Home » Surrendered programme of insurgency is not a solution to end the armed movement

Surrendered programme of insurgency is not a solution to end the armed movement

by Rinku Khumukcham
0 comment 5 minutes read

20 cadres of four armed rebel groups operating in the region have laid down arms and surrendered to the Government of Manipur. According to the state home department, those cadres who had laid down arms and ammunitions and surrendered to the government include cadres from Thadou People’s Liberation Army (TPLA), UNLF, PLA, and PREPAK (Pro). Well and good, it is another achievement of the N. Biren Singh led government and people from all wakes of life as this is a sign of restoring peace and normalcy in the region. It is a simple perception because the more the number of cadres started having trust in the government and have voluntarily approached the government to live a normal life will reduce the conflict between the security force and the armed insurgent group.
Well, the surrender –cum rehabilitation Scheme for the North East States was introduced during the month of April 1998. Before its implementation, there was debate among the people on whether the scheme will be a perfect tool to marginalize the armed insurgent group of the region. Even a Colonel Of the Indian army identified as A.R Sakshi had openly pinpoint the danger of the scheme as there were possibilities of those who are not cadres of any outfit may claim to be members of armed group and surrendered just to get the benefit of the scheme.
Since the introduction of the scheme, many cadres have surrendered. There were also report of surrendered drama which has been exposed through media in the late 2000s.
The Scheme has been revised to make it more effective and will come into effect from 01.04.2018. Under the Revised Scheme for Surrender-Cum Rehabilitation of Militants in the North East States, 2018 of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, rehabilitation benefits are given to the surrendered cadres included a one-time financial grant of Rs. 4 lakh to each cadre, which is to be kept in a bank in their names as fixed deposit for a period of three years. They will stay in a rehabilitation camp for three years during which they will be paid a monthly stipend of Rs. 6,000 each. Incentives for surrendered weapons have also been provided. This is what Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who is also in charge of Home had stated today during the homecoming Ceremony organized by the State Home Department at the Banquet Hall of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles.
Well and good, the N. Biren Singh government is slowly moving towards a positive direction to restore peace and normalcy in the state.
But one thing skeptical to the people is that will the opening of doors for the surrender of the insurgence promising them of the financial package will end the armed movement in the region. This is being questioned as no matter how many cadres of different UGs had surrendered the armed group seems to have no heat or any impact. These armed revolutionary group sometimes intensified even after the claimed surrender of their cadres. And besides, nobody, except those in the home department knew the identity of those who surrendered today. Maybe due to security reason their identity has not been revealed but the fact is that there is possibility of those claimed cadres surrendered today as imposters of the rebel group.
The need of the state is to ensure that peace is restored by solving the issue of the insurgencies through dialogue and not by forcing a few among them to come and join the mainstream. It is more important to initiate a peace deal with the armed group rather them inviting a few to come and joined the mainstream.
Saying so, the government did try and the response from the armed group were not positive, so it is natural that the Government take up alternative means to end the crisis. And the alternative optioned is the Surrenderee cum rehabilitation.
It is known to everyone who is spending their whole time researching the rise of the armed insurgency movement in the state. And one similar finding of the birth of the armed revolutionary movement is the annexation of Manipur. These rebel groups strongly disagree with the joining of Manipur to the Indian state as they felt the way Manipur was merged to India was illegal.
Nevertheless, after Manipur has been annexed by India, it was put to the mere status of Part C state and later Union territory and then it becomes a full-fledged state on January 21, 1972, which is about 24 years of Indian Independent. So much has been destructed to the social and political life of the people of the state after becoming a part of the Indian state. Over 1000s of precious lives have been wasted and it is only after 2014 that the people have some respect from the center for reason best known to those rulling at Delhi.
In July 2015 Lok Sabha MP of India Sashi Tharoor demanded reparation payment from the UK to India for 200 years of its colonial rule. He even demanded an apology from the British Parliament for the kind of destruction made by the then colonial ruler. The British Parliament listen to the former diplomat and appreciated him prompting to regret for what their ancestors had committed India.
Well, Manipur today is a very much part of India. Manipuri soldiers had fought war against Pakistan during Kargil war and two even martyred fighting the Pakistani soldiers. Recently at Ladakh too a Manipuri soldier (Indian Army) had fought the Chinese PLA to protect the country.
Now we all know that Manipur had been forcibly annexed but it is slowly becoming a part of India. An apology to the way that Manipur was annexed in 1949 and compensate for the damage of the reputation of the erstwhile may rather be a positive and effective way of solving the issue of the armed insurgency movement in the region.

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