Political leadership should realize that actions speak louder than words and it is time for them to move beyond the petty politics of Manipur
Post Date – 11:50 PM, Thursday – July 20
The shocking video of two women parading naked and being molested in the streets of Manipur has indeed left an indelible scar on the collective psyche of society. One of them was gang-raped in full view, and her father was reportedly killed before the heinous act, adding a gruesome twist to the ongoing conflict between the two tribes over granting the majority Metai people Scheduled Tribal status. There is no doubt that the Manipur High Court sparked the protracted conflict between the Metais and Kuki tribes, and now Manipur’s Naga tribe is also mired in violence. This horrific incident of stripping, molestation, rape and murder came just a day after violence erupted in the Northeast on May 3. Media reports said heavily armed majority tribes attacked Kuki village, setting fire to and looting houses. The villagers fled and were rescued by police, but were later caught by armed robbers who shot and killed the woman’s father before indulging in the heinous act. A complaint has been lodged with the police, but for inexplicable reasons, no action has been taken. It was not until nearly 78 days after the video surfaced on social media that Manipur police took action and said they had made the arrests. Even more deafening was the silence of Chief Minister Birun Singh, not only on the rape but also on the conflict in Manipur. It wasn’t until the Prime Minister struck platitudes before Parliament convened that he found the courage to speak. Interestingly, BJP ministers, accustomed to attacking political opponents on irrelevant issues, are now maintaining a suffocating silence. Only Smriti Israel came out to condemn the incident, and only after the prime minister broke the enigmatic silence.
Due to government incompetence, the armed conflict has reached alarming scale, with more than 150 deaths reported and thousands displaced. Now, the most heinous tactic of war, the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence to punish racial, political, or cultural opponents to maintain or assert control, is being employed. The present case is a deliberate war strategy, adopted with purpose. Some people don’t take it when the opportunity presents itself. Worse, the tactic was tolerated by leaders who were tight-lipped until the infamous video surfaced on social media. Oddly, the center is considering social media restrictions after the video went viral. The Supreme Court succinctly put the whole issue in perspective when it said: “The use of women as instruments of violence in a climate of tension is totally unacceptable in a constitutional democracy”. The government must act resolutely to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure swift justice before the situation degenerates into uncontrollable violence. More importantly, it must not only take steps to prevent such incidents through resolute military action against predators, but also establish mechanisms to help victims access medical care and psychological resources. Political leadership should recognize that actions speak louder than words. Now is the time to demonstrate that they can move beyond petty political considerations to act for the well-being and protection of their people.
