RS Jassal
The signing of Cease-fire extension for indefinite period will go HISTORIC so far resolution of conflict of IM faction with GOI is concerned. No doubt differences in demands (about 32 of IM gp) have shrinked to a few but GOI stand on 13th point in Sixteen Point Agreement remains pivotal and irreversible, as much as NSCN( IM) settling the issue within Indian Constitution is kept a guarded secret.
Many students of this conflict keenly contest what are the gains for IM and what is likely left for K faction to negotiate with and why NNC/FGN does not come forward for negotiation if any clause of 16th Point Agreement is left out unfulfilled if that is worth fulfillment. Though it is quite obvious that their demands were fulfilled in toto starting from Four Point proposal 1946 to formation of Nagaland, except Thirteenth in the Sixteen Point Agreement i.e., bringing all the Naga inhabited areas under one administrative unit remains problematic. The worst affect of this CF is; which is otherwise welcome in all quarters due to its encompassing role in containing the terror; it has put life of supporting cadres of all the three factions and innocent civilians at peril. Most of the killings are now out of revenge & misguided suspicions and one killing pulls at least five more in the channel. If IM faction is product of progressive lineage of FGN there would have been no necessity for three factions to function. Three factions have different functional style with different source of funding but the most hard hit payee is the common man who coupled with fear of bullets for cooperation with one faction is naturally/ non co-operation for the other, starts looking to his benefactor which is nowhere in sight .This diabolic process is in orbit causing unrest & flowing of blood.
Analytically put, IM has achieved ONE most significant gain i.e., they can now relax and onus of any non –finalization of issue in future talks has been clipped to the wings of elected MsLA, MsP of both Manipur & Nagaland. And as and when people go awry about no outcome, they can attribute reasons for same to the inefficiency of their elected representatives. As already indicated they would be willing to scrap the CF agreement anytime for no satisfactory progress of peace process for which no section of the Nagas would like them to do so. Present peace allows their cadres to move freely (without weapons of course as per ground rules of CF) but with weapons too, if go undetected. So they are in a better position to reach any corner to thwart dissenting opinions. Threat on such people can reach faster & for fear of reprisals impelling them to join their bandwagon. Research on methods of achieving unification of Nagas among Nagas will continue. Culturally they have achieved unification i.e., controls in track TWO administration. One has to simply walk to Senapati, Ukhrul Jessami and see the cultural changes i.e., in communications, dresses; erection of Naga gates, education imperatives, dealing with social criminal cases by CAOs of GPRN, collection of taxes, in short their parallel Govt. is facilitated to function without fear of intervention from the State or SF’s because of CF in place. On the other hand inaction of State Govts Nagaland & Manipur both to deal with cases like Lungnila Elizabeth murder case, Henry Hubert duo murder case, killing of a Maram hijacker of a Maruti Van driver (Meitei), recent murder of a Nepali girl at Senapati, killings at Tuensang of three men in Civil jail in the presence of NP/NAP/CRPF/AR, many more killings will go on adding to the list. It really indicates true freedom in full sovereignty to act, to think and to react beyond Indian Constitution & Naga faith both. And yet spirit of Maoist communist ideology represented in the flag post and peace with ‘Nagaland for Christ’ flag flying atop will flutter with Naga HoHo, NMA and NSF NCF to watch with heads high, whistles in mouths blowing, devoid of sounds, warning the warring factions to curb killing spirits.
In view of above, what can happen finally; THE CONFUSION as conciliation between groups & church leaders is difficult to achieve in egoist ‘domino policy’ adopted by ‘those who matter’. It will resurge more vigorously. Strangulation of authority of Dobashi courts, village courts and Efforts in reconciliation is going ineffective due to CF. Govt. of Nagaland its legal proviso’s to stop killings UG to UG and UG’s to public is happening again & again & it will go on undeterred if ideologies of three factions are not ironed out into one mould. CL is miserably caught in contrarian pulls (Please connect CONFESSION of Dr.Tuisem & Bedrock of Naga Society).
