WOMEN’S TEAM FROM DELHI & MUMBAI
HEARS VOICES OF PEACE IN THE NAGA HILLS OF MANIPUR
In the midst of the tension around the proposed visit of NSCN-IM leader, Th. Muivah to the Naga Hills of Manipur, the border between Manipur and Nagaland has become a site for state belligerence as well as protests. Security forces moved into the territory in large numbers on the evening of 2nd May 2010. That very day the traditional welcome gate at Mao Gate was pulled down by them, and Section 144 imposed on Ukhrul and Senapati areas. Curfew has also been imposed and vehicular entry from Nagaland is also severely limited.
As a women’s team from Delhi and Mumbai, we visited the area to assess the situation. En route we saw the smouldering remains of four trucks burnt in the middle of last night. So far no group has claimed responsibility, but they remain disturbing evidence of mounting tensions in the area. Like many others, we were stopped at Mao Gate, the border between Nagaland and Manipur by the Manipur State Police who said that they had orders not to allow ‘any media’ in to the state. However, after further telephone communication with their officers they decided to allow us entry for a short while.
We visited two Naga villages closest to the border: Mao and Tadubi. As we reached the village centre in both places, we witnessed impressive gatherings of thousands of Mao Naga women in traditional black and red shawls, of all ages, many with children, from as many as 22 surrounding villages, gathered in silent protest. On the face of it these were ‘silent’ protests but not if you read the scores of placards that the women were carrying: ‘Muivah has a right to visit his birthplace’, ‘Respect Indo-Naga peace process,’ ‘Down with the Ibobi government’, ‘We want peaceful settlement’, ‘Nagas are one’, ‘No more militarization’, ‘We want peaceful co-existence’, ‘Expedite peace process’, ‘Do not provoke peace.’
“Why have curfew and Section 144 been imposed? There was no turmoil here, no reaction, even after they pulled down our traditional ceremonial gate welcoming our leader,” said one Naga mother. Another asked: “Why have they deployed so many forces here, more than ever in the last three decades?” Other sentiments posed by the men at the protests included, “It is unconstitutional and undemocratic to not allow a citizen entry to his home.” “Our future is threatened.” “Such actions of the government of Manipur are going to cause ethnic clashes.”
Amid news reports of escalating military presence and tensions in the hill areas including the attack on the police station by women in Ukhrul, are also stories of such other peaceful mass protests and candle light vigils. The Naga people in these areas are trying to get themselves heard through their silent protests – the question is will the state and central governments be democratic enough to hear them, and act without any further delay? The current situation inherently contradicts the spirit of peace talks towards a political settlement of this long-standing conflict, and threatens peaceful coexistence amongst the various communities of this region.