JAEY GEOFFERY

Friday, January 23, 2009

SIROHI LILY BEING MAULED

SIROHI LILY BEING MAULED
Flowers offer a message of growth, regeneration & happiness. So is Sirohi Lily of Ukhrul District in Manipur (insurgency troubled). There is a cry from within when a flower is mangled. Same is the case when the peace of the people is disturbed. Manipur has almost two dozen UG outfits, including NSCN (IM), operating in the state. Each outfit is attempting & contesting to enlarge its area of influence for hegemony over larger territory to enhance the loot of illegal taxes, only can the hierarchy of outfits enjoy life when the cadres live in wretchedness and distress.
NSCN (IM) a scion of NSCN (other being NSCN (K)) is the largest and oldest outfit, a fountainhead of terrorism in North Eastern Region. So is its influence in and around Nagaland with voracity to enhance it further. Recent Sirohi incident is a pointer. Top hierarchy of the outfit being from Tangkhul tribe wants to have a stronghold in Manipur in violation of Cease Fire Ground Rules (CFGR) of CF agreement, applicable to Nagaland alone. Previous attempt for the same (in 2007) had been aborted by suitable intervention of SFs. The incident started on 19 Jan 09 when the outfit wanted to establish a camp in Sirohi but is not permitted being an illegal act.
Going through the media reports it is ironical to note that so called self proclaimed saviors of the society are actually perpetrators of psychological and physical violence in the society. To quote excerpts from The Sangai Express (dated 20 & 21 Jan 09); “locals requested the cadres and SF to avoid any clash. Women folk (known for their grit) kept a sharp vigil, in the night, on the village in case any confrontation takes place. Farmers were informed to cut short their work hours and return home.” This was all to avoid any collateral societal damage in case of needless clash. In the past number of innocent men, women and children have either lost their lives or were injured to be recovering later or stay maimed for life in such incidents.
These violent acts cause Fear Psychosis that stays 24 x 7 resulting in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to many irrespective of age. The fear factor for survival had been on from time the incident commenced and will continue till it is over. This has resulted in closure of shops and cutting the work hours of those who earn enough, only for the day? The insatiability for more and more can be gauged from the fact that annual budget of the outfit runs in crores and it wants more.
Few days back the outfit had caused a crisis of cooking gas (in Manipur) by demanding Godown Tax of Rs 15 lakhs and deprived people of convenience of cooking. The illegal tax collection of the outfit on major portion of NH-39 (through 26 illegal posts) and discomfort to the people of Manipur is a known fact. People of Nagaland are already fed up with these outfits due to their illegitimate activities. There had been number of up rises, appeals and even lynching of some its cadres by the irate public. Scared; they are trying to find new places of survival. They are no ones saviour but opportunists for filling their coffers.
I am compelled to quote an international example; Hitler, who propagated that he was against Jews but saviour of Germans, was against humanity in real. The same is summed up in the poem of Martin Niem”ler (a German theologian) that he wrote in incarcerated state in the concentration camp. It reads:
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist.
Then they came for union leaders and I did not speak out because I was not a union leader.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.
That is the sprit that locals have understood that these outfits mean well for none but self. Manipur Naga Revolutionary Front (MNRF) General Secretary (while taking the responsibility of bomb blast (16 Jan 09) in Ukhrul town said that they understand the value of life. He further said, “Nagas of Manipur have been deceived by NSCN (IM) in the name of Nagalim /Sovereignty. It shall continue fighting against the hypocrisy and imperialistic attitude of NSCN (IM).” It further appealed to the people of Manipur to understand the threats made by NSCN (IM) to each & every good citizen as land lords for their benefits only (Eastern Mirror datelined 22 Jan 09). People need to come together for fighting against all the anti social elements to ensure a fragrant peaceful and progressive society for our generations lest they are mauled to be a non entity.
Geoffery
(Readers can reach out to the author via email:
jaey_geoffery@rediffmail.co.in OR post views on blog: jaey-geoffery.bolgspot.com)

No comments: