Rebels vote in Manipur

Many cadres of rebel groups in Manipur that have signed truces with the government voted in the Lok Sabha elections, hopefully heralding the start of a new political discourse in the state, writes Ninglun hanghal

In a historic event in Manipur, members of some rebel militant groups that have signed truces with the government were allowed to exercise their franchise in the just-concluded 16th Lok Sabha polls in the state. 

Members of the hills-based Kuki National Organization (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF), which have Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with the government, voted in the elections to the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency on 9 April; their valley counterparts were also supposed to follow suit in the election for the Inner Manipur seat on 17 April, but it fell through, apparently because the government did not make the necessary arrangements, leading to a certain degree of recrimination.

The rebel groups under the umbrella of the KNO and UPF comprise 23 armed factions. An agreement for suspension of operations was signed in 2005 with the Central government (Ministry of Home Affairs) and later a tripartite agreement involving the Government of Manipur was signed in 2008.

The valley-based United Revolutionary Front (URF), and certain factions of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP)  and Kanglei Kanna Yawol Lup ( KYKL).have also signed Memoranda of Understanding with the government.

The SoO agreements oblige the rebel groups to abide by the Constitution of India, to stop all extortion and other illegal activity, to confine themselves to designated camps, and to deposit arms.

Special arrangements, with a separate nodal election polling officer, were made for the KNO and UPF cadres. A total of  280 ballot papers were provided to 14 SoO-designated camps for the cadres in the Sadar Hills area, where in one such camp, Natheljang Ebenezer Camp in Kangpokpi, about 42 cadres cast their vote. In Churachandpur district, 195 cadres of rebel outfits of the UPF cast their votes in seven designated camps on 9 April.

On polling day in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency, 17 April, the appearance of a clean shaved Ningthoujam Nongdrenkhomba alias Romen in a formal suit along with his wife at a polling booth caused a major sensation. The commander-in-chief of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP- MC) outfit exercised his franchise at Kumbi (C) polling station in Bishnupur district.

Most of his fellows, however, did not get the opportunity to exercise their franchise, apparently due to the failure of the authorities to make necessary arrangements for them to cast their votes, despite the Election Commission's instructions. 

An estimated 584 cadres from seven valley-based militant groups are under the umbrella of United Revolutionary Front (URF), the KCP (Lamphel) group and the KYKL (MDF).  A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by these outfits, the Manipur government and the Union home ministry was signed in February 2013. The agreement covers non-involvement in anti-social and anti –national activities by the cadres, while the state and Central governments are expected to ensure security for the cadres. The cadres are lodged in temporary designated camps scattered over the state.

No arrangements were made on the lines of those made on 9 April for the KNO and UPF cadres to allow them to vote at their respective camps, nor were there any arrangements to escort the cadres to their respective polling stations, complained a leader of one of the pro-peace groups, who also pointed out that they are being targeted by other rebel outfits and it is not safe for them to move out of their camps. The authorities were not clear why arrangements similar to those made for the hills-based groups were not made for the valley-based pro-peace groups, but it is certainly something of an opportunity lost. The overwhelming response from the cadres who did get to exercise their franchise shows that it  could be the beginning of charting a new course of political discourse in Manipur and the North-east at large.

The writer is a delhi-based freelance contributor

The Statesman NE page
April 28,2014

Election in Manipur: High voter turn out, and incidents of booth capture

Ninglun Hanghal looks at the election in Manipur, which witnessed a high voter turnout, while in a few places, there were allegations of booth capturing.

Polling for the two Lok Sabha seat in Manipur have been completed. The record voter turnout was 75% and 84% in the Inner and Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency respectively. No major changes comparatively as in the last general election in 2009 with a turnout of 72% and 84% respectively.

Though no major incidents were reported, in the Inner constituency Re-poll was held in one polling station at Moijing (A) in Thoubal District , where the number of voter turn-out exceed the voter list. Further, four Polling station in Oinam Constituency in Bishnupur District, saw no voter turn-out due to a boycott call, after public protest against the police in the aftermath of an incident of threat to one family by miscreants.

Except Moijing Polling station, no re-poll was recommended by the State CEO, though Political parties such as the BJP have demanded for a re-poll in several polling stations with allegations of manipulations of polling stations and proxy voting in the Inner Parliamentary constituency in Manipur.

In the outer parliamentary constituency, Re-polling was held in six Polling stations at Lambung and Molnoi village in Chandel district, Sanakeithel in Ukhrul; Keihao Tangkhul village, Katao village and Thaibung Khunou in Senapati district. According to the State Chief Election Officer in these areas EVMs were destroyed and the number of votes recorded was more than the number in the voters’ list.

Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency covers the entire hill districts, with majority of inhabitants, the Nagas and Kuki-Chin- Zo ethnic groups, along with seven Assembly segments in the Thoubal district and Jiribam sub-division in the valley.

Over 200 companies of state and armed para military forces as well as unarmed security personnel were deployed. Out of the total of 1406 polling stations; 327 were categorized as hyper sensitive, 797 sensitive and 282 officially considered normal. MI-17 helicopters were used in lifting polling personnel and EVMs at polling stations located in “unfriendly” terrains.

Ethnic and community polarization is still deep rooted in these Hill areas of Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency. The trend of the election canvassing and campaign, support for particular candidate are normally led by Traditional bodies, tribe based organizations and its leaders. Most commonly, people follow, support and vote in terms of their group, community and ethnic affiliations. Whether these trends of electoral politics and its discourse in these areas were in tandem with the “militant/ armed” groups is altogether a different story.

These militant groups in Manipur are notoriously infamous for their diktats over every spheres of socio – economic lives of the people.

Interestingly, Kuki Armed rebel groups, who were under Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement with the Government of India are voting in this election in Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency. This is a welcome step by the Election Commission with an overwhelming response. A total of 280 ballot papers were provided to 14 various designated camps. In one of the designated camp in Sadar hills about 42 cadres of Kuki National Front (KNF) cast their votes . It may be mentioned that there are 23 armed groups under the SoO agreement.

It may also be recalled that the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) Isaac – Muivah and Khaplang group, the oldest secessionist militant movement in NE have successively boycotted elections in Manipur – both the state assembly , parliamentary , including the Autonomous District Council Elections.

The re-polling conducted in the six stations in the ongoing voting exercise are reportedly areas of NSCN domain.

Right after polls, reports of booth capture follows. Accusation and allegation of booth capturing were leveled against Militants/ Insurgent groups by political parties ,mostly the BJP in the outer Manipur parliamentary constituency.

Do these “militants” come to the polling stations is a big questions. With hundreds of security forces deployed in these “hyper sensitive” areas, whether “militants” have a free hand in these polling stations, is a complex phenomenon indeed. Do “militants” or underground outfits take control of the ballot boxes or do they force the common man at gun point is for the election officials to report and confirmed. It may also be noted that media persons are not present in these interior, rural areas. Moreover, it may be further stated that all elections related and voting reports from these interior areas were sourced from the State Election department.

The fact is many common civilians in these rural villages do not exercise their franchise. While traditional bodies, civil societies did influence public opinion, many are indifferent to elections, particularly Lok Sabha. Further these are areas with no basic infrastructures and proper connectivity far from the development and political discourse of the country.

The real picture behind the consistently impressive Voter turn outs and booth capturing in outer Manipur parliamentary constituency should be seriously looked into by the State Election Department and Election Commission of India.

Liberty Institute ( empowering India) New Delhi

April 2014