WELCOME TREATY

WELCOME TREATY

“Where there is no common power, there is no Law, where there is no Law, there is no Justice”

‘Thomas Hobbes’

International Campaign to Ban Land Mines (ICBL) is doing a Yeoman’s service to mankind. By now 155 nations (approx 81 %) have joined the Mine Ban Treaty; only 40 countries(less than 20%) are balance. Not only the states but armed groups (non state actors) can also join the elite band of human savior treaty by signing a Deed of Commitment (DoC). Recent news of NSCN (K)’s willingness to join the ‘No Mine User Group’ is very heartening and welcome step. Other faction NSCN (IM) had already signed DoC in 2003. The outfit earned international acclaim for the noble act. KNO (Kuki National Org) has signed the DoC in Aug 06. NDFB is also progressing positively towards accepting the treaty.

Interestingly, the outfits that have either entered into ceasefire agreement with GoI or SoO( suspension of operations) agreement are making progress towards banning land mines. Probably they have realized the senselessness of these silent killers. Hopefully UNLF, an ally of NSCN (K), ULFA and other outfits take in a lesson from this and make this region a Mine Free Region. The treaty is a comprehensive treaty that deals with mine use, production and trades, to victim assistance, mine clearance and stock pile destruction. In Southern districts of Manipur UNLF has laid large number of land mines and villagers are afraid to go to their fields due to fear of being maimed/ killed etc. In essence families lose their livelihood/ wage earners/kins for no reason. To add to the misery necessary medical aid is available at far off places like Kolkata etc. which are unaffordable and there are no NGO’s to help out. Not to forget the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that affects every one irrespective of age in varying degrees.

The FEAR is 24x7. To quote Lalrammawi a local of Kaimunthang (Manipur) “I could not believe when I was told my brother has died and 6 month later I was told my dad was hit. I went into a depression. I would not speak to people normally”. Village council member of Khaitinthang Thanlon says “since a long time we the residents of this village have not been able to go into the forests to collect our necessities because of fear of bombs planted by the undergrounds groups. So our daily process of deriving livelihood into forests has been affected. If one goes out to the forest one is sure to step into a bomb”.

Now the questions that come to mind are. Against whom are these mines planted? Who is the final victim? What is the long term effect? How does it affect the planters and victims? Can these mines distinguish a friend and a foe? Is the treaty comprehensive?
Intra tribal, Inter tribal rivalries and Intra factional, Inter factional clashes make the news frequently e.g. UNLF and its breakaway factions/ splinter groups, various Kuki groups, NSCN (IM) and NSCN(K) etc. Have these outfits migrated from insurgent aims to mere criminalization? Are these outfits not trying to act colonial against their own tribe and also other tribes who have been staying in this land from times immemorial? Are these outfits not trying to oppress their own tribe and other tribes who have been sharing this land from times immemorial? Answer to all this is affirmative.

Think of the wage earner who has been maimed due to mine and become dependent on the family he is to support. The problem becomes more critical when these victims turn into alcoholics and drug addicts due loss of self esteem. I am sure, some of the members of outfits, responsible to plant mines, too must have been staved and maimed by mine blasts. May I ask these friends of mine? How does it feel? Must be burdensome both for the victim and caretaker, I suppose! Same is the case with other victims.

The treaty has made considerable progress in its aim by generating awareness and effort to ban mines. It needs to be more comprehensive to include improvised explosive devices or any other bombs designed & planted on earth . The definition of mine should read “a device designed to explode by the presence, proximity/contact of a person and remote control that will incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons and cause damage to property”. There is need to come out of the narrow confines of our thought process and dedicate ourselves for a happy , healthy and mine free society that we so well deserve.

“Narrowness of mind is often the cause of obstinacy: we do not easily believe beyond what we see”

‘Le Rachefoucauld’



Geoffery
( Readers can reach out to the author on
email: jaey_geoffery@yahoo.co.in)

FIRE THE CAESEFIRE

FIRE THE CEASE FIRE

"Whenever a separation is made between Liberty and Justice, Neither in my opinion, is safe.”

‘Edmund Burke’

Ceasefire means ‘Truce’ to end violence. The sequence of ceasefires commenced with NSCN (IM) entering into an agreement with GoI in 1997. Number of such agreements with various other outfits (NSCN (K), UPDS, ANVC, DHD etc.) followed the suite. NDFB has entered into a more akin agreement i.e. Soo (Suspension of operations). Literally speaking these agreements mean that these outfits shun the use of weapon, stay in designated camps and stay away from factional fights, kidnapping, extortion, societal violence etc and contribute positively to the society. Not withstanding the negative contribution of the outfits that have not entered into such agreement those who have are no less.

