As a senior surviving Naga national worker, I want to give here my personal view and reflection on the fourteen years of Naga Political negotiation with the GoI. The political dialogue between the NSCN, on behalf of the Nagas, and the Government of India has been conducted to have an honorable and acceptable solution to both the negotiating parties. The Indian leaders proclaimed that the Naga issue is a political problem and that it cannot be solved by Military means. With such open assertions of the Indian leaders, the Nagas hoped that Indian leadership would come to the negotiating table with sincerity and a strong political will. But Alas! Nagas have been completely disillusioned. By the goings of the Indian leaders in the political negotiations we are convinced that the Indians intended to take a respite from the exhaustions of the Indo-Naga war.
Since the agreement for political dialogue was without ‘Pre-condition’. It becomes a negotiating matter and in a negotiation the principle of give and take is naturally involved. The NSCN leadership has claimed down from the original stand of the Nagas for complete sovereignty and has gone to the extend possible to clinch a settlement in order to fulfill the desire of the Naga people for peace. But it seems, the Nagas have been bluffed and betrayed by the Indian Government. Fourteen years of talks could not produce any concrete result. Is this fourteen years of political dialogue a joke or a child’s play?
If I am asked what kind of solution do I want, as a long sufferer and a living witness of the sacrifices and sufferings of the Naga people for sovereign Nagalim, I will naturally go for complete sovereign independent Nagalim. But the desire and voice of the Naga masses is supreme and they prevail over individual’s will. So much so that the NSCN leadership has given its best efforts to reach a settlement of the prolong political issue between India and Nagalim. But the Indian leaders are still joking with the Nagas. Nagas are very unfortunate.
Coming to the Naga integration issue, the Indian Government have the obsession to keep the Nagas under the mercy of the Meiteis and the Assamese. No doubt, there were Ahom kingdom and Manipuri Kingdom in the past. It is now up-to those people concerned whether they want to live with India or revive their Kingdoms, Nagas have no say in those matter. For the Arunachal Pradesh, it was unreached and un-administered land. It remained a perpetual no man’s land from time immemorial. The Indians forcibly and illegally occupied this free land with free people. For the nagas, there were no United Kingdom or divided Kingdoms. Every tribe was a distinct entity and Villagers were mostly republics and the people enjoy complete freedom from outside interference in their customs, cultures, and the system of Administration. The Indians forcibly and illegally occupied the land of the Nagas, that was why Armed resistance started by the Nagas. During the prolong Armed struggle, the truth is to be admitted, the Nagas could not completely push out the Indian Occupational forces and the Indians could not completely quelled the Naga Independence movement. That was why a political negotiation was needed and is going on for the last fourteen years. But we will see the sincerity and integrity of the Indian Government and its leaders in the days to come. Very sorry, we the Nagas have naively hoped that India is responsible Country and her leaders are equally responsible people. The coming together of the Nagas to live together thus in no way cause robbery to any others land and property. Therefore the desire of the Nagas for Integration should be appreciated by all.
Indian is not a land of Mahatma Gandhi’s dream, neither Subhas Chandra Bose’s dream nor Jawaharlal Nehru’s dream. The Indian Country and her Government is now led by liars and treacherous people. Therefore, any political insurgent groups in India hoping to solve their problems through peaceful negotiations is absurd. They must learn lessons from the Naga case. In the fast changing world, fourteen years of Political talks is too long a time for any people. Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of classless Society in India. But in India classes divide is now too deep and too wide. Lakhs of Indian people are enjoying highly luxurious lives, whereas millions of Indians are dying of starvation. Subhas Chandra Bose dreamt of freedom for everyone. But freedom is enjoyed only by the affluent and elite groups. The Indian masses are trampled down as grasses. Nehru dreamt of a strong leadership and a strong Government to guard the rights of the Citizens against domination and exploitation. But all these have gone to the dustbins. Whether good or bad Nehru had the guts to give any political decisions. But now who among Indian leaders could give any constructive political decisions? False diplomacies, bluffs and indecisiveness are the beauties of Indian leaders now. The NSCN on behalf of the Nagas have prepared the final proposals for settlement and submitted to the Indian Government. Now the ball is in the Indian Government’s court. Any breaking down of the talks will not be the responsible of the NSCN.
When we introspect the attitudes and actions of Indian leaders during the long fourteen years of political talks with the Nagas, we are reminded of the mid seventeenth Century political games between the Hindu ruler Shivaji and the Muslim leaders like Afzal Khan and Shaista Khan were trickeries and treacheries dominated the Deccan (Southern India) politics. The Indian Government is always talking for peace in one hand but a dagger on the other hand. Some years back, I have overheard an Indian Defense Commentary on Radio and concluded the commentary with the following words; “If India wants peace, she must prepare for war”. India is really practicing this policy towards big people as well as small people like the Nagas. Indian professes as a peace loving country. But she does not yet signed the nuclear non-proliferation Ban Treaty neither the Geneva call “Anti-personnel landmine treaty” which a small nation like Nagalim has already singed. Then what the real motives of the Indian’s for world as well as regional peace?
The flexing of muscles by Indian Occupational forces during the proposed visit of NSCN General Secretary Th. Muivah to his native Village Somdal in May 2010, and the proposed visit of NSCN Chairman Isak Chishi Swu on 13th January 2012 to visit his native town Zunheboto is a thought provoking for all the peace and freedom loving Nagas. Has there been any other man in the leadership, they will not have tolerated such treachery and arrogance of the Indian Government and its Armed Forces. There could have been a catastrophic incident which the Indian Government would have been fully responsible. Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah borne and tolerated the mind piercing pains and humiliations by themselves on behalf of the Nagas. Every Nagas should appreciate it.
Now what is the option before the Nagas to preserve our identity and freedom? The NSCN have apprised the rights, Situations and conditions of the Nagas and also campaigned every nook and corner of the World for support. In this mission we have spend enough time, money and energy and the people of the world appreciate our rights and grievances. But who is there to come to our rescue? Nagas, let us unit together forsaking all our differences. Let us put up a united effort. Do or die is the option before us, whatever be the consequences. Thousands of Naga freedom lovers are crying for justice and liberty from their graves. God forbid, let us not betray them. “Let the leaders wear out and let the Naga movement meet a natural death” is the policy of the Indian leaders. Then what shall we do now? Let us unite and be united and fight.
This is my personal opinion as a Naga.
A.Z. Jami
Senior Kilonser, GPRN
