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For a Better Tomorrow

Now that the Naga Youth Front has suspended its economic blockade imposed on Imphal-Dimapur Road with effect from 6am August 29, 2001, it is time for a post mortem of what had happened during the past two months in Manipur. Indeed the suspension of the road blockade, even if it is a temporary one gives everyone of us the much needed opportunity to sit and to cool off our boiling bloods and think seriously, positively, constructively and progressively what went wrong and what are the amicable solutions to avoid what had happened, in the years to come.

The first thing all should admit is the fact that the relation between the Nagas and the Meiteis as turned from bad to worse. This needs to be rectified. We should shed off the pretensions that there is no communal tension between the two communities. Many Nagas inhabiting or working in the Valley as Government employees fled to the hills fearing Meitei backlash during the anti-ceasefire agitation. Similarly, Meiteis in Naga-dominated areas fled to the valley fearing Naga reprisal during the pro-ceasefire agitation. Whether we like it or not, these are the facts to be admitted. So the first thing both sides should initiate is to remove this fear of backlash.

It should be also acknowledged that both sides had shown commendable restraint in the face of extreme provocation. They did not target each other physically. This shows that not all is lost and we can work on improving relations between the two communities. For this both should be ready to listen to the opinions of the opposite party and give a serious thought to them. No efforts should be spared to resolve contentious issues in an amicable and friendly environment.

During the economic blockade, the Governor had been the favorite whipping boy of the general public as well as the press (this column included), but we should also be wise to realize that given the circumstances no Government, how powerful it may be, will be able to ensure an incident-free smooth traffic on the Imphal-Dimapur Road (but this column still insists that the Government could have done much better) during such a blockade. As long as such conflicts exist, no Government can maintain normalcy. So, an improvement in the relation between the two communities can only avoid such conflicting situations, which have considerable potential of dangerous conflict. Expression of a sincere gratitude to the Naga Youth Front, which called the blockade for listening to the appeals by the Naga HoHo and concerned organizations including those of the Meiteis to lift the economic blockade, could go a long way in laying the foundation for a dialogue between the apex organizations of both the communities.

The experience all of us have gone through should be a lesson for all those social activities, who are engaged in the uphill tasks of unveiling a better tomorrow for all of us. The first step is to establish people to people contact and start dialogues to remove the misunderstandings and differences in an amicable way.

(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)

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