[Assam] Manipur continues to be completely cut off - The Sentinel

[Ram Sarangapani]

It is difficult to understand, how the State govt (Manipur) and the GOI have
just stood by and watched this slide into a couple of months. What a darn
shame.

First off, I am not sure about all the demands, and whether they were
legitimate, legal, or even productive. Even if the demands were legitimate,
this much is sure, that the
Naga student body has held the state of Manipur to ransom. This blockade has
apparently caused untold hardships to the common people of Manipur.

The CNN writes that the Center is going to send para-military forces to
accompany trucks laden with goods to Manipur, as the Naga students are
'taxing' (read highway robbery) every truck going into Manipur. Better late
than never.

Both the GOI and the state Govt. (Manipur) seem to be lacking guts in taking
action when necessary.

If this blockade had happened in the US, the errant students would be
cooling their heals (and their heads) in a federal prison for breaking
Inter-State Commerce laws, among other laws.

--Ram




http://www.sentinelassam.com/northeast/story.php?sec=2&subsec=9&id=38980&dtP=2010-06-16&ppr=1#38980

Manipur continues to be completely cut off

IMPHAL, June 15: Despite the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) calling off
their blockade on Manipur-bound vehicles in Nagaland today, Manipur
continued to remain cut off from the rest of the world as the All Naga
Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) persisted with their economic blockade
on National Highways 39 and 53.
After taking into consideration the appeals of various organizations, the
NSF decided to suspend temporarily their ongoing agitation. However, it
warned that it would resume its agitation any moment if the Manipur
government failed to fulfill the demand of the federation.
Union Home Secretary GK Pillai had yesterday announced that Central forces
would be used to clear the highway from tomorrow. The people of Manipur
continued to suffer untold hardships as all surface routes have been
blocked, except occasional bringing in of trucks under escort, and people
have to depend on airways for all forms of transportation.
Essential commodities such as baby food, medicines, oxygen and life-saving
drugs are not available, thus endangering the lives of the people. private
and government hospitals are not able to run properly. The situation has
been aggravated due to non-availability of petroleum products. Educational
institutes are not able to function properly as passenger services have been
cancelled.
A fast-unto-death launched by 10 women members of the Manipur People’s Party
(MPP) entered the third day today. The MPP is demanding immediate withdrawal
of the blockade. Five leaders of the MPP, including its president Dr
Nimaichand Luwang, have already been arrested by police for spearheading the
indefinite hunger strike.
The Manipur government has also declared two leaders of Naga frontal
organizations as ‘wanted’ persons with a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh each for
their arrest - David Charo (38), acting president of ANSAM and Samson Remmei
(50), acting president of United Naga Council (UNC).
Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh earlier pointed out that the government
was ready for talks with the protestors and also stated that the government
was ready to amend an Act of the local bodies.
As it was passed by the State Assembly, it can be amended by the Assembly,
he said.
The Naga student bodies had launched the stir on April 11 to protest the
decision of Manipur government to hold elections for local bodies of the
Autonomous District Council (ADC) in the hill areas.
As a part of the stir, two highways leading to Manipur NH 39 and NH 53 were
blocked by the students’ bodies. The NSF had blocked all Manipur-bound
vehicles in Nagaland since May 6 to protest against refusal of the Manipur
government to allow entry of NSF officials to their state. NSCN leader Th
Muivah had planned to come to Manipur on May 6, but the government sealed
all borders fearing communal tension. (Agencies)