By Sonam Saigal
The decision of the agitated Naga students to temporarily suspend the almost two month old blockade of National Highway 39 (Imphal-Dimapur) and 53 (Imphal-Silchar), passing through Nagaland and connecting Manipur, brought relief across the border in the conflict-ridden region.
The blockade came to a halt on Tuesday after a protracted conflict leading to much hardship to locals, especially across Manipur and other states in the North-east.
The Naga Students Federation (NSF) met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi on Monday and submitted their representation.
The prime minister apparently was positive in his response and promised to look into the issue immediately and with urgency. "We told the government to address the issue in the right perspective.
The demands are very clear -- the Manipur commandoes and Manipur Rifles and other state forces should be immediately withdrawn back to the valley from the Naga-speaking areas in Manipur, because they have blocked all the roads leading to Naga areas," said Kelhouneizo Yhome, a NSF leader, in Delhi.
The blockade was called in protest against what the Naga students call "the discriminatory" Manipur (Hill Area) District Council Act (Third Amendment) 2008 imposed by the government of Manipur which takes away the traditional rights and the powers of the tribal villages in the Naga-speaking areas of Manipur.
"Why is the media only repeating the Manipur government's version - the real issue lies elsewhere," said an activist to Hardnews. "It lies in the discrimination Nagas face within Manipur."
Union Home Secretary GK Pillai had earlier said that the Centre has decided to send security forces to lift the economic blockade by Naga groups in Manipur. "The blockade has severely hit the supply of essential commodities to Manipur.
Therefore, it would be removed from Assam to Manipur," said Pillai.The Union home ministry has decided to send 16 companies (about 1,600 personnel) of central paramilitary forces to assist the Manipur government to clear the blockade on the highways.
Besides, six companies (600 jawans) are also being sent to Nagaland. Pillai also added that the chief secretaries of Nagaland and Manipur will meet in Delhi on Wednesday to review the situation there.
Earlier, the Manipur government had blocked the visit of Naga leader Muivah to his ancestral village near Ukhrul in Manipur.
This visit was initially okayed by the Centre. The Manipur government had stated that it fears a repeat of violence as had happened many times in the past, especially in the context of the demand of Greater Nagalim by the Nagas, which comprises areas now within Manipur.
This is a complex and longstanding problem which has not found a serious solution till now, leading to regional and ethnic conflict in the region, especially in the border areas.
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