneously, the NSCN must be served an ultimatumthat their greater Nagaland demand can only be achieved through peaceful means and violence would mean an end to the ceasefire.

Our foreign office seems so obsessed with our neighbour to the west that it fails to think of these alternatives.

On a visit to Nagaland two years ago, I found that the Nagas have no desire to resume armed conflict.

Nagaland is already enjoying the dividends of peaceit has the lowest percentage of people below poverty line and thanks to the reservation policy, many Naga youth are in the IAS, IFS and IPS.

Some years ago, when the agitation against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act was at its peak in Manipur, I had suggested that the least the government could do was to hand over the Kangla Palace area to the people (since British times it has been occupied by the Assam Rifles and was a reminder to the Meiteis of their humiliation).

Somewhere, someone apparently liked the idea and today the area has a lovely garden and a monument.

The situation in Manipur is indeed desperate and any delay will leave a deep scar on its people’s psyche.

After the Bangladesh victory, it was said that Indira Gandhi not only made history but also changed geography! Her daughter-in-law (Sonia Gandhi) who is the current supreme leader of the ruling party, may also get that credit (though with disastrous consequences for India), for let us make no mistake, the neglect of Manipur’s woes by tolerating the economic blockade would reap a whirlwind of secessionist movement by the Meiteis.

Colonel Ani Athale (retired) is the coordinator of Pune-based think-tank Inpad.

The six MLAs from Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong districts, Dr Kashim Ruivah, Morung Makunga, Awangbou Newmai, K Raina, M Thorii and Wungnaoshung Keishing had submitted their resignation papers to the Speaker, Dr Sapam Dhananjoy today through fax messages in the Manipur Legislative Assembly secretariat.

Danny Sheiza is also likely to submit his resignation tomorrow, sources said.

Fax massages from the six independence MLAs who were reportedly camping at New Delhi have been received at the Assembly secretariat but the Speaker was not in his office, acceptance is yet to be given to the resignations.

The Speaker returned from New Delhi only today.

MLAs from hill districts of the state are under pressure for tendering resignation from various hill based civil organisations opposing the holding of elections to the Manipur (Hills) District Council under the existing amendment act, the Manipur (Hills) District Council (Third Amendment) Act 2008 even as state election commission is all set to conduct the two phase elections on May 26 and June 2 next.

Source: Hueiyen News Service

As a result, the State Government has been left to face any kind of eventuality by itself. Chief Minister Ibobi was taken to New Delhi in an MIG-21 aircraft, specially arranged for his visit to the capital city from Imphal today.
He left Imphal for New Delhi at 7.30 am.

As soon as he landed in New Delhi at about 10 am, he met Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram in the Parliament annexe.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister AK Antony were also present during the meeting.

An agency report from New Delhi said that during the 20-minute meeting, Chief Minister Ibobi is understood to have told the Central leaders that if Muivah is allowed to go to Manipur, the situation in the state may deteriorate as people are against the visit of the Naga rebel leader.

The Central leaders are believed to have asked the Chief Minister to be cautious and take utmost care in taking any decision in this regard.

The Union Ministers are understood to have told the Chief Minister that the Government of Manipur would respect the consent given by the Government of India on Muivah’s visit to Manipur.

However, Chief Minister refused to oblige.

It is not yet known what went on during the meeting.

Chief Minister Ibobi returned home at about 3 pm.

A State Cabinet meeting was convened at 4.30 pm at the conference hall of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

Spokesperson of SPF Government, Minister of IFCD and YAS, N Biren told reporters after the SPF meeting which was held after the cabinet meeting that the Chief Minister’s visit to Delhi was mainly to inform the Centre about the true picture of the tension prevailing in the state, why the State Cabinet took a decision to bar Muivah from entering Manipur, etc.

The Chief Minister informed the three Union Ministers that the decision taken by the State Cabinet can not and would not be reversed.

Minister Biren further said that a meeting of the SPF legislature party was also held after the Cabinet meeting.

At that meeting also, the present situation of law and order was discussed minutely.

