Blockade Back in Manipur

By Iboyaima Laithangbam

Imphal, Aug 5 : Empty trucks waiting for escort to lift essential commodities from Assam to Imphal on Dimapur NH-39 at Khuman Lampak, on Wednesday. Photo: Bipin Sharma

The United Naga Council (UNC), ignoring an appeal from the Manipur government, reimposed its blockade from Wednesday morning.

The UNC and the All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) also spurned the Union Home Ministry's call for talks to address their grievances.

Owing to the blockade, no vehicle plied on Highway 39 that passes through Nagaland. However, over 400 trucks that left Jiribam, bordering Assam along Highway 53, on Tuesday moved towards Imphal after several days of being stranded. Manipur witnessed a 68-day blockade that was “temporarily suspended” on June 18 at the intervention of the Union government. Normality is yet to be restored since the drivers had been boycotting Highway 39, while Highway 53 is practically impassable due to landslips and bad road condition. The drivers are demanding compensation for the 14 trucks torched by tribal miscreants during the blockade and a commitment to check extortion of illegal taxes from Manipur's vehicles in Nagaland.

No participation

The UNC and the ANSAM leaders refused to participate in a meeting chaired by Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Tuesday. It was convened to discuss the proposed amendment to the Manipur Hill Areas District Council Act, 1971.

The two Naga bodies imposed the blockade saying that the Act curtailed the tribals' rights. They demanded that the results of the Autonomous District Council elections held under this Act be nullified.

A spokesman of the UNC said they decided not to take part in the talks since it was a government ploy to arrest the presidents of the UNC and the ANSAM.

It may be recalled that the two presidents were declared “wanted” by a court order for having sponsored the blockade against Manipur. Other Kuki tribal bodies also did not attend the meeting.

The blockade was reimposed demanding the cancellation of the arrest warrants against the presidents, institution of a judicial inquiry into the firing on May 5 in which two activists were killed at Mao gate, the withdrawal of the prohibitory orders in the hills and recalling the State forces from the “Naga areas”.

M.C. Mehanathan, Director of the Union Home Ministry (North east), Hrushikesh Panda, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, and Surendra Kumar, Director of the Development of North Eastern Region (Doner) represented the Union government in the meeting, which also saw the participation of top State officials and people from all walks of life.

Meanwhile, the Manipur government, on instructions from the Union Home Ministry, decided to requisition trucks, oil tankers and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) bullet tankers for lifting fuel and essential commodities along Highway 39 from Thursday.

Mr. Ibobi Singh and Health Minister Pheiroijam Parijat said the State government would not remain a silent spectator to the reimposition of the blockade and that everything would be done to ensure uninterrupted passage of trucks.