A state of limbo

  Trucks stranded on NH2 due to indefinite economic blockade

The Naga-Kuki conflict in Manipur, where Assembly elections are due early next year, has festered for four decades. The government has, however, failed to stop the endless cycle of agitations, bandhs and blockades in the state.

The latest blockade on NH 2 and NH 37, the two highways that serve Manipur, entered its 50th day on September 20. Launched by the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC), the blockade is aimed at forcing the state government to carve a full-fledged Kuki-majority revenue district out of the Naga-majority Senapati district.

The demand dates back to September 3, 1970, when the Kuki Chiefs Zonal Council sought the creation of Sadar Hills district. To spearhead the agitation, SHDDC was set up under the aegis of the Kuki National Assembly in 1974.

SHDDC's indefinite economic blockade on NH 2 and NH 37 began on August 1. Three weeks later, the United Naga Council (UNC) launched a counter-blockade on the two highways. NH 2 links Numaligarh in Assam to the Indo-Myanmar border. Till date, four people have been killed in economic blockade-related incidents, while some 20 loaded trucks passing through the highways have been set ablaze.

Selected Area Development Administrative Region (Sadar) Hills, which encircles Imphal valley, was conceived in 1933 by JC Higgins, the then British political agent in Manipur. The Kuki-majority Sadar Hills is also inhabited by several other ethnic groups, including Nagas, Nepalis and Meiteis.

The government of India enacted the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 to fulfil the needs of the people in the hills. According to Section 3 of the Act, the hill areas are divided into six Autonomous District Councils, including Sadar Hills. However, Sadar Hills continues to be under Senapati district even though it has a proper functional ADC since 1971.

The demand for a full-fledged Sadar Hills district came much before the bifurcation of Imphal district though the idea of upgradation of the two into districts was first raised around the same time. In 1997, Imphal was bifurcated into East and West districts. However, Sadar Hills was never upgraded.

Since 1972, when Manipur attained statehood, several governments have tried in vain to convert Sadar Hills into a revenue district. Rishang Keishing's government in 1982 presented an ordinance to the then Governor to make Sadar Hills a district. It was duly signed by the Governor, but was withdrawn when opposed by the then Manipur Naga Council.

Likewise, the United Front government under RK Ranbir Singh in 1990-91 also attempted to upgrade Sadar Hills into a district but failed as the UF government in the Centre collapsed.

"We are fighting for complete implementation of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971. We have approached the Centre with the demand. They regard our demand as genuine and legitimate,” says Tonghen Kipgen, general secretary of SHDDC.

   People of Sadar Hills demanding full-fledged revenue district


He says that the state government has, however, been delaying the implementation of the Act. “Manipur chief minister O. Ibobi said that 80 per cent of the people have already given their consent on converting Sadar Hills into a revenue district. We do not understand why the state government has not implemented the Act yet,” adds Tonghen Kipgen.

The Nagas have been opposing Sadar Hills district demand since the very outset. Naga associations like the United Naga Council (UNC) and the All Naga Students' Association Manipur have said they will not accept the bifurcation of Sadar Hills without the consent of the Naga people. “The UNC will not accept bifurcation of Naga Areas without the consent of the Nagas," says S. Milan, UNC spokesperson.

According to UNC, the Nagas have signed four MoUs with the government of Manipur. The MoU of 1998 stated that “resolution to the conflict on the issue of Sadar Hills will be brought about through a consensus of the people concerned in the interest of bringing about lasting peace and harmony between the Nagas and Kukis”.

Slamming the state government for its inaction, S Milan says: “It is playing politics on the Sadar Hills issue so that tribals are not united. It would be held responsible for any untoward incidents arising out of it.”

The government argues that only a formula acceptable to all would be workable and it may take some time. “The government is an elected body and it is not bound by any organisation. Administrative convenience should be the major factor for any demand and creation of new districts,” asserts Cabinet Minister N Biren, spokesperson of the Congress-led SPF government in Manipur.

Due to these blockades, the prices of essential commodities have sky-rocketed in Manipur. For instance, petrol costs Rs 140 per litre (in the black market), potatoes Rs 40 per kg and onions Rs 50 per kg. Besides, stocks of many essential commodities have run out. Mustard oil is one such commodity.

"I've been buying potatoes at Rs 40 a kg four nearly two months now whereas it is available at Rs 10 per kg in other states," says K Radha Singh, Imphal resident. “For fuel, I have to wait in a long queue in front of a petrol pump from night till dawn. And when petrol runs out of stock, I have to buy from the black market at double the price. I wonder what the government is doing,” says Nganba Seram, a blockade-affected youth.

Asked whether the blockade would be lifted soon given the hardships common people are facing, SHDDC general secretary Kipgen says: “We are fighting in the larger interest of the people. This is a people's movement. Even women folk and children are on street day and night. There is no question of lifting the blockade. The blockade is the only means available to shake the government out of its stupor."

The government says: “We can use force but we have been refraining from it as the ones who have called these blockades are our own people. However, we want blockade to be lifted at the earliest.”

To deal with the shortage of essential commodities, the government has tightened security on the highways so as to allow trucks to reach the valley safely. With Manipur going to the polls early next year, will the present Congress-led SPF government break the impasse before its tenure ends?

(With inputs from Brown Nongmaithem)