Despite initial hesitation, Manipur Govt. has also decided to go in for ceasefire agreement with UG outfits operating in the state. Perpetual efforts of ceasefire agreement with ULFA have failed. To a thinking person; these agreements mean UG outfits have come over ground. It means peace, development, prosperity and end of violence. But, has it been achieved? Is the self feeding spiral of mis-governance fuelling violence or vice versa? All and sundry need to find an answer to fire the ceasefire. First question is partially answered by the facts. After these agreements, there is semblance of peace and prosperity but far from satisfaction. Statistics by institute of conflict management reveal that overall violence related fatalities are on decline in the NE. Now the second question, former part is more true then the latter. What do we expect? When there is an established political & UG nexus for mutual convenience? When a chief Minister of a state, during budget speech (2006) resignedly says “It is not possible for any government to prevent extortion completely”? When erstwhile surrendered cadres BPPF (H) hold the key to power in Assam? When NSCN (IM) has issued diktats to bureaucrats and local tribes with impunity and made the affected parties kneel & plead? When elections in South Assam are postponed due to well established nexus?

Numbers of voices in the media call these states as failed states. Responses of the people to unending violence are a futuristic warning of desperation. Lynching of ULFA carders in Sivasagar (Jun 07), Jorhat (01 Oct 07) and NSCN (IM) cadres in Tuensang (Sep 07), people’s vehement voice against the violence and absurd acts of judgment by the over ground out fits (Jalukie Jangdi and Intagaki Reserve Forest case) in Nagaland, Truckers & Education staff in Manipur going an strike against unethical demands of outfits etc are recent examples Readers can draw their own conclusions.

To make the ceasefire more productive the players who can contribute are; Centre Govt, State Govt and the common man. Out of the three, state Govt has to play big. The leaders need to leave exclusivist tribal leanings behind. The leaders need to stop dividing the society for power games they play. The leaders need to stop looking to wards the mainland for everything that goes wrong and start identifying their own responsibilities. The leaders need to make a paradigm shift from rhetoric to action. The leaders need to synthesize history with contemporary needs. There is need to improve the response capacities of law and order machine and also reduce their response time (Tripura has achieved to some degree). Lack of development is one reason for the existing state of affairs. But as per union minister of commerce, Jairam Ramesh “On a per capita basis, each state of NE gets much more than any other state in the country but nothing is visible on ground”. What happens to the funds or the fund flow is a pollution of democracy? People are not wrong who go on Blockades, Strikes and Dharnas either on developmental issues that they so well deserve or corruption of state machinery that needs reining. Losses due to these should not be mere statistics but taken note of. To quote figures in Manipur, there had been 42 days of Bandh & 77 days of Blockade in 2006-07 till 31-1-07. Each day of bandh and blockade has costed the exchequer, Rs 6.88 crores and Rs 3.01 crores respectively totalling to whooping Rs 520.73 crores.

One thought to fire the ceasefire is: Include a clause for cadres to deposit weapons for the tenure of agreement and assign some productive unit to be manned & managed by the outfit (not linked to rehabilitation of surrendered). Let them contribute to the society economically rather weaning away the same. Let them contribute to the positive thinking of the youth. Let them contribute to the saving of lives of young cadres who are used as cannon fodders or die of malnutrition or sickness in jungles etc. As per statistics from 2001 to 31 Mar 2007 there had been 5373 violence related fatalities. Out of these 2943(55%) are militants (obviously the younger cadres). Let these outfits not be above the law of land.

Exclusivist tribal identities and attendant insecurities of various tribes need to be impartially understood by the elected leaders of the state and represented at the centre cohesively. Ceasefire Meeting at Dimapur on 31 Jul 07 is a historical signpost lending the talks an inclusive dimension. It will not be wrong to quote ex governor of Nagaland H.E. Shymal Dutta who said “Though I dealt with North East desk before my retirement but my understanding of Nagaland and neighbouring states is more realistic and better now than it was earlier”.

Now the society. More is required from energetic & adventurous youth who need to explore their stamina & enterprise. Youth here does not lack anything but guidance & moral support of elders and NGOs. It was very encouraging to read in Sangai Express (23 Sept 07) about Kanglei Economic Development Organisaiton (KEDO) in Manipur. Its mission is to spread the message of self dignity & dignity of labour amongst the youth? Following KEDO Boys, Girls have also started the work, who sell items of daily use to the women vendors in famous Khawairamband Bazar. Each girl earns upto Rs 200/- every day. These girls deposit rupees ten every day for something big in future. Remember! small opportunities are often the beginning of big enterprise. Some of these girls are educated, some are pursuing studies and some are sports persons of national level. One of the girls told the media “We have come out to work, not because we do not have anything to do at home. But to show; that there are lot of works that can be done and earn money outside the home if one is determined”. She further added “In order to bring development in our society, we the youth should work tirelessly. Only then we should be able to make decision of our own”. Wow! What a positive and adventurous outlook to emulate and stop lamenting? Positively engaged youth will be idolized and bring lasting development. To make cease fire deliver results everyone need to identify his onus to fire the ceasefire lest it’s too late.

