IRB personnel seen on patrolling duty at Kiphire town, one of the areas affected by violence aftermath the brutal killing of a couple between Shamator and Kiphire on February 6 by unknown assailant(s). (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 12
As violence continue to undermine human security in Tuensang and Kiphire districts of Nagaland, the role of the Nagaland State government in tackling issues of conflict has come under question.
After the February 6 Shamator incident where a couple was gunned down in cold blood by unidentified assailants, various civil society organizations, while condemning the act, also blamed the State government and the respective district administration on their failure to contain the chain of violence that spread as mobs went on rampage.
Many were infuriated that the lawmakers at the State capital chose to observe the situation from a distance - and only deciding to step out when the situation deteriorated.
The imposition of 144 CrPC did not pacify the situation and people were further incensed that the Nagaland Home Minister reached the area of conflict to assess the situation only on February 11.
In sensitive situations such as this, every statement or (in)action can be misperceived and misinterpreted and could aggravate the situation thereby putting lives and property at greater risk.
Are Inquiry Commissions effective?
Since 2015, a number of ‘commissions’ and ‘investigation teams’ have been constituted by the Nagaland state government.
Among others, this include the SIT to probe to the February 6, 2015 Tuensang incident where two person were killed, Judicial Inquiry Commission to the March 5 Dimapur lynching of a man and the Commission of Inquiry to look into the July 16 Wuzu firing incident involving security forces.
The outcome of these ‘Commissions’ and SIT’ remain unclear. Furthermore, the findings have not been made public either.
Hence, the announcement of the Nagaland State government on the formation of an Inquiry Commission to probe into the recent February 6 killing - in an apparent move to pacify the aggrieved parties did not help commiserate.
On the contrary, questions are being raised by observers on the effectiveness of such an exercise which was becoming more or less ‘obligatory’ while arguing that a number of inquiry commission/committees have been set up by the State government in the recent past, without any concrete outcome coming out in most cases.
Instead, stakeholders ought to be equipped to identity and intervene to the early warning signs – such as the dimension, pattern and dynamics of the issue, observers felt. In this way, the situation can be addressed from its root cause.
“The most basic thing the State government ought to know exactly is the problems within the respective district administration,” observed retired IAS, Khekiye K Sema.
According to the retired IAS officer, setting up such inquiry commission is just a clear reflection of a government not working. “I will not say it will solve the problem, it is just another way of explaining the inability of the State government in tackling the issue,” Sema said.
Given the background of the situation, the administration should have taken pre-emptive measures to deal with any reactions following the ambush. Sema, therefore pointed out that it was “downright inability on part of the administration to understand the problem that came up.”
According to Sema, there are larger issues running into decades, which may or may not be connected to the present conflict, requiring immediate attention and one which successive governments have failed to sort out conclusively.
“This is an issue of laxity and casualness of the State government which is suffering from indifference, Sema said. In similar words, former president of Naga Mothers Association (NMA), Khesheli Chishi said simply setting up inquiry commissions during such conflict is not actually helping.
“If we look in the past Commission set ups, many have not achieved any result. This, sometimes, instead of helping the people, angers them more because they see no result,” Chishi said.
The State government, according to the former NMA president, should not constitute ‘Commissions’ just to please the people- “If they are serious, they should go to the spot, identify what actually happened, find the root cause and take action.”
Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) secretary general Neingulo Krome also agreed that during such instances of conflict, the foremost step of the State government should have been to rush to the spot. “Inquiry commission takes months to conclude; and it is pointless if they are not going to act on the finding,” he added.
Former chief secretary Alemtemshi Jamir on the other hand said setting up inquiry commissions is essential and can actually help resolve conflicts, so long as the government have the will and determination to act on it.
Jamir also noted that the reason people take law in their own hands was because they lose faith in the system of justice - “and that’s when people start killing each other instead of taking it to court.”
“What is needed right now is effective communication between government and stakeholders, quick response to early warning signals, building synergies across all stakeholders and prompt action against defaulters,” Tali Longchar, a research scholar in Delhi summed up.
The displaced people
Another area of concern during such times of human conflict is the plight of the displaced people who continue to struggle in different aspects-physical, financial along with trauma even after the conflict has ebbed. It is not clear on the steps taken by the Nagaland State government to rehabilitate and resettle the 1300 displaced people affected by this present violence.
