Zaleo Chakhesang
Kohima
Looking at Naga history we find that Nagas lived in village state form of Government having complete authority over its own affairs and territory even in the head hunting days. Union of villages or tribes under one authority or head did not exist. In essence, Nagas are disunited unintentionally prior to the emergence of the Naga National Council, (NNC) in 1946 which brought the Nagas together under one political institution. At that time Naga youth movement (NYM) the Youth Wing of the NNC functioned as the security and defense force.
When the Federal Government of Nagaland was proclaimed on the 22nd March, 1956 merging the NNC and the Hongking Government of the then NEFA, the need for a standing National Army arose. It was commissioned in the form and style of Naga Safe Guards with Gen. Thungti Chang as the first C-in-C. The force was raised on the principle of equal representation throughout Nagaland where every 9th (ninth) households sponsor one army who will be of the 10th (tenth) household.
At this period every Naga had a sense and feeling of responsibility and participation in the National Movement and in the heated wave of unabated armed conflicts, it reached peak moments of achievement. The Bi-lateral Ceasefire of 5th Sept. 1964 was signed by the FGN and the GOI just 1(One) year after granting Statehood of Nagaland. In a sense, the Ceasefire agreement is a negation of the 16 Point Agreement signed by the NPC and GOI.
The 6 (six) round peace talks started, yet, all along the ugly element of tribalism which is the main factor of Naga disunity was taking its toll on the main national movement. The peace talks ended in a dead lock and final settlement eluded us. The Revolutionary Govt. was formed by a splinter group of national workers but surrendered shortly in 1972.
In the aftermath of the Indian national emergency and imposition of President Rule in Nagaland, the Shillong ACCORD ON 11TH Nov. 1975 was signed by the Representatives of Underground Organization and the Govt. of India. This added fuel to disunity element and it became the main factor in further splits in Naga movement whether the claims and counter claims, the accusations and counter accusations can be justified or not. An issuer which is the responsibility of the GOI and the Nagas to solve was made and internal issue by we Nagas ourselves to champion disunity which is to the advantage of India in her delaying and time prolonging game plan and policy in respect of final settlement.
In the present Naga Political scenario there are independent identities like NNC Transit Camp Group (a by-product of Shillong Accord), NNC/FGN-without Shillong Accord Group, NNC, Non-Accordists who even induct Kilonsers in their fold which is unusual and other NNC individual entities. So also there is NSCN (IM), NSCN (K), NSCN(R), GPRN/NSCN and so on.
Are these entire genuine groups and enjoy the mandate of the Nagas? If so when and where did they get the mandate and if not why the Naga people as a whole do not check it. Some seek settlement without Sovereignty, some by the Nagas of Nagaland alone and some groups trying to exclude some other groups. Where can we find unity of principle and purpose in all these instances?
Only the stand of the NNC/FGN is clear as of today. NNC upholds sovereignty as was made in the Independence declaration of 14th August, 1947 and endorsed in the historic Plebiscite of the 16th May 1956. This is the mandate of the Nagas and remains intact as it is. NNC is the stake holder in solving Indo-Naga issue.
Naga Nation is inclusive of all the Nagas irrespective of the arbitrary division of Naga territory into Myanmar (Burma) and India by Nehru and Unu in 1953. To our understanding, the NNC did not acknowledge it in any form at any point of time in Naga history. Universally, is there any validity for any outsider to apportion the territory and property of another person at will without the consent or even the notice of the owner for the matter? This is exactly what the Naga case is today.
The conflict of contention is that Indian claims Nagaland to be a part of it and so became the 16th State of India in 1963. On the other hand, Naga never joined the Indian Union. The will and the stand of the Nagas to be a free people and nation was made amply clear to Simon Commission even in 1929 and subsequently Nagaland was treated as an excluded area at that time also by the British India Govt. We can make history but cannot change history and therefore, ignoring historical facts and the right of the Nagas, settlement of the Indo-Naga problem in any form will be impossible.
The 16th Points Agreement signed by the GOI and Naga People’s Convention (NPC) which was a composition of the negligible first few educated and semi educated Nagas at that time lacked consensus, so it could not succeed according to the envisaged plan of the signatories.
The Naga stand and issue remains the same as ever.
The much publicized framework agreement of 3rd August 2015 between GOI and NSCN (IM) also lacked consensus which is the most vital necessity. In the joint statement of likeminded NNC groups on the 7th Dec. 2015 they declared in no uncertain terms that the NNC have nothing to do with the agreement and that it is purely a matter of concern for the GOI and the NSCN (IM). So then, where will the needed consensus come and settlement made.
Political thinkers rightly said that sovereignty lies with the people. In fact, true political power lies in the hands of the people and therefore this is what the Nagas need to exercise today. The present situation in Nagaland may be likened to a time where Nagas are fighting among themselves for ownership rights today over the fruit of a tree which is yet not planted.
Today when we speak of Peace, Unity and Settlement what do we find? Nagas, be it social, political and religious leaders, the intelligentsia and the public tend to be indifferent. It seems as if our people think that peace, unity and settlement is the concern and responsibility of the few national workers only who are in the field presently. It seems we forget that the public is the owner and the National Workers are servants of the people. Nagas utterly fail to exercise even the inherent advisory role and authority and calm succumb to the dictates of the very few national workers whether it is right or wrong. Adding to all these again, our people heap blames and accusations on the nation. This is in fact accusing and blaming ourselves. This trend of existence only indicate nation destruction and not nation building. For how long will the Nagas grope in darkness without a clear goal and direction?
Now, then, Nagas, what shall we do?
1. Shall we be masters of our own destiny? 2. Shall we be ready to stand up for own rights both within and without and defend it at any cost? 3. Can we readily fulfill our responsibilities and commitments towards the society and the nation? 4. Shall we take initiative first or wait upon others to do it first? 5. Can we check and contain all elements that are “ANTI” in our land so that we will build a brighter and more honorable Nagaland to live in?
“Ask what you can do for Nagaland; Ask not what Nagaland can do for you”
