Background:
Intelligible & knowledgeable sources indicate that no designated camp was worked out during 1997 for Ukhrul district of Manipur and not even as a ‘camp taken note of ’ consequent to 2001 explosive situation created by ‘CF’ extended to all Naga inhabited areas. Bunning, Oklong and Phungchong are known camps as ‘taken note of’, Phungyar experience to shift to Siroi area was fallout of various factors specially affected by SFs operation FLUSH OUT in the valley from 2004-2006 & other unexpected socio-economic factors.. Movements in uniform with arms in areas not to be negotiated as dictated by CF agreement ground rules do exist. But frequent moves otherwise & even detention of important UG leaders with nine to eleven weapons as on IT road (Manipur) a few years back and intervention of GOI to release them with instructions to hand over weapons to CFMG at Mao gate are well exposed by media, which still goes unexplained. Analysts remain at a loss to assess the nature & spirit of CF agreement. The details of 15 days impasse appearing in media with different versions were projected in media like a private affair between AR authorities & the NSCN (IM) without taking aforesaid and the gravity of issue into account. Otherwise how do we account for appearing of UGs of both factions of NSCN in large numbers in uniform with weapons at Ghaspani, Phek, Zhuneboto & incidents of Dimapur in past and recent past even after enforcement of CF Agreement are still fresh in the minds of people who are having common constituencies of faith , hope & stakes in both the groups
MY VISIT as a curious observer having background knowledge of both i.e., the job of SFs as well the aspirations of (IM) group, study of unvisioned hold ups of visionaries who drafted CF ground rules without realising at that time that everything was ultimately going to hinge around point 13 of famous 16 Point Agreement (1961). I have following to put it on record. I VISITED Siroi with some senior citizens from Imphal on 22 Jan. Aim was to meet the spirit of a universal proverb ‘for knowing, physical verification is always better than knowing by hearing’. Media team had just left Siroi after visit when I reached there. No one of us was allowed entry into camp held by UGs. But by virtue of having retired from the AR and my interest in the issue since I am a known free-lance journalist and a keen social worker who is working for peace in Manipur & Nagaland both without any personal interest, so I had edge in my favour to interact with locals and the officers at the Assam Rifles other than inmates of the camp.
Impressions :
MEDIA HAD REFLECTED: there was very big camps with almost very large number of UGs say 200 holed inside… The Assam Rifles was deployed around the camp with 800 troops. Supplies cut off and water supply disconnected. When I was about to pick up another elderly man ( a Tangkhul) from Imphal , he turned down my request politely whispering that situation was most explosive and he named some very senior UG leaders like WungmAtem & others that they were present at Ukhrul & dissuaded me also from venturing out. As it was on, I got a message from Ukhrul from another civil dignitary to wait for our next step since firing had just then taken place at Siroi & some casualties were also reported. I decided it was important more so & I with another gentleman proceeded & on reaching near Finch corner we were told by another very senior officer of the Govt of Manipur returning from Ukhrul that CO 17 AR & SI Hopson with three to four constables were camping at site, so we decided to proceed to Siroi straight without picking up other two senior retired and elderly dignitaries from Ukhrul, who were supposed to join our team.
Report :
ON REACHING: we heard about 18-20 persons of UG’s were in the camp and we could see one-two UG in full uniform strolling, may be on duty. Local Meira Paibis in Tangkhul terminology (Shinaolong) on ‘round the clock’ vigil sit in to pray for early & amicable solution & AR troops picketing outside with barbed wire spread around the camp. Though reported otherwise as learnt through media but it appeared eats & water were allowed by AR authorities sometimes on request by village headman & other authorities (as told to me) and mostly as a goodwill gesture & situation appeared to me quite friendly devoid of confrontation; other than that villagers were under tension. There was no firing at all of any sort. I also left the place with request to all specially to AR CO to exercise maximum restraint & deal with the situation with utmost compassion & to village leaders to exercise full patience & that nothing should be allowed to ride on whims & misapprehensions as the issue involved was ‘of principles’ involving national interest, understanding dynamics of the whole issue and look for answer based on logics as it was not a dispute of a private affair. Knowing fully well the good reputation and maturity of Col Dharmesh, his concern for the locals & expert handling of the situation by senior officers of the Force i.e., Brig P S Mander Commander 10 Sector & Maj Gen Ashok Choudhary IGAR (South), and reflections of ground realities I was relieved that there will be no trigger slipping, I returned satisfied.
