India News Online » News Analysis » Indian Politics » 

Smouldering embers of protest

	July 19, 2004

According to reports, the protest movement in Manipur against alleged atrocities by the security forces is being spearheaded by a group of twelve women.

“We will not succumb to any repressive measure. We will continue to fight against violation of human rights and also against the black law (Armed Forces Special Powers Act). We are ready to sacrifice our lives. But we will not die in the hands of these forces. Instead, we will set ourselves on fire to protect the lives of our sons and daughters”, said one of them.

Asked how they could take the extreme step of stripping in public, the meira paibis said this was the only way to protest when no one was listening to their cries. When young girls are being sexually assaulted, it is our responsibility to stand up against these atrocities. We shed our modesty for the sake of the dignity and modesty of our daughters.

Scathingly criticising the state government for staying silent on the alleged fake encounters, the women said there was no one in Manipur to protect their children. They also questioned the role of the security forces in Manipur, asking whether they had come only to kill people. “Are they on a genocide mission,” a woman asked.

The 12 women, from the twin districts of Imphal and Bishenpur, belong to different organisations, working against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. Some of them belong to the Nupi Samaj, one of the oldest women’s organisations of Manipur.

Last week’s show of naked anger was planned and executed jointly by 32 organisations. Some of the members had earlier met at an undisclosed destination to chalk out their next course of action.

Observers note that the incident has thrown the spotlight on the “ugly conduct” of armed personnel in this region. The protest was stunning and caused by decades of harassment and worse.

In the past months, incident after incident have been brought to the notice of the public by media and other groups about the killing of young Manipuris by the security forces. Tension has been building up and it would have been obvious to anyone expect such protests any day.

The demonstration was an expression of horror and bitterness and reflects on the poor quality of soldiering as well as of leadership among the armed forces in the north east.

Fearing an upheaval similar to the June uprising, the administration clamped curfew in both Imphal East and West districts for an indefinite period. CRPF and India Reserve Battalion units were deployed in the Manipur Assembly building, the state secretariat and the residential complex for ministers and MLAs.

In June 2001, violence erupted across Manipur over New Delhi’s decision to extend ceasefire with the rebel group, NSCN (Isak-Muivah), beyond Nagaland.



Bandh in Nagaland against Special Powers Act

In Nagaland, roads were deserted and normal

life was paralysed in almost all parts of the

state and Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur as people observed a 24-hour bandh (work stoppage) in protest against the imposition of tough anti-terror laws like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and Disturbed Areas Act.

The bandh call was given by Naga Students Federation (NSF). The Tuensang Deputy Commissioner also confirmed that the bandh was observed in the district.

However, on the advice of the NSF, the residents chose to remain indoors except for emergency services. Nagaland’s largest commercial town Dimapur wore a deserted look right from early morning and all movements on the otherwise busy National Highway 39 came to a standstill.

Several NSF volunteers were seen blocking key access routes with garden chairs and stopping vehicles to check the identity of the occupants. Even movement of security vehicles was thinner than usual.

Reports of minor incidents trickled in from various parts of Dimapur but sources said there was no untoward incident. In view of the bandh, all flights to and from Dimapur were cancelled.

The NSF president said the Naga integration is a common issue which has even been accepted through resolutions in the Assembly three times by different governments.

The NSF leader said the “draconian” Special Powers Act violates the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights of the citizens. This act is to crush and suppress by military might what the Indian government describes as `insurgencies’ and `militancy’ in these areas.

The integration of Naga-inhabited areas is an issue of the Nagas. However, the revocation of the 1958 law is an issue for all peace-loving people, as it threatens the lives and properties of ordinary citizens and that is why we have been demanding its immediate repeal, he said, urging support from all sections of society.

In Mon, the bandh was partial as a day earlier the Tuensang Mon Students Federation had urged the NSF to defer the protest for the two districts as there was not enough time to organise the strike. Later, they decided to go ahead with the bandh.

The Naga Hoho, the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights and the Naga Mothers Association extended support to the bandh.