Superficiality threatening Naga solution: Niki Sumi

Urges Naga intelligentsia move beyond discussing history

Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 9

According to General (retired) Niki Sumi, disunity and rampant corruption threaten to derail any meaningful solution to the stalemated Indo-Naga political imbroglio. Sumi, who leads the NSCN-K (Niki) as the President, addressed a press conference in Dimapur on June 9, where he held that the present Naga political landscape is fraught with artificial commitments exhibited in meeting halls, seldom translating into action. 

As a result, he said that the Nagas have not been able to consolidate the hard-earned reconciliatory efforts spearheaded by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) over the past 10-15 years.   

“FNR has been crucial in reducing bloodshed and bringing the various Naga Political Groups (NPGs) to the dialogue table. Whether it achieves the intended objective or not, we have to acknowledge their (FNR) effort,” he said.    

While peace and unity has been on the lips of every Naga, he held that any semblance of unity gets stymied by the same people, who profess a one Naga goal, but fail to live up to their words. He added that the perceived overt display of commitment is not confined to the NPGs alone, but pervades the Naga “overground” socio-political sphere. By overground, he implied the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), including the various tribal hohos and blocs, as well as elected representatives.

Let alone the NPGs, he held that the “overground” organisations and leaders have not been able to come together. “I have not come across any Nagaland CSO taking the initiative to carry forward the views expressed in meetings.” To unite is the responsibility of all, he said.  

He appreciated the “Unity first, Solution Second” slogan championed by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation (ENPO). However, he held that the ENPO’s consistent refusal to attend pan-Naga meetings vis-à-vis the Naga political issue contradicts their professed verbal posturing for Naga unity. 

He cited dishonesty as another pervasive threat. According to him, corruption permeates all levels of governance and society, including the NPGs, while some CSOs exist only for easy money. 

He was particularly critical of the Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) and its alleged taxation structure. He argued that the various NPGs making up the WC, NNPGs continue to collect tax individually contradicting their stand for unity under one common banner. 

He accused the Government of India (GoI) and WC, NNPGs of sabotaging the Framework Agreement with the NSCN (IM) by engineering the Agreed Position (AP). According to him, the formation of the WC, NNPGs was the handiwork of the GoI. 

He attributed the proliferation of multiple groups to a misunderstanding of the “socialist” underpinnings of the Naga movement. While stating that the GoI has benefited the most out of the splintering, he urged New Delhi to demonstrate sincerity for peace and solution by working to solve problems. 

He further questioned the ownership, or the rights, to the AP given the recent splintering of the WC, NNPGs. While stating that his has further confused the Naga people, he said, “They say the political talks have concluded by way of the Agreed Position. But now the signatories of the AP have split. On what basis are they claiming that the talks have concluded?”

He alleged that they talk of unity when they turn up to reconciliatory meetings called by the FNR, but act contrary to the stands they take in the meetings. 

To the Naga intelligentsia, he said that it was time to move beyond historical discussions. He held that the Naga intellectuals only talk of history, or the past, instead of discussing the present generation’s needs and practical suggestions, and if need be, “give ultimatum to the NPGs.”

He proposed that all the Nagas, irrespective of the ideological differences, should form a common platform, encompass all Naga-inhabited areas, facilitating a one inclusive solution.