See Media Reflections:
- Local media, “AR evicts UGs and gives safe passage’. How many they were, which transport they availed, where they had gone, all left to anxious readers to their imagination.
- Nagaland Media – Centre directed ‘both hostile parties to withdraw’ and more you read more you desire to know what has actually happened. How come AR has become as hostile force for GOI and for that matter UG also who are on Ceasefire agreement with the Government.
- CFMG has been asked by GOI to ‘work out designated camp for Siroi’ & so on, all disconnects but really newsiness for media to print.
- A vocal NSCN (IM) leader ‘There is no third option. It is only peace or war’. “We will go wherever we desire, we will vacate but AR must withdraw first’ & many such utterances to that effect.
It is also mind bobbling if three camps in Manipur were ‘taken note of’, then why important district in Manipur which is considered to be the cradle point of Nagalim was not included. Given the circumstances leading to this blown off crisis & incident of detention & disarming of an officer & five ORS of AR on 8 Jan on Nagaland – Manipur border had just preceded this flush out operation launched by AR which had added to a chain of suspicions for NSCN (IM) interpretation to the claim of the Assam Rifles authorities which was otherwise though legally and formally correct. And none of the agitating civil society organisations have ever once touched upon for correct interpretation of ground rules for CF agreement and till today majority of the people of Nagaland & Manipur are not aware of the ground rules which is irony of the whole issue. My visit on 22nd Jan was to assess the situation which had confirmed both sides AR and NSCN boys remained in friendly positions.
In this particular issue where CFMG has no jurisdiction over the issue in actual light of law but ‘camps taken note of’ are related with CF agreement, it is important that reasonable & logical thinking be advanced to study the development to take correct reading. Due cognizance be given either to allot area for another ‘camp also taken note’ of in Ukhrul District or close the other three too which under ‘Nelson eye’ is like belling the cat but who will do it? In fine, there is no denying the fact that Ceasefire Agreement struck is to find out ways and means to maintain peace and clean the route of foliage of misconcepts to understanding & settle the issue with reciprocal trust. Siroi issue be taken as an example. Govt. need to make ground rules public. Civil societies need to suggest measures to ensure tranquillity and avoid one sided trekking. Mutuality in trust keeping be appreciated & major responsibilities lies on the civil societies to impress on UG leadership as to what type of peace they intend to seek. Not that I belong to Assam Rifles, but I can’t help to say that role played by them is laudable. Today I am part of civil society & as good as Naga/Manipuri and North Easterner as anyone else from NE. Ground rules say camp cannot be on National & State Highway, neither inside inhabited areas nor close to that. In this case none of the QR was visible. Over & above Government building meant for trekker for rest & refit to visit hill of national pride (Siroi) was converted into a camp. How was it acceptable to the people? No body touched this point. This small issue soluble on the very first day the Assam Rifles raised objections to under rules has been projected as a 15 days war is painful to swallow. Civil societies have to be very clear and ponder as to what type of atmosphere they want within this CF period. It is duty of all of us – the social activists, the civil societies to act as stepping stones to mould the mindsets of UGs for striking permanent peace than find any excuse to act as stumbling stones even in the normal functioning of a democratically elected Govt. It is time for the civil societies to act to bring a change – change to the positive as enough is enough. Nevertheless, I congratulate Govt. Of India that they have ended this episode in true spirit of commitment.