You must have heard that several countries are working together to eliminate the threats of Somali pirates and other pirates for the safe passage of commercial ships. Watch Captain Phillips if you have no idea.

The whole international community, including India, denounces these pirates and takes active steps to eliminate these threats. However, there are certain land pirates in the hills of Manipur with magic licenses for piracy.

It is well known that the Kuki militants run extortion rackets and illegal taxation on the vehicles on the two national highways of Manipur.

The Kuki militants under SoO and non-SoO are fully engaged in illegal taxation, and extortion is reported by many newspapers.

https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/manipur-abrogation-of-soo-between-centre-and-miscreants-is-only-way-to-restore-peace-in-state-says-mpp-607593-2023-07-01

https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/manipur-violence-kuki-militants-allegedly-involved-in-extortion-and-harassment-in-kangpokpi-claims-naga-council-675593-2023-09-09

https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2023/8/20/By-Our-Staff-ReporterIMPHAL-Aug-19-By-intimidating-the-truckers-well-armed-Kuki-militants-are-forcibly-co.html

So, what is the difference between pirates in the sea and land pirates in Manipur?

One in the sea is hunted by everyone, while Kuki land pirates in Manipur enjoy free from law enforcement under SoO. Central forces like Assam Rifles and the Indian army refuse to take any action citing SoO in every account.

People continue to ask if looting and extortion are in the clauses of SoO. If not, then why not take actions?

Not taking action against these illegal extortion schemes and turning a blind eye only suggests willful negligence on common people and left to defend themselves against these Kuki militants while Kuki militants enjoy a non-action blind eye under SoO.

No matter how much citizens shout, it seems no one is taking a look into the matter.

The pseudo legalized land pirates of Manipur.

Seeking a singular command or opinion is dangerous as it leads to North Korean, Chinese-style single-party elections. Converging ideas should be allowed to flourish without too many chaotic voices is a better approach.

Understanding singular voice and approach

During desperate times, it may seem that (and it is) following a good single command structure and established set of objectives is the right and best course of action. Right now, Manipur seems to be in a very tough spot.

 With the mushrooming of CSOs in Manipur and the breakdown of law and order, one CSO can do an action that other ones do not support. During the reaction to a well planned coordinated attack by Kuki-Chin militants, the unplanned reactions will obviously be chaotic in nature.

However, as the shock absorbs naturally, Meitei society will undergo an optimization process and filter out nonperforming CSOs. I won't name names but you all must have seen this process. Sometimes, you need to push them, and they turn out to be fine.

Kuina gari start tourudraga kick kaoba waragasu once start toukhradi adum nungaiba gari oiramba adugumba su adum yaogani.

Having said that, too many vehicles on the roads cause traffic jams and hinder/delay reaching your destination. Just like that navigating all the CSOs for the set objectives is a nightmare for the people.

This is why people are asking to stop using their own car and jump on the bigger capacity buses and trains so that we can decongest the roads and reach our destinations faster. It's time CSOs of Manipur listen to the public demands and think carefully.

However, a singular command leads to continued exposure to the idea that we follow whatever the top echelon directs. This may work for some time, but it is bound to fail. Frankly, do you want a system where no one is allowed to express their opinion? This is where the singular command structure leads to.

Some of you might not be aware but Chinese President Kicked out his competitors in front of everyone. This is the likely road for singular command.

Just like community and socialists, it sounds good but doesn't work in real life. Just like their supporters, their justifications will be - it is not implemented properly. Well, it has been tried many many times and none of them has worked ever says something. It's an ideal world situation and the real world isn't ideal.

So, what now?

Manipur by nature will not have a single command structure but people should be ready and quick to weed out nonperforming assets (NPAs) and should not extend help thinking they may perform in the future. Let's filter them out and if they want to come back, let them analyze what led to their failure.

It all starts from YOU! Don't let your mind corrupt and keep it clean. Be ready to listen and take only useful ones. We all should be the lens that guides the rays of ideas to a converging point.

Seek opinions that converge not diverge & you be the lens that directs it

Let's rewind ourselves to the lessons we were taught in physics about light and lens. There may be many many ideas, opinions, and information within the Meitei society. It's CSOs with their different ideas and objectives.

But you as a part of society, it is our duty to guide them so that their ideas are confined to the idea of Manipur and all of them are converged with our aim and objectives.

However, we should also make the CSOs aware that our lens to guide them has a limited aspect ratio, the width of the length is limited and there is only so much we can handle.

What's your view on this? Comment down and don't forget to subscribe, and follow Pukning on different social media presence for more such updates.

Even the Taliban has banned poppy plantations since it came to power in Afghanistan yet Kuki elites and common Kuki folks are justifying Poppy plantations with all sorts of silly excuses without any shame despite the high positions they are holding.

This shows the deep level of problem currently the violence-struck state of Manipur faces.

Kukis and their love for poppy

Ever since the Kuki initiated May 3rd violence in Manipur, we have seen too many Kuki defending their open poppy plantation with many reasons and excuses. We could have thought of this as some ill-literate Kukis if it was coming from some unknown people.

But Kuki elites, including former DPG and current MLA, LM Khaute, and Kuki professor Dr. Th. Haopkip. First, MLA Khaute said some poppy planters did it because they simply thought it was just a beautiful flower. Dr. Haokip reasons and asks the government to legalize it.

You can check out LM Khaute saying it by clicking here.

Watch Dr. Haokip asking the government to legalize poppy plantations.

We all hoped that they would come to sense and make an apology, then proceed with the moral ethics that once poppy planters now proudly engaging in other cultivations. But sadly, no, they are now making demands that the government should legalize it.

How sweet and innocent they planted because they thought it was simply a beautiful flower. What a low blow coming from a former DGP of the state and current MLA of Manipur. One has to have so much love and beauty for the Poppy flower that the whole sides of hills have to be completely clean of trees and use so many chemicals detrimental to the soil just to plant the Poppy tree.

Dr. Th. Haokip argued that planters are poor and have no option but to plant the Poppy. What is this logic? Should we legalize professional assassins because the assassin is poor and that is the only option? Because the products from the Poppy is killing thousands and thousands of people in the state and in the country.

These are elites, you will find plenty of arguments in social media spaces and YouTube interviews where the Kuki community is justifying the poppy plantation.

Why are Kukis so hellbent on the poppy plantation? Yet, they will not accept that drug problem is one of the main causes of Manipur violence.

Now the question is, who will punish them? By the looks of it, the state government and central government are doing little to nothing that these Kuki elites and commoners have the audacity to justify, mock as beautiful flowers, and ask for legalization instead of feeling shame and adopting other sustainable means.