Partners in ‘Détente’

Witoubou Newmai

It has been a blow-hot, blow-cold affair all along, and very often the question of probity rears prominence, regarding the Naga ‘peace’ talks.

 The ongoing volleys of statements, jibes and reactions in the media from various quarters can be considered as usual affairs, and not new. However, since the trend is aiding to the already inbuilt dangers, one cannot simply gloss over what is happening.

To keen observers of the Naga ‘peace’ talks, the question of who is honestly trying to resolve the issue and who is masquerading and managing the whole situation crosses the mind. 

Resolving the organizations and resolving the issue are two different things. The former may bring a lull but as it is a pain-killer balm, the pain will come back with even more excruciating blows. The question of ‘resolving’ the organizations rather than the core issue also pays its hints very often, given the inconsistency of the Naga ‘peace’ process.

 Peace is what everyone will gain from. But given the prevailing climate of the Naga ‘peace’ process, the need to go back frequently to why the ‘peace’ talks were initiated at all, arises today. Once we are there, a leverage to ask another simple and yet relevant question in this context is gained: why the Naga struggle? Here, the ‘why’, if not reflected in all the rounds of the Naga ‘peace’ talks and in the subsequent or would-be outcome, then the whole affair will still be a pain-killer balm. It goes without saying in this context that, peace sans justice is no peace. 

The Government of India and the Nagas have been keeping ‘in touch’ with each other for several decades on the issue. Both sides knew each other’s vulnerabilities and strengths a long time ago. But it will only expose the chilling evil of any party who has no hesitation to ride on the vulnerabilities of the other. In other words, both the parties need to remind themselves not to be fickle and easily distracted from what they are supposed to be enduring for all these decades i.e. peace. 

Unless both the engaging parties find inspiration in the said ‘peace’ or else one is only traversing the blind alleys asking for more burdens. 

Time and again this writer has been reminding that the Nagas and the Government of India should consider themselves as partners in ‘détente’. They must see that they have huge responsibilities, and as such, their responsibilities should not be abdicated. Any kind of cockeyed measure, which challenges the spirit of partnering in peace building, should be excluded from their ‘businesses’ if they are truly finding a lasting peace.