Civil unrest had been a way of life in Manipur for
quite some time, except perhaps a period of relative peace for the last few
years. One feature though in all the strikes, agitations, and protests over the
years has been the presence of women, be it Meitei or Kuki.
Among the Meiteis, much has been said about the Meira
Paibis that began as a civil grass roots movement, aimed at primarily addressing
social issues.
Their trademark torches and oftentimes all-night
vigils were begun, both as protest and patrol, standing guard over the menfolk
and against the then atrocities of the armed forces.
Touted as leading the way for not just feminists
but also as ‘guardians of civil society’, the journey has since spiralled into an
‘armed’ wing in this present war; (so far) effectively using their gender to intimidate,
thwart and threaten any and everyone who get in their way.
Be it preventing the armed forces from reaching
areas of militant attacks, instigating men to rape women, and cordoning off
large areas by sheer numbers, these women are now no longer peacekeepers.
Far from it.
What has stood out among these women now are two
things:
ignorance and aggression.
Ignorance in the absolute, shrill shrieking,
attention clamouring points they bring about in their interactions with the
media.
There is no coherent thought process in the
justifications they spout when confronted with facts and data.
There is only the singular jaded narrative that resonates
in each and every communication, be it with the army, the news reporters, or elected
representatives.
Arrogance in the way in which they have single
handedly and with great impunity, aided and abetted large scale violence, aka ‘bhaolens’
(IFYKYK)
Their complicity in the crimes committed is
evident in the way that they have stood firm, using their gender implicitly, threatening
to and also disrobing in the process, refusing to let the forces through, while
their men, husbands, sons, have looted and pillaged, killed, and destroyed.
https://twitter.com/Spearcorps/status/1673378371013857280?s=20
June 13:
Blockade at Nunshung; the army alleges it helped miscreants set on fire 7-8
villages in Khamanlok
https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/how-meira-paibis-manipurs-women-vigilante-groups-have-made-indian-army-helpless-606745-2023-06-30
https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/indian-army-raises-concerns-over-interference-by-women-activists-in-manipur-604796-2023-06-26
June 24: Around 2,000 Meira Paibis women assembled in
Kanglatombi and blocked NH-2 from 11:30 am to 7 pm. They brought an excavator
to dig a hole in the road leading from NH-2 to Assam Rifles operating base in
Hathikhowa, restricting movements of soldiers.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/women-activists-accompany-armed-rioters-and-blocking-routes-and-interfering-in-operations-says-army/article67013135.ece
June 20:
The Assam Rifles arrested four suspected United National Liberation Front
(UNLF) cadres on the night of June 19. The next day, the Meira Paibis staged a
protest at Lilong police station where the UNLF cadres were lodged. Released on
bail happened at 9 am.
https://ukhrultimes.com/scuffle-erupts-between-womenfolk-and-assam-rifles-personnel-in-lilong/
June 24:
More than 1,200 Meira Paibis women blocked a convoy of Indian Army and forced
them to release 12 members of the banned extremist group Kanglei Yawol Kanna
Lup (KYKL).
NOTE: Amongst
them was the self-styled Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam (Mastermind of 6
DOGRA ambush case of 2015).
https://twitter.com/Spearcorps/status/1672673343953334272?s=20
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/womenled-mob-forces-security-personnel-to-let-go-of-12-militants-in-manipur-army-101687640789023.html
The women themselves have also been involved in
acts of arson and violence:
https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/manipur-violence-womenfolk-allegedly-burn-down-lpg-trucks-in-imphal-west-615117-2023-07-15
War, as always, has seen targeted assaults on
women, where bodies have become battlegrounds, the forced imposition of will to
subvert and subjugate.
The recent video, that highlights
not just the abject degeneration of moral compass and fibre, where Kuki women
have been subjected to extreme levels of abuse, is unfortunately one of many.
For the others that suffered assault, some have resulted in death, their bodies relegated to a cold, dark morgue somewhere in the valley.
In these acts of violence and barbarity, the conscious, deliberate presence of these women torch-bearers, is a stark testament to the hatred fueled by ignorance and depravity.
Yesterday, as protests were seen in different parts of the country as well as in the state, these bands of women were protesting too, but for a different cause.
According to them, since there was no video evidence of the actual rape itself, there was no crime committed and hence, all the uproar arising as a result was unjustified.
There is much to take away from this stance, but one thing is clear.
Take no prisoners and be damned otherwise...
Someone, that is, the overwhelming presence of the powers that be, had planned well. Of the long game in realizing how women may be
effectively used as weapons of war, both in the subjugation as well as in the
perpetuation of aggression.
So, let us not fool ourselves into the ‘all
women have suffered’ delusion.
The truth is in war, there are always two sides.
To the victor belong the spoils.
In this case, sadly both happen to be women..
"Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave…
I rise
I rise
I rise."
~ Maya Angelou
In the quest for justice, may truth prevail.
And through the nights of terror, fear, may we, the Kuki women, rise, into a daybreak wondrously clear...
#donttakeourside #hearourstory
#injusticeignitesrevolution
#wearenotthesame
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