Joyce Paveine
Motbung, Thursday, 11:20 am:
This isn’t a rant but an experience I am sure almost many of us from Senapati and others from the “Neutral” Nagas have been facing. I’ve heard stories about it and had my first experience a few months back as well. Also, this is the fourth time I told myself not to be dramatic about something that isn’t normal but is normalized. I know nothing, except speaking from experience and views, which if unsolicited, can be ignored.
Traveling beside the seat of the bus driver is fun. We get to see the entire front view of the road. But the view isn’t pleasant when someone accuses you of recording/ taking pictures just because you held your phone too high up on your knees.
Exactly!! On my way back to Imphal from a national seminar at Mt. Everest College on Thursday; our Senapati bus, as usual, was stopped at Motbung where bunkers [Kuki-Zo] were set up after the ethnic conflict took place. Stopped for checking the Aadhaar Card of every individual that passes through ‘their territory’ traveling in private and in public transportation.
So this guy in khaki clothes (not sure if he’s Manipur Police) came up in front of the bus and shouted “Karino phone kaplido” with a camera hand gesture. For a minute straight!! Everyone inside the driver’s cabin looked at each other confused about what was going on and who is what, what is what.
Until that guy pointed at me and my poor phone that was just resting on my knees panicked. Everyone asked me if I was recording or taking photos. I was confused as how Mr. Bean getting confused as a photographer. Good Lord!! I know where I am of all places. And if I do, what will happen? The world knows about it besides I won’t be the first person to click a photo as well (had I took it). The picture of that place has been all over the internet since the birth of this conflict. The irony is the audacity of accusing without the knowledge of what is happening.
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So, the driver as angry as the rest told him that no one was recording or taking photos. That’s when he let us go ahead. I mean, whose land am I disturbing to be treated and checked like an intruder when I am minding my own business accepting the truth? Precautions, I get it!! But people just have to be humble most days at most periods. Human greed has no end!
Okay, just a reality check. If check-ins are done at Sekmai as in Motbung. (Checking whether our Meetei brethren pass Motbung if that is done similarly with the other, checked whether our Kuki-Zo brethren pass Sekmai). Who is suffering? Who will suffer? It is already 10 months through with this ethnic conflict.
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If territory and ID CHECKING is really worth it, then, I am sure many must have been arrested or killed everyday.
I mean, is it so necessary? If so, why?
We the unaffected, are as equally outraged as those who are affected. I just don’t understand what the people in power, whom we have given the authority to govern us, are deliberating at this point.
People who survive from hand-to-mouth are the most affected by this conflict. Let alone the economic and social disruptions, human relationships have been trampled on. The means of survival gets limited for those whose daily earnings are deprived by the wave of the conflict. The people in power also seem to enjoy the ‘show’ while also participating in it behind the curtain of organizations because had they wanted to stop this bloody barbaric war, it would have been. Or wait!! Are we bait for fishing? Fishing more money, and more power from the central pond. Human greed has no end!
In all of it who suffer? The innocent suffer!
It’s true, some say ‘since NAGAS are in a Neutral position they deserve to bear the struggle we go through, and “since they are NEUTRAL they should not comment” on whatever is happening especially when it comes to Religion (examples like burning of the church, mockery of beliefs, chanting and hand-to-mouth and after murdering, cross and stuff…) whereas some of us think we do not deserve it because we are not involved. The position of neutrality is well-digested by the Naga- Community, I am sure. Well aware while also being least aware of what will happen with one move away from neutrality. I only pray for God’s wisdom to drive the heads of the leaders before actually drifting into a bottomless pit. Human greed has no end!
But honestly, NOBODY, NONE OF US deserves what’s happening to each one of us, all that we are going through because of this conflict. So don’t tell me we Nagas are not facing anything at all.
Plainly speaking, not politicizing, why should it be us civilians who have to be in the ‘conflict’ because of the irresponsible indecisive money-mongering power-thirsty leaders? Who also happens to be elected by us?
If I am hated because I wrote this, I shall embrace what George Orwell said, “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.”
At this point, who is to blame who?
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