Khekiye K Sema IAS (Retd)
3rd Mile Thilixu Village, Dimapur
The Nagas are on a collision course with destiny. Many troubling questions that have been festering in the minds of the stakeholders have deliberately been left unanswered by the NSCN (IM) resulting in undue mushrooming of negative speculations and distrust. The non-transparent nature of shrouding the core issues of the Indo-Naga peace process could eventually lead to their downfall.
To my mind, everything hinges on the common acceptable definition of what is being termed as “Shared sovereignty” to both the entities at the negotiating table. Once we are clear on this, everything else ought to smoothly fall in place. On the one hand the GoI, through its earlier Interlocutor RN Ravi, would have us believe that the parameter of discourse with NSCN (IM) was in line with “sharing sovereign authority” between the Center and the State in the like manner of the Federated Union of States within the Indian Constitution; On the other hand NSCN (IM) claims to have maintained a stand defining ‘Shared sovereignty’ as “Sharing of sovereign status as two separate independent entities” outside the Indian Constitution. This is like trying to mix oil and water. The pertinent question is: who is lying?
The sequences of events that have transpired over the years along the rough road of discourse do tend to tell their own unbiased story. It would appear that most of the substantive ticklish issues had been ‘satisfactorily addressed’ to a conclusion in course of the 23 years of negotiation resulting in the signing of the “Framework Agreement” with so much ‘hoo haa’ on National Television. We witnessed the Prime Minister of India and Muivah clapping and shaking hands…beaming with contentment. It is inconceivable to think that a Prime Minister of India would happily present himself in a function where the very fabric of the Constitution of his own country is formally being put into the shredding machine under his watch…and then warmly shake hands with the shredder (Muivah). It defies common sense. Given this circumstance one is more inclined to conjecture that the NSCN (IM) perhaps must have conceded their concept of ‘sovereign status of two independent entities’ in line with RN Ravi’s definition of ‘shared sovereignty’. This perception is further accentuated by the official statement of Late Gen (Retd) Khole Konyak, Chairman, GPRN/NSCN on 29th February 2012 during the Naga Consultative meeting. (Quote excerpt): “As the Alternative Political Arrangement being the ultimate desire of the Nagas living in the present state of Manipur, there is no reason why the Nagas living in the present state of Nagaland, Assam or Arunachal Pradesh should oppose such a concept. Leaders should not be branded traitors for adjusting to the inevitable circumstances presented by history and also by opposing political forces. GPRN/NSCN will appeal to the GoI to expedite the process for Alternative Arrangement since the Naga people in the present state of Manipur have suffered untold injustice and discrimination in every field. In the same manner the political status for Nagaland, Nagas living in Assam or Arunachal Pradesh should be left to the Naga people living in those areas. What is good for the Naga people living in particular area or region must be accepted by fellow Naga brethren living in other areas. Let our emotional bond be strengthened for greater purpose in future.
Allow me to appreciate the honesty and courage of Th Muivah, General Secretary of NSCN (IM), who, during the three day marathon meeting at Niathu Resort last year, facilitated by FNR, briefed the gathering and declared that Independence for the Naga Nation, in the present international context, was not possible so also on the issue of Integration of Naga inhabited areas in India and Myanmar. This shift of focus was not Th Muivah’s fault but it was a practical reality, necessitated not because of the aggressive posture of the GoI but a realization that Naga nationalism must be evoked in the right spirit through practical wisdom as opposed to idealist view on Sovereignty and independence. To my understanding, in any future political arrangement, the greatest asset that we can pass on to the future Naga generations cohabiting with neighbouring nations and people is the emotional, social and cultural integration and inter-dependence among the Nagas.” (Unquote). The excerpt of this speech reproduced verbatim explicitly reveals the thinking process of our southern brothers yet again trying to find a solution that suits their interests best! It says it all! Read it one more time! With all due respect, let me first point out clearly that Late Gen (Retd) Khole Konyak was not educationally competent enough to fluently compose his own speech. In fact I don’t even know if he spoke English at all! The thoughts expressed by him therefore can only be attributed as an official policy statement by none other than Th Muivah himself at that given point in time, drafted by our highly educated ‘think tank’ Southern brothers… to just be parroted by the Chairman of GPRN/NSCN who probably