David Sera
The public in Nagaland has woken up as relates the diary of events in the State which has already sent tremors in both factions of NSCN. There has been strong resentment among the local civilians against any kind of concentration of NSCN factions within built up premises of town area and on several occasions the public has physically lashed out, signaling their sentiments that they have had enough. The factions are losing ground as fresh proposal of tax imposition in the month of September on shops of Hongkong market was resented. The proposal was outrightly rejected by the Union who went for a close down of shutters till the state govt intervened to resolve normalcy.
October incident in Zunheboto revealed the fact that the public of Nagaland has reached a consensus in their quest for peace and normalcy. Cadres of both factions who had concentrated in the vicinity of Zunheboto had to face a crowd of more than three thousand locals armed with daos, sticks and stones who took out a procession from town hall forcing the groups to flee from their position. The public thereafter dismantled and destroyed semi permanent defences occupied by factions clearly signaling the fact that no nonsense of disturbing the peace and tranquility of the region will be tolerated.
In December, NSCN (IM) had to face the public wrath over killing of two Konyak tribal youths in Kohima wherein the Konyak union demanded an explanation along with the arrest of the culprits for which NSCN (IM) had no answer. On 14 Feb ’07 the growing resentment within the public against the local administration for keeping tightlipped or acting like mute spectators also came to light in Phek. A strong crowd of 700–800 people marched up to NSCN (IM) positions in Bible still and chased out the cadres burning all temporary structures erected by them. Sensing trouble, FGN cadres camping in other parts of the town slipped away. The public protest even targeted the DC’s office and SP’s residence both of which were damaged clearly spelling out the belligerent mood of the Nagas.
Clouds of doubt have gone away and the civilian population of Nagaland seems all set to bid final farewell to all forces of external and internal occupational agencies brutally trying to occupy the state and hoodwink people in the name of Nagalim and sovereignty. The message is clear that Nagas want peace to prevail and public will decide the future of Nagaland. Beware, all factions, as the writing on the wall is clear. ‘Any attempt to derail peace will be dealt with an iron hand’ – so wake up and advocate a right course to deliberate over compromise and peace.
