It is not the best of times.
It is not the worst of times.
It is the age of information.
It is the age of disinformation.
Words precede violence. There were torrents of heated arguments, vilification and spewing of hatred against each other over social media and the baleful effects are violence, tragic loss of life, of trust, viewing with mutual suspicion and hatred, severing community relationship. Those who exchanged words end up exchanging blows and bullets.
On May 3, 2023 All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) organised a Tribal Solidarity March in the hill districts of Manipur to protest against the Meitei’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) Status. When all hell broke loose, information as well as misinformation were circulated about the violence. The government of Manipur imposed a ban on the internet justifying that “…it has become necessary to take adequate measures to maintain law and order in public interest, by stopping the spread of disinformation and false rumours, through various social media platform such as Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc… ” The banning of the internet is still in effect to this day in the border areas where conflicts still persist.
Government has the tendency to overreach its long hand and meddle with our lives wherever and whenever possible without us inviting or asking to do so. It is shown in this ongoing conflict between the Kuki and the Meiteis in Manipur.
However, does the internet ban fulfill its purpose? Or does it have unintended negative consequences? Though the Manipur government may have good intentions, there are unintended consequences in various aspects of life. The banning of the internet done in the interest of public good cripples us. It backfires on the government itself. It has delayed much of the work not only of the citizens but also of the government officials. Not to mention about the hampering of communication.
Somehow, one way or the other, people try to find means to get access to the internet. Some by installing Broadband WIFI at home and offices. While those who use the Airtel service go to Mao Gate to obtain internet. By turning off their location and depending on how luck favours the people, the internet could last for a month, for a week, or for a day. Some of the villages in Manipur bordering Nagaland are able to connect to the internet.
The truth is, even when internet ban was imposed, most of the people in the Imphal Valley could get access through broadband WIFI. Of course, not everyone but those in the upper rung of the bureaucracy, who have ties with the top government officials could get access to the internet.
The government and top bureaucrats exempt themselves from the rules they impose on the citizens. How resoundingly true is George Orwell’s phrase that ‘All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.’ Also, Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984, seems to have great relevance both then and now, wherein the state acts as the BIG BROTHER monitoring every aspect of the citizens’ lives, including their thoughts.