Ashonshok Kachui
TISS, Mumbai
When a key minister in the BJP Government Kiren Rijiju said 'NSCN-IM has dropped the issue of Naga integration' there was furore among the Nagas especially the Nagas outside Nagaland and many began doubt contents of the 'Framework Agreement'. However, it prompted the NSCN (IM) to issue a quick statement saying that the minister was incompetent to comment on behalf of the government of India and advised him to refrain from commenting such in the future. The peace talk however is seen progressing and various state and national leaders are positive about a fruitful outcome in few months time. For instance, the government has Nagaland has convened a meeting of Nagaland tribal Hoho's possibly on May 11 possibly to prepare a 'landing ground' for settlement in the words of Rio who will be hosting the said consultative meeting. The case of other Naga groups outside remain cold and unknown and there seems to be no competent authority to invite them, let alone consult them on the ongoing Naga accord. While stakeholders in the peace talk comprises of various Naga Civil Societies, there is a growing silence on the part of Naga civil societies from Manipur at this crucial moment even when the territorial integration of Naga are being denied blatantly by person in a position as Rijiju. In such a scenario, it would be wise on the part of Naga groups in Manipur to raise the issue of Alternative Solution as apparently, they are on the brink of being left out once again.
For the reader's memory, let me remind the issue of "Alternative Arrangement". It was raised in the Naga People's Convention held at Senapati on July 1, 2010. A decision to 'sever ties with the government of Manipur' was taken through a Declaration. The United Naga Council observed that it was impossible to protect right to life, land, time-honored institutions, customary practice and values under the administration of the dominant and communal Government of Manipur. It also noted Nagas of Manipur has a history with the Manipur Government that confirmed the harsh reality that never recognized and respected the identity and dignity of the Naga people.
The demand for “Alternative Arrangement” culminated in a long series of bandh across Manipur and it crippled the economy for months. Giving notice to the demand, Government of India initiated four rounds of tripartite talks with Manipur government and Alternative Arrangement Demand Committee. The last round was held in August 31, 2012 and it was further decided to hold another round in 'hill of Manipur' but it didn't materialised.
It is held by some sections in the Manipur society that the demand for alternative arrangement was a reaffirmation that Nagas have given up the idea of sovereignty and moved closer for a settlement within Indian constitution. It is also seen that demand for Alternative Arrangement is a result of NSCN-IM acquiescing to drop the demand for Greater Nagaland. The failure to demand for “Alternative Arrangement” let many Manipur Nagas to question the ability and integrity of UNC. However, the claim of UNC that Manipur government as mistreating the Naga is substantive.
The Government of Manipur is still mistreating and disrespecting the Naga people. Before the previous Congress government was ousted in 2017, they announced creation of seven new districts by carving out and bifurcating from the state’s existing districts on December 9, 2016. This was a shocking move as newly created districts were created without consulting Hill Area Committees. It is also seens as a division of Naga inhabited areas in the guise of administrative convenience as district like Kangpokpi, Kakching and Jiribam were created containing huge tracts of land belonging to the Naga people but their headquarters were located in Kuki and Meitei dominated towns. UNC swung into action and imposed bandh for several months. There was uncertainties until BJP came into power in Manipur and it was decided to hold tripartite talks and to this day, the parties involved are still in the process.
The UNC has not learned anything from the past and it is continuing the same path it took when it allowed the demand for Alternative Arrangement to be archived in the files of dusty cabinets of government offices. To this day the Government of Manipur share the same attitude towards the Naga people as party may have changed, but the people’s attitude remains the same. Consider the division of Naga's ancestral land, the Chief Minister of Manipur statement that Manipur was a part of India during Lord Krishna's time, non-promotion of rightful Naga bureaucrats to be state government’s important portfolio, confiscation of natural resources owned by Naga villages and even a State's minister denying of existence of Naga people in Manipur!
When all these are going on, the NSCN (IM) and six other NNPGs are camped in New Delhi holding talks with the Government of India that could decide the fate of the Nagas. The Indian leaders including the Prime Minister himself has assured the territorial integrity of Manipur and that should alarm the UNC to rethink their current talks on district creation and look at the bigger picture. If past histories are any example, there are many lessons to learn. Naga National movement in the past influence Nagas of Manipur to join the movement for a unified sovereign Naga homeland. The demand took bloody turns as Indian occupied much territories of the Nagas and subjected them to harsh punishment especially in the present day Nagaland. Manipur Naga had their fair share of contribution but few prominent pro-Manipur Nagas imposed strict curfews and there was no significant involvement of the Nagas of Manipur in the consultation that eventually led to creation of Nagaland state in 1963. The aspiration of the Nagas of Manipur were ignored in the past and the same may be happening if one look at the current trend of silence on the part of civil societies that represent Nagas from Manipur. Maybe they are not enthusiastic enough for a united homeland? Recent example can be cited of how many Nagas in Manipur are pro-Nagaland in word but pro-Manipur in deed. Even after the Declaration or so called 'Naga People's Mandate' was given denouncing the Government of Manipur, there was no resignation by Nagas from respected government posts and no Naga MLA resigned from Manipur legislative assembly, prompting Manipur Civil societies to mock at Naga people's mandate.
The current imbroglio can only remind us of the experience of 'Greater Mizoram'. Laldena, the Mizo National Front's chief idea of unifying all Chin-Kuki-Mizo into a state was dropped as there was 'no option', 'no opportunity' and even 'no space' within the settlement to accommodate the people of Churachandpur districts and other areas of Manipur.
UNC still has the chance to salvage the opportunity in hand, the time and place it has before the final solution to the protracted Indo-Naga issue come into fruition. It can device new strategies and impose wiser tactics to negotiate a better deal for the Nagas of Manipur. In its least capacity, it can act as a catalyst to add pressure for more inclusiveness of other Naga occupied territories by show solidarity and support for the ongoing Naga peace talk through revival of demand for Alternative Arrangement.
It is disheartening and assuring at the same time to know that some in the six other NNPGs who are also in talk with GoI have reiterated their support for Alternative Arrangement in the past as they feel the people of Nagaland should decide the fate of Nagaland while maintaining solidarity and social attachments with Nagas outside Nagaland state. Perhaps the issue of Nagas from Manipur is seens as the biggest gridlock in the current Indo-Naga issue. Hence, it is upto them to stand united and declare their demand, this time with words and action. The Naga hoho has always stood for the integrity of Naga inhabitants and only time will tell how Nagas tribal Hohos invited for consultative talk on May 11 decide for the rest of Nagas outside Nagaland.