The grand closing in of opinion on both sides (GOI-IM) is appreciation of each other’s vulnerable position. How does it affect average Naga? Four distinct concepts of Naga freedom thought have come out.
• For villagers/Headmen, it is of 1946 Four Point Vision to go back to village –State system i.e., as per one point out of four “If NHs are not separated from Bengal & put with Assam, better leave us alone” (as before) to say prior to British control system.
• Khaplang version ‘no solution if Eastern Nagaland (Burma) is not merged with Indian Nagaland’.
• IM faction- inclusion of Eastern Nagaland can be put on hold, but no solution if Southern Nagaland is not merged into Nagaland to form Nagalim.
• NNC/FGN is thus impelled to demand complete Sovereignty even though Nagaland has been formed in line with 16 Points Agreement, but less areas from Manipur (though stated ostensibly).
Here lies problem for both IM/FGN as it counters each other agenda. Top leadership on either side may take it correct or not and K gp influence it. Due to increased killings after CL has come up many Naga leaders and specially the church feel killing among Nagas of late are happening due to Tangkhul leadership which is sparking hatred time & again.IM feels once issue settles with them, their cadres will be free and situation will cool, which may be absolutely not so. Present bloodshed is on in Nagaland & IM solution will invite more blood in Manipur too. Let us ponder over it in cool thinking.
Passage of six decades, active interface and living together, fears of alienation of Naga culture by imposition of any majority communities’ writ on Nagas ways allayed, it should now be possible to settle issue peacefully. Since CF is for indefinite period, settlement of national workers be suitably undertaken Khaplang Mulatano, Muiva- Isaac and Pangerwalling- Nidino be co-opted in future review talks if possible . For equi-development of Naga people, the two tier system of governing their affairs on lines with Sikhs be thought of like ‘Shrimoni Akali Dal’ for political affairs and ‘Shrimani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee’ for religious , socio- cultural affairs taking in this all Nagas trans- borders w/o disturbing the existing state boundaries.
May I therefore call upon the Naga intellectuals & church leaders to sink their differences first & then to devote some time seriously and suggest SUKRAT like a legendary Ayurvedic Surgeon final operation of this sore problem to make this issue free from lumps and fungus affecting the glands of public life. People have lost freedom. Without CF, self respecting people could have at least looked to SF’s for help, now they have been made to float in helpless situation. Only four categories are left to enjoy basic human freedom. They are all NSA ARMED GROUPS, POLICE & THE SF’S, BUREAUCRATS AT THE HIGHER ECHELONS AND A CITIZEN WHO SURRENDERS HIS RIGHT to resist for incivilities. The writer can only pray for peace and wish everybody best of luck under this scenario. The Ind- Army finest in the world, central PMFs have become easy targets to bag HONOUR i.e., blame from politicians (when go in opposition), national and international media, for their in-efficiency to handle a few UGs ,compared to their outnumbering strength & regulate the movement of UG’s from their designated camps and above all of siding with one faction or the other. CFMG are lucky to draw fat pay from tax payer’s money for doing nothing for the past one decade. And now they also get entitled for perks & privileges for indefinite period May be! There is still hope & urgent need to expand CFMG with dedicated new members. They must be given backup of neutral armed SF’s like SSF at least one Bn attached to CFMG for monitoring moves of the cadres of both IM and K effectively and seriously. Strong NGO’s with proven peace credentials can help in improving the situation. Strict action against defaulters by trial under law of the land be introduced. And on found guilty such person(s) be evicted to a reformatory jail which may be set up for this category of detainees only one at Manigaon and one at Tibaktoo (both in Arunachal Pradesh) outside the state so that people can enjoy the sleep full nights under rights to civil liberties. Peace final needs hastening with whatever Central Govt. has in store for offering. More delay is inviting more blood. Blood whether in uniform or innocent civilian is equally important. Let us stop it.
