In the recent weeks, one news item that caught my eye and attention was the five-day trip of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to Myanmar. As per the news in the local dailies, Mr. Rio and his delegation began their journey on 3rd February (Monday) and concluded the same on 7th February (Friday). The local dailies also published some photographs of Rio holding discussion with some Myanmar Naga leaders. In making this trip into Myanmar, Neiphiu Rio becomes the first Chief Minister of Nagaland to have visited Myanmar in the 50 years history of our statehood. Rio highlighted that his visit was to promote peace, better understanding and development.
No doubt it was the local dailies that acquainted us with this trip of Rio and his delegation. However, I somehow feel that this trip did not get the needed media coverage it should have gotten. I guess this is so because majority of the Nagas living within the 16,579 sq. km of Nagaland have more or less come to accept the notion that the Nagaland of real concern is this Indian state of Nagaland which was born in 1963 and that the so-called Naga tribes living outside the state of Nagaland are of not much concern and utility to them. However, if we really have a heart or at least a soft corner for all Nagas living in South East Asia, then we should also think and consider about the welfare and future of all those Nagas living outside the present state of Nagaland. Therefore, the recent trip of Neiphiu into Myanmar was at least a pioneering endeavor in more ways than one. This trip is a clear indication that Rio thinks and cares about these Naga brothers living beyond the international border. And as such I feel that this trip is worth appreciating and cherishing.
In order to have a real understanding and appreciation of the value of this pioneering venture, I guess we need to revisit our history. With the departure of the British from the Indian sub-continent in 1947, the lands of the Nagas here in South East Asia came to be divided between India and Myanmar without the consent and approval of the Nagas. The result being that many Nagas are still living beyond the international border on the Myanmar side under the suzerainty of the Myanmar government. For decades, these Naga villages have been neglected by both the Nagas living on the Indian side of the border and also by the military junta of Myanmar. The result being that the living standard of these Burma Nagas is still very pathetic and nowhere near the standard of the Nagas living in the 16,579 sq. km Indian state.
Therefore, I pay my tribute to Neiphiu Rio for urging the Myanmar government to focus on the suffering of the Nagas living in Myanmar. Recently I conversed with a lady who worked for three years as a missionary in a Naga village situated in Myanmar. Her accounts of the living conditions of the Nagas there are indeed very painful and worrisome. Development of any sort is yet to touch them as the Myanmar government does not even spare a thought for their welfare and development. The result being that while majority of the Nagas living in India are accustomed to the comforts brought forth by the latest technologies, our brothers in Myanmar are still struggling for even the basic necessities of life. Yes, I guess it would not be an exaggeration to say that the Nagas living in Myanmar had been treated like second-class citizens for too long by their own government.
This is why I feel that the need of the hour is that even if we are separated by international boundaries, efforts have to be made to emotionally stay together by mingling with each other in whatever way possible. One matter raised by Neiphiu during this visit was that people on both sides of the border should be able to move without needing visas and that confidence building measures must be enhanced. This is a very positive and appreciable issue raised by our Chief Minister. Indeed how wonderful it would be for us if we can travel to any of the Naga villages in Myanmar without needing any travel documents. In fact, if we really have a concern and regard for our Naga brethrens living on the other side of the international border, efforts should be made so that traveling to these places would become as easy and uncomplicated as traveling to any villages in Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire or Longleng. And thus show the whole world that even if we are separated by administrative boundaries; we refuse to be divided in our spirits, in our thinking, in our attachments and in our emotions.
The Myanmar government has already recognized the Nagas of Myanmar in the form of the “Naga Self Autonomous Zone” However, it still remains unclear how far this zone is free from the high command of the Myanmar government. Efforts should be made so that these zones become more and more self-dependent and autonomous not only economically but in other areas also. It is also said that the Indo-Myanmar border areas inhabited by the Nagas are rich in natural resources. If this is so, efforts should also be made so that these resources are judiciously explored and used for the benefits and development of the Nagas living on both sides of the border.
The potential of trade, commerce and people-to-people contact between the Nagas on both sides of the border is indeed tremendous. However, in a way, the future of the Nagas living in Myanmar still hangs in the air because they are counted as citizens of Myanmar and the air of democracy is yet to make a full touchdown in Myanmar. Moreover, even if we assume that an agreement is reached in the near future between the government of India and the Naga political groups, even such an agreement may not have any immediate effect on the Nagas of Myanmar as they are on the wrong side of the international border.
Through this write-up, let me also convey a message to all those Nagas working as missionaries amongst the Burma Nagas in Myanmar. I would say that you people are doing a great job in the right place at the right time. You are spreading the gospel message of Jesus Christ to the lost souls in that region and as such I believe your reward will be great. And through you, I see immense potential whereby the Nagas living on both sides of the border can stay united and emotionally attached. You are the ones who can take our story to them and bring back their story to us. In this way, we can become not only equal partners and heirs in the kingdom of God but also stay united despite the odds by sharing our stories, joys, hardships and also our assets and our liabilities. And this would be a wonderful way to undo the wrongs, injustices, treachery and perfidy that were meted out to us by the Britishers, Indians and Burmese in the past.
On 28th May 2011, Neiphiu and Dr. Shürhozelie personally went to Senapati in Manipur and launched the NPF party there in a fantastic and undeniable manner despite the risks involved. The message that the NPF leaders conveyed that day in Senapati was “we refuse to be divided by these administrative boundaries, we are Nagas and we will always remain one united family”. And now our Chief Minister has taken this mission a step further by traveling deep into Myanmar territory to proclaim the same message even beyond the international border by re-embracing our long forgotten Naga brothers living on the other side of the Indian border.
In the summer of 2011, I wrote an article titled “The Masterstroke of the NPF” glorifying the launching of the NPF party in Senapati, Manip ur. And now, I do a somewhat similar thing by writing and glorifying this recent trip of Neiphiu into Myanmar and I call it “A Pioneering Venture” ….or for that matter I can call it “The Second Masterstroke” also…….
