There is
a saying that is often repeated: One man's terrorist is another man's
freedom fighter. At the superficial level, there appears to be truth
in the statement. However, if one digs deeper there are at least two
reasons why the statement is problematic. This is important to be set
right because faulty idea such as this can have a life of its own and
later on hurt the larger society. Arriving at a globally agreed
understanding of what consists terrorism has been elusive for various
reasons. However, as of today a credible case can be built that
defines terrorism as 'employing terror as a political tool by state
or non-state actor in a deliberate, systematic and sustained manner
upon non-combatants in order to attain certain political objective'.
From time to time Imphal valley has witnessed bombs being planted in
public places by non-state actors, resulting in several civilians
being killed and wounded by the bomb blasts. Barring an incident or
two – like the one where a bomb was planted at Mini Secretariat,
Senapati, recently – bomb culture is largely absent in the hill
districts of Manipur or even in the entire Naga-land. This suggests
that the principle with which some of those in the Imphal valley and
the hill districts operate are different. All the non-state actors
operating in the Imphal valley or in the hills would insist that they
are fighting for self-determination, for political space where they
can exercise political autonomy. One important distinction, however,
is the way the different parties pursue their political objective.
Given the frequency of bomb blasts in public places, it is hard to
miss the point that certain non-state actors are resorting to terror
to achieve their political objective. Even in a full-blown war,
maximum restraint has to be maintained to avoid civilian casualties.
Gun-fights and bomb blasts that target the rival armed forces will
occur in battlefield. Yet a distinction must be observed between
combatants and non-combatants. Bombs in public places that target
non-combatants is terrorism. This is a poor reflection of a group
that is pursuing self-determination. Even when the political
objective is just, the strategy to achieving the goal can damage the
cause. Planting bomb in public places is just the kind of strategy
that will invite international and local outrage – a perfect recipe
for political disaster; a freedom fighter having become a terrorist.
The same concept of terrorism applies to para-military forces as well
operating in the region. Fake encounter killing is not an unusual
story being circulated among the general public. 'Friends of the hill
people' undertaking active effort to befriend the hill people get
nullified with an instance of fake encounter killing. Given the
history in the state or the region, significant number of people grew
up thinking of the armed forces as Devil's stooge. With an instance
of fake encounter killing, it is so easy to typecast the entire
security personnel with the age old impression. Even without any
effort to reach out and befriend the hill people, 'friends of the
hill people' might as well look within and try to curb any kind of
fake encounter killing and harassment of innocent public. This will
be more productive in creating a friendly outlook. Yet the more
important reasons is because of the moral implication such an action
bears and guilt associated with it – or ought to associate with it.
The North East in general has a sense of historical movement which is
rather different from the mainstream Indian society in several ways.
For example, the mass uprising against the British Raj did not take
place in the North East just it happened in other parts of the
country in the 1930s or 1940s. This kind of mass movement or the lack
has a bearing on the present political scenario. No wonder there is
some sort of a political faultline between the North East and the
rest of India. Given this reality, the way these different entities –
state and non-state actors – respond to the ever evolving society
will determine the course of political future and its speed of
change. Let no one take the general public for granted!
( For the Hornbill Express for 23rd Feb. 2015)
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