The silver lining threads which, binds the bond of ceasefire between the GOI and NSCN (IM) have become increasingly thinner. It seems, the GOI is not serious enough to the worthy cause of the Naga. Two three days back most of the local dailies newspaper base in Nagaland has widely publicized the interview of Th. Muivah the Gen. Secy. of NSCN (IM) with Subir Bhaumik the BBC news correspondent. Th. Muivah showed his tough stand and threatened to call back (off) the ceasefire if the GOI is not prepared to resolve the Naga issue within the given stipulate time 31st January next year which is approaching near to our door step. He commanded the Naga warriors to retreat back to the jungles for another round of bush war.
The Gen. Secy. of NSCN (IM) made a mitigate stand from full meal to piece meal as he understands the difficulties of the GOI. The proposal made to GOI to engineer the final settlement are special cohesive Federal relationship, joint defence, if necessary employment of Indian Army in Naga soil, Indian currency, Foreign affair (external affair) and unification of Naga areas. This piece meal doesn’t mean compromising the Naga sovereignty but it is a chemistry of political equation which will pave the way to get complete sovereignty one day or another day. So something is worthier than nothing.
Naga Integration or unification is the core issue for any political settlement. Nagas are settled in a unified geographical area and placed in different administrative units without their prior consent and knowledge. They have distinct traditional boundaries with the neighbouring States like Meiteis, Assamese and Arunachalese. Once the boundary commission is set up, it is not a difficult job to redraw the boundaries.
Today the GOI has the authentic and mandatory authority to unify the Nagas as they desire so. Even the British Government too also has every moral obligation to pressurize the GOI to unify the Nagas. When integration issue sprouts out the GOI seems to be uneasy, passive and tight lipped. But it is truth and a fact that the tiny fertile valley belongs to the Meiteis and the rest of the land belongs to the hill people. Since for long period Nagas were separated from their family, they deserve to live together as one family. Now the gigantic task to unify Naga inhabited areas and to settle down the worthy cause is in the arena of the Indian government.
We acknowledge the richness of the political wisdom of the Indian leaders, but they should cultivate political will to resolve the Naga issue. In case if the ceasefire is not fruitful and collapses, the sole responsibility will fall on the Indian government, the largest democratic country on the face of the earth. The GOI may suppress and crash the Naga revolution with it military might and strength. But before it, do they remember the 16th century dictum which was quoted by everlasting William Shakespeare, “O, it is excellent to have a giant’s strength; but it is tyrannous to use it like a giant”. The Nagas are willing but the willingness too depend upon the GOI to meet at a common point.
Chache Lokho, MSU, Tribunal