After the two meetings, Chief Minister Ibobi called the GOC of 57 Mtn Divn and top officials of IG AR (South) and held discussions along with DGP Manipur Y Joykumar.

The Spokesperson told the reporters that the officials of AR and Army have agreed to assist the state security force in maintaining law and order situation.

He said, the Army and AR have agreed to deploy Army and AR personnel in Senapati district.

Source: Hueiyen News Service

Three weapons including an AK-47 rifle had been snatched away by the mob from the security personnel.

In other related incidents, amidst the prevailing tension and confusion, eight vehicles of the security forces were also damaged in stoning by the supporters of NSCN-IM at Mao gate.

The clash erupted when a group of local people stormed the temporary barrack of security personnel of 2nd Manipur Rifles, 7th MR and 5th IRB at the community hall at the office on the campus of the Paomai Development Association at Mao town at about 11 am.

The group of people stormed the security barrack taking advantage of the presence of only a few security personnel in the barrack.

After entering the barrack, some of the locals started ransacking and burning down of materials belonging to the security personnel, apart from assaulting the security personnel in the barrack with sticks and other deadly weapons.

Some security personnel, on seeing the ransacking of their materials, rushed to stop them.

As they turned towards the security men and attempted to snatch their weapons, they resorted in firing tear gas and bullets to control them.

In the fracas, two youths were hit by bullets died inside the security barrack.

They were identified as Meli Chakho (19), a student of BA 1st study in Bangalore and Loshu (19), a student of Zakhama College, Nagaland.

Another youth also sustained serious injuries when hit by bullet in the fracas.

He has been evacuated at a nearest hospital in Kohima.

His condition was stated to be serious.

Some reports said he succumbed to his injury on the way to hospital but there were no official confirmation report about his dead.

Local as well as police reports said that three arms, an AK series rifles, one 9 mm pistol) and smoke gun (gun used in firing tear gas) of the security forces taken away by the storming youths.

The two were killed inside the campus of the security barrack where the group of people forcibly intruded and attempted to snatch away arms from the security personnel.

The group with deadly weapon like sticks, axes etc.

also assaulted security men who prevented them and took away three weapons, a police officer at Mao who did not want to name said when contacted by this correspondent.

When the news of death of two youths spread, a good number of women rose up defying the restriction imposed under section 144 of CrPC.

They attacked vehicles of the security forces and police.

At least eight vehicles of the security forces were damaged in other incidents occurred near the Mao town on the highway.

Windshields of three buses transporting CRPF personnel for reinforcement at Mao gate, three trucks used by the police and a DI tata carrying tear gas shell were smashed apart from burning down a vehicle by the protestors.

Some women protestors were reported injured in stampede and by tear gas shells fired by the police and security forces to dispersed them out and clear the road.

Suspected supporters of Muivah visit in the state had also burnt down a government office at Tadubi in Senapati district in the wee hour of Thursday.

Furniture and office documents were turned into ashes in the arson of the SDO office, Tadubi.

Following the incident, security forces reinforced from Imphal had be detailed for guarding the Senapati DC office and district police headquarters as possibility of protestors targeting the two main places of the district is very high, reports said.

On the other hand, three mass prayers offered at various churches located in Chandel district for easing the prevailing tensions and prevalent of peace in the region started from last Tusday concluded today.

The prayer was held mostly by the sub-tribes of Naga said, a resident of Chandel district headquarters when contacted by this correspondent.

Source: Hueiyen News Service

At a meeting here yesterday, four Naga bodies formed a committee to mobilise people’s support for escorting Muivah to his native village in Ukhrul district of Manipur, sources said.
According to the sources, Muivah’s visit to Ukhrul, which the Manipur government views as a threat to communal harmony despite the Centre’s consent to his proposed itinerary, begins tomorrow from Dimapur by road.

The meet of Naga Students Federation, Naga Mothers Association, Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights and Naga Hoho was also attended by NSCN(I-M) steering committee convenor and ‘emissary’ to the collective leadership of the outfit, V S Atem, the sources said.

