Respect of history and human rights are the only acceptable peace settlement in the region. At this juncture when maximum horrendous infliction has been done should not merely point finger or demonstrate Saint childlike adding salt to the wounds but should construct an agreement based on legitimacy that is acceptable not only to the parties to the conflict but also to the wider public. Peace settlement cannot be expected out of the human rights negotiation framework. Dialogue at grassroots level to discover the truth about what has happened; investigate the past history of violations of human rights, acknowledging past wrong may perhaps break through peace process. Most importantly acknowledging history of Rengmas and restoring the basic rights of Rengmas “Rengma hills” the key to peace building phase in the region.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issuing notice to the Assam and the Nagaland Director General of Police (DGP) to investigate only the discovery of nine decomposed karbi’s dead bodies from Pachaspura near Chumukedima, Dimapur, but mute and blind at the inhuman act of killing seven Rengmas by KPLT assisted by Karbi villagers shooting at point blank, burning alive a Rengma woman with kerosene, cutting with machetes, burning down houses and granaries, killing domestic animals and cutting down horti-farms, chasing the Rengma villagers away like an animals is one sided and abusing the position of human rights under right to equality which is unacceptable. In fact, the NHRC have failed to implement and voice the basic human rights of equality treatment to the Rengma Nagas. This act of injustice by responsible NHRC is condemnable by all right thinking citizen.
Neglected in the feral without the basic needs for the last Six decades, the appalling killing of Rengmas chasing out from their home in the cold winter, destroying of their properties, injustice on grating ex-gratia payment over the Rengma dead bodies are not enough to the KACC and Assam government. How could the government force the displaced Rengmas to resettle under nature without providing humanitarian aid and development assistance, the basic needs? These basics include water, sanitation, food, shelter and health care. Their houses and granaries were burnt down to ashes. Even wild animals have rights under protection law. Are Rengmas not even worth Animals? This evil injustice must be abolished without delay, for it is not only an evil itself, but also it is a high fertile source for further evils because it invites reprisals. The government must compensate fairly to the displaced Rengmas and provide rehabilitation aid to the destruction meted by KPLT and Karbi mobs.
The KAAC and Assam government responsibility to rebel against the atrocities meted out to Rengmas by implying law to check injustice has instead converted the law into instrument of invincible weapon of injustice by their agendas. Instead of rooting out the injustices found in society, they make these injustices general with their political power. The conversion of justice and protection law into an instrument of plunder has left the citizen with cruel alternative of either losing moral sense or losing respect for the law. These two evils are of equal consequence, and it would be difficult for a person to choose between them. If under the pretense of organization, regulation, protection, or encouragement, the law takes property from one person and gives it to another; under these circumstances, then certainly every class will aspire to grasp the law, and logically so. It is with grave concern and regretful that the law which is organized for justice has become to be an instrument of injustice. To make laws respected is to make them respectable.
The fatal principle of plunder by Karbis to attend statehood at the expense of Rengmas brotherhood bond in Rengma hills is regrettable. This fatal desire was there in its origin in the very beginning of the district inception that impels them to satisfy their desires but this is just hysterical fruitless instinct endeavour. The Karbis vested interest with acquired rights to eliminate the birth rights of Rengmas to attain statehood shall not be productive.
The Assam government and Centre must explore the factors that led to conflict and use historical dialogue tools to promote peace, tolerance, respect, justice and solution to the conflict. Also the perpetrators as victims must be identified. The experiment of Rengma and Karbi together for the last Six decades has proven futile; therefore the Assam government and Indian government must draw a line for amicable permanent solution based on historical rights by bifurcating Karbi Anglong into Rengma hills and Mikir hills or transfer back the Rengma hills to the Naga Hills.
