The month June, July and August this year, is perhaps the worst period experience by the people of the state. At first it was the ILP agitation which kept the region into complete chaos with the series of agitations and the curfew imposed by the district administrations after the death of a student identified as Sapam Robinhood on July 8, which is being continued till date. Amidst the protest the fury of mother nature has caused serious trouble to the state with almost all the part of Thoubal district and many in the hills areas had to bear the pains of the disaster cause by the incessant rains When almost all the cultivable land and cultivable lands and fish farms including the residential area of most of the villages in Thoubal district and some parts of Bishnupur district have been submerged under water, many places in the hill area have been destroyed by mudslides and landslides. At Joumol Village 11 villagers including women and children were killed by landslide. According to DoNer Minister Dr. Jitendra, around 60 percent of the people of the state are affected by the recent flood and landslide. He along with the Union Home Minister for state Kiran Rijiju had personally took Ariel survey of the flood and landslide situation in the state and even said that the devastation cause by the flood is very high. He had announced additional fund of another rupees 8.5 crore as immediate flood relief for the affected people.
When the issue of the ILP reached its height and when the natural disaster has caused extreme suffering to the people of the state and when the state government is facing tremendous hardship to solve the matter, another development, i.e, the signing of the peace accord between the government of India and the NSCN-IM has added another worry to the people of the state as well as those in the government.
Chief Minister Okram stands on the territorial issue is very clear. He even threatened the central government of dire consequences if the territorial integrity as well as the territorial boundary of the state is affected due to the peace accord signed between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India.
Now among the three issues the most important issue finally appears to be this Naga agreement at which the content of what has been agreed between the two is not let known to the public. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi this time is quick in responding to this issue. He had personally went to meet the Prime Minister to get details of the agreement but was sent back saying the accord is a framework agreement and details will be finalised soon. It was indeed considered as a sign of good gesture when the Prime Minister said that neighbouring state has been consulted at the time of finalising the accord.
All most all Nagas’ civil society organisation in the Manipur welcome the peace accord. There were welcoming ceremony observed at Senapati, Ukhrul and Tamenglong district.
NSCN-IM leaders like Atem had said through media that the accord content recognition of the Unique Naga History. And the leaders of the outfit was quoted at one of leading newspaper saying that integration of Naga inhabited areas in the NE state is still a core issue for the NSCN-IM. This means that people of the state has to remain alert and both the government and the civil society body have to be prepare for any outcome.
Interestingly, the development took place when the ILP agitation reached its peak. Thanks to the JCILPS leaderships who hold talk with the government team yesterday regarding the framing of the ILP Bill that will be table in the state assembly sooner or later. Any conflict could not be settled without holding talks and by initiating talk it is sure the issue will be solved in the coming days if both the JCILPS and government are sincere enough.
But one thing that we would like to remind is that it was Sapam Robinhood’s death that sparks mass protest and unless assurance is given by the government to punish the police officer and the personnel who shot the student has been proceeded under the law of the country the matter should not be settled at any cost. And moreover those immoral police officers who had pulled the hair of girl student should also not be let free.
