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It is an irony but
true nevertheless that the direction one
should take to achieve that elusive word
peace seems to mean different things to
different people in Manipur and perhaps
nothing demonstrates this better than the
diametrically opposing view points adopted
by the State Government and the Army
authority over the cessation of hostilities
with six Kuki underground outfits and the
ZRA.
Understandably Chief Minister O Ibobi was
clearly peeved with the manner in which the
cease fire between the Army and the said
outfits was affected as it was done without
taking the State Government into confidence.
On the other hand, many social
organizations, particularly those belonging
to the Kuki and Zomi people see the stand of
the State Government as being opposed to
peace.
Both sides
have their own merit, but it is a little
hard to digest that the State Government was
kept in the dark when the truce pact came
into force. In other words, can the Army be
above the State Government in a democracy
like India? However noble the intention of
the Army may have been, it would have been
that much better if only it had entrusted
the task of affecting the truce to the State
Government.
The explanation given by the Army authority
to the State Government over the cessation
of hostilities is again indicative of the
men in uniform exceeding their briefs. How
did the Army think tank come under the
impression that they can pave a way for a
dialogue between the militant groups and the
State Government?
Politics is
best left to the professional politicians
and the men in uniform who are here to help
the civil administration should not meddle
with such things as paving the way for a
dialogue or anything of that sort.
The cease fire period has expired and only
the coming days will tell us whether the
cease fire is extended or not. However the
important point that should not be
overlooked in the next couple of days is to
ensure that the State Government is not
overlooked.
Even the Army
authority will agree that it makes no sense
for it to declare a cease fire with the
militant groups if the State forces are not
going to adhere to the truce pact. On the
part of the State Government, the issue
should not be a question of one upmanship
but about how to bring the armed groups to
the negotiating table.
A beginning has to be made somewhere and
while the Army should be here to assist the
civil administration and not meddle with
such things as initiating a dialogue or
something of that sort, the State Government
can surely look for ways on how to suspend
hostilities with the armed groups and engage
them in a political dialogue.
The moot
point here is peace and while we do
understand the sentiments of the Kuki and
Zomi people, the stand of the State
Government in opposing the cease fire
between the said militant groups and the
Army authority should be seen in its correct
perspective for the simple reason that it is
not the Army which is ruling the country or
Manipur, but the duly elected Government.
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