[Assam] Manipur, Kashmir And Plebiscite

[Barua25]

Manipur, Kashmir And Plebiscite

By Dhanajit Thongam

The debate on plebiscite initiated by the outlawed United National Liberation Front, Manipur is gaining momentum day by day with write-ups on it appearing almost everyday in one or the other newspaper. This kind of debate, whether it may bring fruit or not, appears to be a positive development towards finding a way out to settle the long outstanding problems of Manipur. Apropos the debate, I wish to share some of my little knowledge which, I think, will not be a dangerous thing as it is not intended to jeopardize the positive developments seen in the wake of the plebiscite debate. A lesson from Kashmir: Historically Manipur and Kashmir share a lot of similarities in the pre and post-independent India. Both were parts of the then colonial British India and later merged with the independent Indian Union. Immediately after India got independence Maharaja Hari Singh, the Godra king of Kashmir decided to remain independent despite various pressures from India and Pakistan to be part of them. Pakistan held the view that the decision of Hari Singh, the then King of Kashmir is a complete violation of the rights of the majority Muslim community of the State. Later Pakistan invaded Kashmir during which Maharaja Hari Singh sought Indian intervention by signing an accession agreement which later gave way to the birth of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. But a large portion of the State had been captured by Pakistan when a ceasefire came into effect in 1948 and the areas thus occupied later came to be known as Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the line of ceasefire as Line of Control (LoC). Manipur merger: Manipur merged with the Indian Union in 1949. Before that merger, Manipur had a written Constitution and a State Assembly elected by the people on the basis of adult franchise in 1948. Logic suggests that Manipur (or the people of Manipur) opted for independence instead of becoming an Indian State. Thus, like Maharaja Hari Singh, the then King of Manipur violated the democratic rights of the people of Manipur. Again, Kabow Valley was gifted to Myanmar by India and it became a Myanmar occupied Manipur like Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). Plebiscite proposal: The question of Kashmir reached UN table in 1948 with heated arguments between India supported by the then USSR and Pakistan by USA and Britain. Later a resolution was adopted which allows the people of Kashmir to have a plebiscite under the Indian intervention and subject to the withdrawal of Pakistan forces. Pakistan rejected it and called for a plebiscite only under UN intervention. Since then the plebiscite debate is on. Article 370: Along with all this that took place in history came Article 370 of the Constitution of India which allows the State of Jammu and Kashmir to have a Constitution of its own to deal with its state affairs, a flag, an anthem etc. This article is not amendable by the Parliament though it can be kept inoperative by the President only with the prior consent of the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir. Not only this, a huge amount of money is being drained to this State to please the people and give adieu to violence. Thus the State of Jammu and Kashmir gains a lot while Manipur finds a heavy loss. Greater autonomy: Now that time has come again for a stronger demand for a greater autonomy for the State of Manipur citing Kashmir as an example. Politicians, public leaders, social workers and the elite group should not be silent in the wake of a plebiscite demand by an outlawed organization. I do not here mean that we should support the demand of plebiscite without proper thought but rather I wish to give more depth to the question of the future of the State in the first half of this century. It may take time to break the plebiscite ice but a demand for a greater autonomy of Manipur bears merit historically and politically and such a demand may be met in an early stage. Unfortunately no political leader has ever shown any enthusiasm in such developments. States like Naga-land, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim have already got certain powers under Article 371 of the Constitution. As such demand for greater autonomy of Manipur in view of the uniqueness of the history of the State and the present situation may result in positive outcomes. A preventive call: In the event of an early plebiscite (or say sovereignty in a rather far-fetched way), it may definitely shake the territorial integrity of Manipur. A large section of the people of Manipur belonging to a particular community is more loyal to New Delhi. They think that being anti-Manipuri while living in Manipur shows the dignity of their community. These people are always apt to balkanize Manipur and their loyalty to the cause of Manipur is always questioned. The ground work: A plebiscite under UN intervention will not draw after a night's dream. It calls for a UN resolution in the first case. Now the question - how many nations around the globe have supported the plebiscite demand - has come up. I do not know whether the outlawed organization which has initiated the debate has a meaningful and reliable answer. My little knowledge, for the time being, say plebiscite in the light of the present circumstances is beyond our reach. We have learned that India has become a global power in terms of its military strength, economic growth, geographical area and its role in maintaining international peace. It will not be easy to defeat India in a UN forum. We have seen it in 1948 in the wake of a resolution on Kashmir and similar cases that has followed. But this does not mean that plebiscite is an empty day dream. It is something that has to be studied further with respect to the geo-political conditions of Manipur and the world. You can not talk of plebiscite in Imphal only; you need to go to Paris, London, Moscow, New York and so on to gain their support. What now: Recent development shows that many armed groups have set the ball of peace to roll. They have taken their seat across the table and have placed their charter of demands. People have supported the move. The same will be in case of Manipur too. Be it plebiscite or anything else, I think, a dialogue at first may bring desired goals. *** The writer is a lecturer of English, Sangai Higher Secondary School, Mantripukhri

(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)

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