“The world is not moved by the mighty shoves of the herores but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker”.
“Hellen Keller”


Geoffery
( readers can reach out to the author on
Email: jaey_geoffery@yahoo.co.in)

'D' is The Key

‘D’ IS THE KEY


Reasons for NE region of our country being resource rich, little explored, underdeveloped, beautiful but less understood are; Lack of understanding the needs of this innocent region by centre, Lack of timely commitment of developmental funds, Lack of effort to bring this region in the mainstream at physical, social and psychological level e.g. recent example of publishing guide lines for North East Students by police dept of Delhi, distance from main land and vote bank vision of our leaders. On this, regional leaders make political speeches impregnated with words like difficult situation, complex situation and attribute this to lack of security forces, lack of funds etc and disguise their own inadequacies by further saying” we have approached the Centre Government for this”.

Now coming to the crux, as author understands. Two intertwined and interlinked issues of underdevelopment and unemployment need to be addressed by developmental course of action that every one desires. But there are some vested interests that resist developmental activities e.g. even BRO could not undertake road construction in interior of Chhattisgarh due to security reasons as told by H.E. Governor of Chhattisgarh to Asian Defence News. Need to introspect; can a handful of misguided youth hold the state to ransom? To meet our desire (D) we need to decide (D), dedicate (D) and develop (D) the decided course of action. Though a long process, but simultaneous efforts have to be made by leaders, parents, teachers and NGOs to bridge the ethnic, social and economic divide in the society. This can be done by attacking existing Tribalism (ethnic hatreds), Feudalism (unaccountability of leaders, bureaucrats and society), Colonialism (racial/ cast / creed/religious superiorities) and Phoney socialism (satisfaction over token development of the under privileged) that will invigorate the society.

Holistic development encompasses three forms i.e. physical, social & psychological. Physical is a precursor and ally of the other two. Out of myriad activities of physical development there is need to focus on forerunners and feeders to other forms of development. Churchill had said, “It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time”. I feel development of roads in a centrifugal manner will lead to centrifugal (centre to periphery) and centripetal (periphery to centre) progress. Of late, all out efforts are being made towards development of this region in planning, at least. Government of India has launched an ambitious backward region grant fund of Rs 5000/- (Five thousand) crores per year during eleventh 5 year plan (2007-2012). The fund will cover 250 districts (including 24 districts of seven North East State) of 27 states and will be totally grant based. India has total of 604 districts out of which 250 have been identified as most backward i.e. more than 40% of populated India. Mathematically, the plan will grant minimum of Rs 20 Crores to each identified district every year during eleventh plan to surmount its backward features. This is over and above the other developmental funds allotted in the annual budget of the states.

India being a developing country, finances are always at a premium and the Government is always trying to harness the funds in various ways. One thought to add to the planned grant fund is: Firstly, arrive at a political consensus of focused development without barriers; secondly, divide the states into most backward states, backward states & developing states. States need to further categorize the districts in the same manner; thirdly, pool in 60% of local area development fund of MPs, MLAs/MLCs totalling approx Rs 1000 plus crores. This could be proportionately allocated to the districts of the most backward states.

Draw concentric circles of 5 to 10 Km distance from the district HQ of identified district. Start monitored development of quality roads. Then the day is not far, when we shall see new habitation, new means of livelihood and new avenues of development upcoming along these lines of communication. Need to implement this with political responsibility, political will, continuity of political forethought, political commitment, developmental vision and not political vision of vote bank politics. In a discussion organised by CNBC TV 18 channel, Mukesh Ambani of reliance had said “political parties exist because of people and in next 20 years people would want to see performance not just promises ----------- “. To allay the fears of security, department of home will have to be taken on board for requisite measures. In case local vendors are not available, the projects can be implemented under Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) concept. Of course, the aspect of security still rests with home deptt.

Foregoing is ok. With our fragile polity & uncertainty of staying in power, this may seem utopian. But it is not! It will not be out of place to quote an international example here; AKP party in Turkey came back to power with better percentage of votes in 2007 than that of 2002. It is due to policies of paying attention to the needs of poor, encouraging budding entrepreneurs and ensuring equitable share of development reaches all and sundry. The development will change the status of North Eastern states from special status to equal status states with mainland. It will change the mindset of mainland decision makers towards this innocent, fertile, resource laden and vibrant region having power to be feeder to rest of the country in more ways than one. It will prevent the youth falling prey to vested interests for planting bombs or taking to gun culture just because of being poor & unemployed. Remember! “There is a thin line between Hunger & Anger”.

Geoffery
( readers may reach out to author on email;
jaey_geoffery@yahoo.co.in