might have had difficulties pronouncing some of the bigger words…leave aside writing it. By all account it begins to appear more apparent that the whole discourse of NSCN (IM) for the past 23 years with the GoI before and up to the signing the Framework Agreement seems to have centered around a final settlement that would pave the way for our southern brothers to continue having a strangle hold on the Nagas of Nagaland…even if the final solution is within the Indian Constitution. As feeble an excuse as it may be for wanting to keep our emotional and cultural spirit alive to pursue the spillover subject of sovereignty and integration in the future through due democratic process could have been considered as a fair proposition had it not been mired by the devious under current plans being conceived by our southern brothers in the form of Pan Naga Hoho with a draconian intent of perpetually controlling the destiny of the Nagas of Nagaland in the post solution era as has been explained in my latest article…”A COLLECTIVE STAND…NEED OF THE HOUR”. The questionable intrigue of NSCN (IM) goes on. Consider this factor in tune with Late Gen Kholay Konyak’s speech that strongly suggests that the GoI in principle accepted the “Alternative Political Arrangement” concept by agreeing to create a separate “Autonomous Regional Territorial Council” for Nagas of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh because NSCN (IM) was prepared to forego the issue of integration. We are as yet to hear our Southern brothers in the NSCN (IM) rejecting the creation of an “Autonomous Regional Territorial Council” for the Nagas of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh thus far. This is an unambiguous confirmation of ground reality that integration is not going to be a part of the final solution.
On the issue of “Naga Flag” the moot point that needs to be kept in mind is this: All sovereign Nations on planet earth have their own respective National Flags that comes as a natural protocol of Nationhood. Therefore, no independent Nation seeks for permission of another Nation to fly their Flag. In our case, the fact that NCSCN (IM) is determinedly fighting for a flag contradicts their very definition of shared sovereignty…which only confirms a subjective status within the Indian Constitution. If so, it defies all logic to be making an uncompromising stand “to the last man standing” for a ‘Naga Flag’ that fades into irrelevance in the absence of a full-fledged sovereignty and integration. Conversely, this symbolic “Naga Flag” planted in the State of Nagaland as a make believe Nation would formalize the concept of citizenship of all Nagas living beyond our State boundary and convert an un-integrated Nagaland into a common grazing ground for all. This is completely and totally unacceptable for the Nagas of Nagaland who now must vehemently and collectively stand up against it! We cannot and must not compromise the future of our younger generation to our so-called Southern brothers during our watch!
Taking the discourse further to the “Yezahbo”: even if the GoI were to agree to induct an independent ‘Yezahbo’ within the Indian Constitution… this is a subject that can still generate a fierce controversy if NSCN (IM) tries to impose their present myopic communist Yezahbo… that they themselves practically spit upon by amassing personal wealth and landed properties through merciless extortion…on the stakeholders. If not, this is perhaps a fundamental area where the very identity and dignity of the Nagas could elaborately be expounded and affirmed without any empowerment ambiguity and ensure that the Indian Parliament does take undue advantage in the affairs of the Nagas. This is an area where the true spirit of “Shared sovereignty” could well be enshrined. Given such an option the Nagas could perhaps stand united…but here too NSCN (IM) needs to clarify its stand and intent clearly. NSCN (IM)’s stubborn non-disclosure stance is absolutely counterproductive…and could bring our house down on us!
In the midst of all this confusion and uncertainty our very own Core Committee (CC) of the Opposition-less Government is making a laughing stalk of themselves fumbling around aimlessly and trying to pass the uncomfortable buck to the Chief Minister of Assam… who in fact happens to be an integral part of the problem of integration concerning the Nagas of Assam. The CC has absolutely no clue about the competency clauses of the NSCN (IM) but have no courage to ask the NCSN (IM) to declare the same in the greater interest of the people they represent. With the election round the corner all politicians and political parties are treading very cautiously and silently, more concerned about winning their next innings by not antagonizing the NSCN (IM)…who will publically denounce the Indian election in the day time and fill their suitcases in the night in support of the highest bidding candidate or party. For all practical purpose, the present Government is more or less the ‘oxygen facilitator’ of the NSCN (IM) even as they together take the stakeholders on a collision course with destiny.
