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The Centre's decade-long peace initiatives received a jolt last week as it failed to convince the Congress led Manipur government to allow the NSCN supremo Muivah, a safe passage to his birth place of Somdal in the Naga inhabited Ukhrul district of Manipur.
Both Muivah and Manipur Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh are now making all possible efforts to exploit the ongoing crisis. The NSCN-IM leader is still camping in Viswema village bordering Manipur and sending strongly worded warning to New Delhi. He further added that 'I was allowed by the Central government to visit my village at Somdal. Everything was positive. But suddenly things took a u-turn. Now the situation could become risky. Naga people have reposed their faith in Greater Nagalim and me. I am being challenged by them (Naga people) and now I have to fulfill their aspirations.'
By all indications, he is consolidating his support base not only in the Naga inhabited four districts of Manipur--Senapati, Chandel, Ukhrul and Tamenglong--but also in Nagaland where different groups had earlier questioned his authority and voiced their differences on the issue of ongoing peace talks. However, it remains to be seen how he reacts once the ongoing tensions die down.
On the other hand, the Manipur government is very firm in its decision that it will not allow Muivah to visit Manipur. They are of the view that his visit will create communal tension in the state. The Manipur cabinet in its detailed report to the centre also indicated that Muivah has a 'hidden agenda' which is why he is very keen to visit Manipur this time.
According to highly placed sources in Manipur, 'Muivah wants to propagate his Greater Nagalim concept among the Nagas in all the four Naga inhabited hill districts. That was the only reason why he preferred a road journey and also he was scheduled to address many public meetings during his stay in Manipur. We will not allow him to go ahead with his hidden agenda', the Manipur government's confidential report asserted.
This firm decision of Manipur cabinet made the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh very dear to Meiteis in the valley. In fact, a month ago, almost entire civil society and different organizations were up in arms against the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues for alleged human rights violation, fake killing, rampant corruption, extortions and deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Today, the same crowd is solidly behind the chief minister and the state cabinet because 'they did not surrender to the Centre and stopped Muivah from entering into the territory of Manipur.'
While both Muivah and Ibobi Singh are described as heroes by their own community, the Central government is unfortunately seen as a 'villain' both in Nagaland as well as in Manipur for messing up the entire situation.
This realization has forced the Union government to rush home secretary G K Pillai and Naga interlocutor R S Pandey to Manipur and Nagaland for working out a 'face saving formula.' Pillai met the state cabinet on Tuesday and reassured that 'the Centre will never accept redrawing of Manipur's boundary.' He is believed to have urged the state cabinet and the chief minister to revisit their stand on Muivah's visit to his birth place.
Both the officials today left for Nagaland in order to meet Muivah and explain him the overall situation mainly to assuage his sentiments.
Meanwhile, the stand off between Muivah and the Manipur government has caused a major economic crisis in Manipur. The lifeline of the state, national highway 39 is directly linked with Nagaland. The entire transport system collapsed due to ongoing economic blockade. Essential commodities including petrol, diesel, cooking gas have almost disappeared. Most of the petrol pumps are closed for indefinite period. As a result, the black marketeers are having a field day.
According to the Medical Superindent of the Regional Medical College, Dr Mahen, all routine operation has been suspended due to lack of essential medicines.
Official sources confirmed that the administration is making efforts to get essential commodities through the Jiribam-Imphal national highway 53 which is linked with Assam. People, both in the valley and in the hills are angry and upset. They hope that the Centre's representatives will be able to iron out the ongoing crisis situation and bring back normalcy in the state at the earliest.