Dr Aaron Lungleng
International communities have seen many peoples' struggles over land and its sovereignty. Prior fights for justice were exceedingly faced with blood baths rather than a friendly departure. But after the Second World War, majority of world powers has changed its views in solving the problem of rights to self-determination in a much matured approach of ever relational binding.
The much speculation on the impending Indo-Naga political settlement is not only confined to Indian and the Nagas alone, but it has become a universal concern. The present challenge to India today is their ability to shift from focusing on weaknesses to focusing on finding strength to solution, for the idea of strength to political solution had been endured by „shared sovereignty' that was mutually accepted to end Asia's longest resistance movement by signing the 3rd August, 2015, “Framework Agreement”.
Form long and after considerable observations one can be critic that government of India is apprehensive to settlement with „shared sovereignty' assuming that it will immediately give to a new round of violence, especially in Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and elsewhere in the Indian subcontinent. However, in Amsterdam 11 July, 2002, Indian Government represented by the then interlocutor K. Padmanabhaiah and Naga people represented by the General Secretary of the NSCN, Th. Muivah communiqué a significant recognition formally signed the Unique History and Situation of the Naga people which was considered as the greatest justice done to rights of humanism. It was recognized not because Nagas are above other world communities' rights, but for the facts that Nagas were never been a part of India ever before and after India formed Independent republic.
History is cleared as Nagas' situation is totally a different case from those merged into Indian Union was implicit yet, the fear to conflict settlement by India is her greatest weakness and nothing more than fearing her own-shadow. It is a deliberate denial of right to life and existence on earth.
The main pillar of modern democracy is based on the concept of sovereignty that honor liberty, freedom and identity; that recognized juridical independent territorial entity; that gives the right to independently determine its own institution of government. Undoubtedly, Indo-Naga concept of shared sovereignty must be without ambiguity refers to sharing of competencies, resources and power between the two entities. Most of the conflicts found in Asia and Africa are due to displeasure against the poor performed governing state powers nevertheless, Naga historical and situation is cleared to be unique thus, the contemporary concept of share sovereignty cannot be leveled to Indian petty domestic unitary vernaculars thereby, finding Indo-Naga political solution must be within the acceptance of international legal sovereignty to withstand the test time.
India deceitfully wobbled Nagas into the confluence of two influences which every sensible soul should perceive and despise the dualistic antagonist. Significant are, one that was formally acknowledged and mutually entered into “Framework Agreement” on 3rd August, 2015 at the presence of the honorable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi for peaceful coexistence. The event was globally broadcasted and it was taken as the historic moment for India and the Nagas. Subsequently, GoI silently revealed its expertise in carrot and stick policy by signing “Agreed Position” on 17th November, 2017 with the WC, NNPGs. RN Ravi undertaking to Indo-Naga political issue is nothing more than advocating Nagas are Indian and it is the only contemporary realties. However, NSCN is committed to recognition of Naga identity for all time to come, while the later (WC/NNPGs) accepted temporary settlement for present Nagaland state (taken as an honorable and inclusive) and left Naga national issue as an aspirational pursuit lest assured to the future vision.
To the Naga people and the Churches of Nagalim, Naga national movement is author and survives by Jehovah thus, Nagas will live by God and her land shall be for Christ. The rainbow and the Bethlehem star are the sacred covenant between God and the Nagas, “blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage” (Psalm 33:12), reading Isaiah 60:12, “for the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste”. So, will Nagas surrender their living God for worldly material advantages and fear bereavement? “Jerusalem” is everything for the Jews; the inscription of “In God We Trust” is sacred to the United State of America. Will the Jews, American and world nations ever disown their consecration? Likewise, Nagas will be failed in her obligation to the Almighty if Indo-Naga political settlement is sought without Naga flag and constitution. Nagas are colonized by India through militarization; divided and rule by Myanmar and India without any legal rights; Nagas house are sliced into pieces and placed for the conveniences of the oppressors so, surrendering Nagas rights shall amount to abandoning the living God.
Realizing that force marriage can't build a home, peaceful co-existence between the two entities within the modern mechanism of shared sovereignty was ceremoniously agreed upon. How then, acceptance or recognition of ones' symbolic political elements comes to be contentious? Every sensible being ascertain illogical validity and who is fooling whom. Is political negotiation a stage of conscious dictation and terrorization? Every sectional detachment polices and to stub out the hard earned peace and procrastination to settlement laid by India will soon face a tragic end.
Recalling to “A Tale of Two Cities”, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way”.
I chose this phrase because it is very much applicable to both negotiating parties the time that we're going through now. The time of harvest is plentiful and at hand. Nagas and the churches of Nagalim, how obstinate will you remain when His coming kingdom is challenged? If anyone is taking God, be fearful to take anything lesser than your God. In this divine affair, knowing and following God must be proved. The battling war is God's fight; it is choosing God or comfort; light or darkness, to live with identity or to live without a future and a nation with God or without is the ultimate choice.
* The writer is a freelancer and can be reached at parislungleng@gmail.com