The four organisations had also served a 24-hour ‘ultimatum’ to the PMO seeking the Centre’s intervention to prevail upon the Manipur government to lift the ban on Muivah’s entry.

Source: Hueiyen News Service

Chief Minister, O Ibobi convened meeting of the Cabinet two times to discuss the prevailing law and order situation of the state, particularly in the four hill districts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel.

The first meeting started from 8.30 am and discussed thoroughly the prevailing law and order of the state.

The meeting re-affirmed the Cabinet decision taken on April 30 regarding the ban of Th Muivah from entering the territory of Manipur.

IFCD Minister, Biren said that the government has the information that Naga Hoho and other Naga Civil Organisations in Nagaland are going to escort Muivah to Manipur tomorrow.

If such plan is taken up, untoward violent incidents are likely to happen.

The State Government is ready to face such events, he said.

Giving a detailed account of the possible outbreak of large scale violence in the state and drawing attention of the Centre in preventing such untoward incident, a crash massage has been sent to the Centre through the Home Secretary, GK Pillai, Minister Biren said.

He further said that prohibition orders promulgated in Senapati district headquarters and some other places has been lifted effective from 10 am but prohibition on assembly of five or more people which are likely to turn violence under section 144 of CrPC is still effective in the said areas.

The Cabinet also approved constitution of warrant of precedence for the chairman of six District Councils hill areas to be constituted after the elections are held on May 26 and June 2 next.

The cabinet decided to put the post of chairman of the MDC which was in the serial no.33 to 23 in the order of precedence of warrant.

On the other hand, Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram has asked state Chief Minister, O Ibobi to come to New Delhi and discussed the prevailing law and order situation of the state.

Source: Hueiyen News Service

One pillion rider was killed when two motor-cycles collided head on near Bishnupur Keithel at about 9.30 last night, said a police source.

The collision involving a Yamaha Enticer and Yamaha R-15 caused serious injuries to Loukrakpam Anand (25) s/o Apabi of Bishnupur Ward No 9 Maning Leikai.

Anand was riding on the pillion of the Yamaha R-15 .

He was admitted at Raj Polyclinic but he succumbed to injuries at about 3.30 this morning.

The corpse has been handed over to family members after post mortem at RIMS.

On the other hand, a 50 year old woman drowned as she accidentally fell into a pond at her home at about 11.15 am today.

The deceased has been identified as Athokpam Manglembi w/o Iboton of Kwakeithel Konjengbam Leikai.

On finding that Manglembi was drowning, she was pulled out and immediately rushed to RIMS where she was declared brought dead.

Meanwhile, a man was found dead at Lamphel Sanakeithel this morning.

The deceased has been identified as Hemlal Haokip (32) of Jalambung village, Ukhrul.

Source: The Sangai Express

This commitment is enshrined in our Constitution, said a statement issued by RPF’s Publicity secretary T Leisemba while highlighting that ‘leading a disease free healthy live is an important component of a free society where people enjoy all the rights’.

“The RPF has a firm stand for building a healthy society where peace and normalcy prevails, violence does not exist and we all have mutual respect.

To achieve this goal we all should lead a healthy and disease free life,” the secretary noted.

Stressing on building a good and healthy society for which the people need to acquire basic knowledge of health related issues, Leisemba also mentioned that in establishing a healthy society doctors and nurses too need to perform their duties with devotion and extend quality health care service.

Noting that the World Health Organisation observes April 7 every year as World Health Day on various themes with the objective of raising the health standards of the people living across the globe, he further elaborated that objectives of WHO is giving treatments to victims of accidents, combating dreaded and vulnerable diseases and epidemics and also reaching out timely humanitarian aids and health knowledge to the people.

This year also WHO is observing World Health Day on April 7, 2010 on the theme of ’1000 cities, 1000 lives’, the RPF secretary reminded while conveying RPF’s greeting to the people of Manipur with the appeal to join hands to make Manipur a healthy land where only healthy people live.

Source: The Sangai Express