We call for peace and democracy but the response by the Indian government is volley of bullets and all forms of brutal crime against humanity. What we have been experiencing for more than five decades has been war against democracy.
India’s unending war in the Northeast, particularly Manipur, primarily designed and carried out to fulfil extra-territorial material ambition of warmongering Indian ruling class, however camouflaged by articulating polemical jargons such as ‘national security’, ‘developmental projects’ and ‘war against terrorism’, has rendered the people of this region vulnerable to war time emergency. State controlled media have been blacklisting democratic movements/ aspiration of the people and covering up class character of India’s war in the Northeast with false propaganda. And yet history is testimony to a series of war crimes committed against Manipuri civilians by the Indian government. Thousands of civilians have lost life, forced disappeared, harassed, dehumanised, pauperised and traumatised while in suppressing people’s democratic movement for peace and self-determination.
State terror in Langjing (four killed & several harassed; April 1980), Oinam Leikai (four killed; May 1981), Heiranggoi Thong (thirteen killed & thirty one injured; March 1984), Tousem (two killed & seven injured; May 1986), Oinam Village (fifteen killed & several tortured; July 1987), Kachai (whole village tortured; April 1991), Tera Keithel (five killed; August 1993), Chinga (one killed & seven injured; March 1994), Ukhrul Bazaar (three killed & four tortured; May 1994), Makui village (four killed & three injured; July 1994), Nungkao (four killed, two injured & several tortured; September 1994), RMC (nine killed & one injured; January 1995), Bashikhong (three killed & nine injured; February 1995), Tabokpi Khong (five killed; August 1997), Nungleiban (nine killed & three injured; October 1997), Kwakeithel (five killed; August 1998), Churachandpur (five killed & three injured; July 1999), Tonsen Lamkhai (ten killed; September 1999), Malom (ten killed and several tortured; November 2000), etc. and several other instances of brutal suppression of democratic voice for development and control over resources were perpetrated in utter disrespect to the dignity and fundamental rights of the people of Manipur.
Besides imposition of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (1958) and terror laws that boosts the morale of the Indian army and paramilitary forces in carrying out reign of terror with impunity; divide and rule over the oppressed people as it is manifested in deployment of underpaid irregular forces, if not forced labour of the mercenaries who are primarily lured towards conscription with false promise for job and privilege, such as Village Volunteer Force (VVF) among the Nagas and Special Police Officers (SPOs) in the four valley districts; modus operandi of killing spree unleashed by morally corrupted commandoes and undergrounds suspected of having close operational links with the government; all these constitute varying facets of an overarching war strategy orchestrated by the Indian government to weaken democratic force constituted by people, thereby, strengthening its imperialist grip over the resource of the region. If India had to prove that it is democratic and committed for peace; it must bring a halt to its imperial war game, repeal AFSPA, stop state terrorism and show respect for the democratic aspiration of the people of the Northeast.
We believe that prosperous future of the oppressed and exploited peoples lies in the collective struggle of the democratic forces across the globe. It is high time that progressive forces across the globe unite and fight together to bring a halt to all forms of unjust war against humanity and establish an order of peace and democracy.
