Kaka D. Iralu
At the very outset, I must confess that I am asking this question and writing this article from speculations and rumors circulating in Kohima. Anyway, Nagaland seems to have been floating only on rumors and speculations from 1975 to date. In this surreal Nagaland of our times, lies and half truths have had their day. Drawing conclusions from these lies and half truths, we have even killed over three thousand of our own fellow Nagas. This state of affairs have reached a stage where anybody who raises an objection to the fabricated lies has to walk under the shadow of death wondering from what direction the assassin’s bullet would come and add his name too, to the list of the dead. In my opinion, Nagaland has, at large, become a land of rumors and lies where anybody who tries to express an honest conviction is threatened with dire consequences. It has almost become a land where nobody can trust anybody else. And that brings me back to my question.
Is it really true that a secret move is underway to form an interim government? One can never know, because no official statement has been uttered by the State Government of Nagaland, though everybody knows that the state legislative members had really been to Delhi. But as to what they discussed with the Indian Prime Minister, except for rumors, the Naga public doesn’t know what was offered by them or promised by the PM to be given to the Nagas. As for the NSCN IM; though they have been talking with the GOI for all these years, the Naga public-not to talk of the other members of the Reconciliation process- still does not know anything about their secret talks. My question is: Can a party that claims to be representing the Nagas in their national struggle for recognition of their independence, keep the details of their talks with the GOI a sealed secret from the rest of the Nagas? I know, as every one else do, that matters of national security with regards to a sovereign government cannot be disclosed to the public. But on matters of an ongoing national rights struggle where thousands of Nagas have already laid down their lives for the cause, details of a solution to that issue can never be kept from the survivors of those who laid down their lives yesterday. For God’s sake, a national issue is not the private property of some individuals, or tribes or factions.
But if there is really going to be a meeting tomorrow (Aug.23,1012), to discuss details for the formation of an interim government of the Naga people which (here again) rumors say, will ultimately solve the 62 year Indo Naga conflict, I want to put on record the following protest notes:
1. In matters of formation of national governments, an interim body or government cannot be formed without a national consensus. By national consensus, we mean a national decision or results of a plebiscite, where every citizen has participated and know what he is participating in. After all a national government is not a cooperative society or a Tribal Council.
2. The State Government of Nagaland has not been mandated by the people of Nagaland to resolve the Indo Naga political conflict. (I believe this is precisely why they are saying: “We are ready to vacate our seats if an honorable settlement acceptable to all Nagas can be achieved”).
3. No civil society or NGO organization has been authorized by the Naga people to solve the Indo Naga political conflict on behalf of the Naga nation.
In conclusion, the Indian government first began the Peace talks with the NSCN IM on the condition that: (a) The talks would be held at the highest Prime Ministerial level.(b) That the talks would be held in a foreign country.(c) That the talks would be unconditional. Now, everybody knows that the GOI had gone back on all these commitments. Everybody also knows that not to talk of Naga Independence, the GOI had refused to entertain even the idea of an integrated Naga lands under the Constitution of India or a greater Nagalim or a so called Supra State. Now then, how can we Nagas expect an honorable and dignified settlement to emerge from the present 16 years of peace talks?
