B.Thawang Konyak
IAS (Rtd)
The twin effects of postponing the process of solution and election to the state assembly has put the Nagas into a piquant situation of the proverbial’’ Horns of Dilemma’’. The government of India has once again pulled the rug from under the feet of the Nagas by declaring election in the midst of the demand for political solution before the election. The trend of building the momentum for solution is going to be disrupted by bickering election of a mad kind, the Naga style. The desire of the people to live in peace through the settlement of ever looming and yet elusive political problem is going to be postponed indefinitely. Is it then the much talked about ‘Frame Work Agreement’ with the NSCN (IM) and the latter agreement signed with the 6 NNPGs mere slogan and not documents of prior importance? As a sop to the Nagas, the Interlocutor stated that talks can resume after the election. Well, that may be right but the momentum will be lost and the hopes whittled down as the election will certainly have the cascading effect on the unanimity of the people as obtaining now.
While we may understand the difficulties expressed by the Central Government that postponement of election can be done for only two months and the parties should be ready and willing to sign on any terms of Agreement sorted out within that period, beyond which any step taken has to go through the Parliament where the ruling party lacks majority in the Rajya Sabha, thereby making the situation unpredictable; it can be seen as a ploy to dodge any serious homework on the part of the government hiding under the existing legal and technical contravenes. It also reflects on the lack of consensus on the part of the negotiating groups. Going by this example, there will be many other hurdles unless and until the parties concerned are ready to break new grounds to come to settlement. It is also to realize that under democratic constitutional Government, no authority on its own has unrestricted or unlimited powers. There the limitation lies. So allowing the constitutional writ to run by holding election, both the parties may have ample time and opportunities to discuss issues threadbare and come to comprehensive terms of agreement satisfactory to all concerned, though twenty long years have elapsed.
While dwelling on political solution and election, to delve more into the issues, the fact that the centerpiece of the talk is known as ‘Peace Process’ and thereby the scope of negotiation is already limited. Taking advantage of the constitutional law of the land, the Central Government has already declared sovereignty as non-negotiable and the integration issue depends on the willingness of the affected states. The issue thus traversed into shared sovereignty and cross-cultural affiliation of the Nagas. Sovereignty by definition is indivisible attribute of a nation state. If India can make provision of sub-terrain intra-constitutional edifice to share its sovereignty no matter, but the proposition may end being just nice talk. As for Naga cross-cultural affiliation or fraternity wherever resides, if norms applicable to all is sorted out may work.
As the foundation of the Nagas demand for sovereignty and independence, we rightfully cite the Naga club memorandum to Simon Commission of 1929, the Naga plebiscite of 1951 and the declaration of Naga Independence on 14th August 1947, a day ahead of India. Besides the above, signing of various Ceasefires beginning from 1964 as between two agreed parties also form part of the recognition of the existence of a separate entity. The above three events are important milestones in the history of the Naga struggle. But Government of India seems to ignore or dismiss them as ex-parte affairs not having any con-commitment effect by trying to begin the Nagas story as from the 16-point Agreement, which means to find solution within the ambit of the Indian constitution. Enforcing election despite clamors for solution as part of constitutional dictate shows it all.
The Nagas’ dilemma also hinges around the likely outcome of the ensuing election as to whether the same group of leaders of known characters will come back with their money power or the people can pick up courage to pluck new leaf. Can the Naga people take the ownership of the ‘clean election’ campaign orchestrated by the NBCC involving all the churches in Nagaland? Without the change of minds and habits Nagaland will remain a mess and can even be worse.
I may err in sum up of the situation or tend to undermine the efforts of certain authorities without intending to do so. I am only giving certain perspective on the situations and issues involved. Yet much depend on the wisdom, knowledge and dexterity of those at work and spearheading the cause of the people.
