According to the recently launched The Seven Sisters Post newspaper, the negotiations between the Indian Government and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim are now in its final stages. The Seven Sisters Post newspaper has claimed that it has access to all the details of a solution. The final settlement envisages a “special federal relationship” between India and Nagaland and creation of a “Supra-state body” for the Nagas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to be given as this year's Christmas gift to “preserve, protect and promote their cultural, social and customary practices”, according to a report published by The Seven Sisters Post. Further, the offer to create a pan-Naga ‘Supra State Body’, instead of the “Greater Nagalim” demanded by the NSCN, has been touted by Indian negotiators as the “Second best option for the Naga people”, the report said. Following the wide media coverage given to this particular news item, there has been a volley of protest coming in from Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Not surprisingly it is the politicians who are making the most noise. While media report suggests that the Union Home Ministry people are denying the offer of a ‘Supra State Body’, yet there has so far been no explicit statement in black and white issued by Delhi. Those involved in the negotiation process have also neither affirmed nor denied the report. So it becomes quite obvious that there is some merit in the revelation made by The Seven Sisters Post.
Time for Nagas to work on common strategy, approach
Strangely the Nagas are not saying anything and have remained so quiet even though others around us are making their protest known. Isn’t it high time for the Nagas to also make known their stand and take a position? Over the years especially since the ceasefire, Naga civil society, political parties (both the NPF and NPCC) and the public have been making regular mention on the need to expedite the Indo-Naga peace process and the appeal for early resolution through peaceful dialogue. So if we really want an early solution why is it that we are keeping so quiet? It is another matter that those at the negotiating table have remained very discreet when it comes to the specifics of the proposals or counter-proposals. And yes they may have their own compulsion to keep things under wraps away from public scrutiny. However, if both the Government of India and the Naga negotiators are indeed affirming (as stated in previous joint statements) that the dialogue has entered a crucial and end stage, then why are they on the defensive when certain proposals are being put in the public domain. Does it also mean that they disown something as creative as a ‘Supra State Body’? What will happen to the credibility of the more than fifteen years of peace process if everything is brushed under the carpet. For both Delhi and the NSCN it makes sense to start a process of serious consultation with the concerned peoples and even governments of the region.
Coming to the Naga people’s response, our silence is not going to solve the Indo-Naga problem. Further we seem to be completely clueless on how to go about things. There is neither strategy nor a common approach. Maybe the Joint Legislature Forum of the Nagaland Assembly under the initiative of the Speaker, Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition should help in formulating some kind of approach so that the voice of the Nagas can also be heard on whatever proposals are being discussed for a settlement. The Common Naga Platform, which had been suggested in the past, could be reinvented as the time for such a platform is at hand. As for the proposed ‘Supra-State Body’ (whether this is true or false), if this is indeed the ‘second best option’ for the Naga people as being pushed forward by Indian negotiators, the question is why our neighbors should be so unsympathetic. It is not fair to oppose everything that is being offered to the Nagas through the dialogue process. It is high time that as good neigbours for posterity we should be helpful and be accommodative to each other’s needs and aspiration. For Nagas too, this is the time to reconnect with our neigbours, rebuild the broken relationships and reach out to them so that we may be able to make them understand through dialogue and persuasion. All this will have to be done through better strategy and common approach among the Nagas.
Time for Nagas to work on common strategy, approach
Strangely the Nagas are not saying anything and have remained so quiet even though others around us are making their protest known. Isn’t it high time for the Nagas to also make known their stand and take a position? Over the years especially since the ceasefire, Naga civil society, political parties (both the NPF and NPCC) and the public have been making regular mention on the need to expedite the Indo-Naga peace process and the appeal for early resolution through peaceful dialogue. So if we really want an early solution why is it that we are keeping so quiet? It is another matter that those at the negotiating table have remained very discreet when it comes to the specifics of the proposals or counter-proposals. And yes they may have their own compulsion to keep things under wraps away from public scrutiny. However, if both the Government of India and the Naga negotiators are indeed affirming (as stated in previous joint statements) that the dialogue has entered a crucial and end stage, then why are they on the defensive when certain proposals are being put in the public domain. Does it also mean that they disown something as creative as a ‘Supra State Body’? What will happen to the credibility of the more than fifteen years of peace process if everything is brushed under the carpet. For both Delhi and the NSCN it makes sense to start a process of serious consultation with the concerned peoples and even governments of the region.
Coming to the Naga people’s response, our silence is not going to solve the Indo-Naga problem. Further we seem to be completely clueless on how to go about things. There is neither strategy nor a common approach. Maybe the Joint Legislature Forum of the Nagaland Assembly under the initiative of the Speaker, Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition should help in formulating some kind of approach so that the voice of the Nagas can also be heard on whatever proposals are being discussed for a settlement. The Common Naga Platform, which had been suggested in the past, could be reinvented as the time for such a platform is at hand. As for the proposed ‘Supra-State Body’ (whether this is true or false), if this is indeed the ‘second best option’ for the Naga people as being pushed forward by Indian negotiators, the question is why our neighbors should be so unsympathetic. It is not fair to oppose everything that is being offered to the Nagas through the dialogue process. It is high time that as good neigbours for posterity we should be helpful and be accommodative to each other’s needs and aspiration. For Nagas too, this is the time to reconnect with our neigbours, rebuild the broken relationships and reach out to them so that we may be able to make them understand through dialogue and persuasion. All this will have to be done through better strategy and common approach among the Nagas.
