Ngaranmi Shimray
New Delhi
Spontaneous reaction or response seems to have deserted the Nagas. They have become a very cautious lot possibly a negative impact of bloody purges witnessed in the modern Naga freedom history. The response of Nagas is sluggishly slow and appears to be echoed only after appropriate signals are made from the policy epicentre.
Consider the recent protest against border fencing and scrapping of FMR (Free Movement Regime) in Kamjong, Chandel and Tengnoupal districts of Manipur by the Nagas living there. The adage says, “strike while the iron is hot”. This belated reaction by the Nagas is perplexing as policy decision has been taken by government of India (GoI) more than a year back and implementation has started on the ground. It is already a hardened piece of rigid iron not malleable anymore how hard you hit it. The reaction is rather too late and appears to be more symbolic and a coverup of Naga policy paralysis as policy decisions by the Central Government are not easily modified.
The Nagas should have stated their views when the former Chief Minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh urged the MHA on September 23rd, 2023 to scrap the FMR and construct border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border. It was clear without doubt that scrapping of FMR and border fencing would severely affect familial ties, economic activities and customary relationship along the entire Naga areas in Nagaland and Manipur bordering Myanmar. The Mizoram CM spontaneously reacted decrying and opposing it as he understood its impact. But there was no reaction from the Nagas of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. After more than a year belated reaction are being echoed. Unlike the nomadic nature of the Kuki tribes, Nagas are not known to migrate and are fiercely attached to their land which is a widely known fact and needs to be stressed as this constitute the main argument to allow FMR without border fencing to continue in Naga inhabited areas of Nagaland, Arunachal and Manipur. In other words, nuanced policies could be applied by the Central Government for Naga areas and Kuki areas based on the nomadic behaviour of the tribes living in the border area.
The belated response of the Nagas appears to indicate a policy paralysis. This is of serious concern now that President’s Rule has been imposed in Manipur opening up the prospect of talks for a political settlement of the ethnic conflict. Regardless of the ambitious demands by the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes for a state or UT, in most likelihood, the political settlement could boil down to a Bodoland type of empowered district/territorial council. The question that arises is about the future of Naga areas of Manipur if political settlement is thrashed out for the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes. Would the Nagas be given similar treatment as they along with the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes live in the same “Hill Areas” of Manipur determined under Article 371-C ? Unlikely, as no Manipur Naga CSOs or organisations have sought for a Bodoland type of empowered district/territorial council. This appears to be on account of the fact that the Nagas, especially of Manipur, are enthralled and hypnotised by the prospect of the Framework Agreement bringing better and loftier political settlement than the Bodoland type empowered district/territorial council which is an autonomous entity subordinate to the state government. Also, it should not be forgotten that the aspirational political settlement of Nagas includes Flag and Constitution if the NSCN demand is conceded by GoI.
There is however a new narrative spun by a veteran politician on Naga Peace Talks gaining traction and resonating with the Naga people of Nagaland. The veteran Naga politician is no less than Mr SC Jamir (former CM and Governor), the only survivor among the signatories of the Sixteen Point Agreement that resulted in creation of the State of Nagaland, who has stated that the NSCN has already given up sovereignty and integration, and that the demand for a Naga Flag and Constitution is outside the framework of the Constitution of India within which the peace process is expected to be concluded.
The narrative by the veteran politician is contrary to the narrative of the NSCN which hinges on the unique history of the Nagas accepted by GoI under the Framework Agreement. They have interpreted the acceptance of the unique history of Nagas as an acknowledgment by GoI that the Nagas were independent people living in their own land run by village republics and were never under any kingdom or ruler except under the colonial British power from whom they declared independence from the British rule on 14th August 1947, one day before India became an independent nation on 15th August 1947.
Both the contentions have their own merits and can be interpreted differently to suit their point of view. The Naga Peace Talks have become more complicated as the NSCN seems to assert that without a Flag and Constitution there cannot be any settlement to the Naga peace issue. However, Naga people should not forget that it is the role of the Naga peace negotiators to seek and for the GoI to dispense. An adage comes to mind; "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride". Reality points to the fact that J&K lost their special status of having a separate Flag and Constitution and suffered the ignominy of being downgraded from a State to UT under the current ruling party at the Centre and is begging now to get its statehood status back. Against this backdrop, logically speaking, the prospect of GoI conceding to the demand for a Flag and Constitution would at best be remote.
Against the backdrop of Naga peace talk stalemate, the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur has raised hopes of dialogue and peaceful resolution of the ethnic conflict in Manipur and this in turn has infused a sense of urgency for the Nagas of Manipur to make their stand clear as to whether they wish to wait for the final Naga peace settlement, with Flag and Constitution and perhaps a new structure of federal relationship between the Centre and an entity to be known as “Nagalim” - negotiations for which is mired in convoluted interpretations of the Framework Agreement, or take a decision as a interim measure and a prelude to the final Naga settlement to be part of the political settlement that would be thrashed out for the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes. If the decision is to wait for the final settlement of Naga Peace Talks then the Nagas of Manipur, unlike the Nagas of Nagaland who already have a State and are not oppressed or subjugated by other communities, face the risk and prospect of the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes taking a march ahead in enjoying the fruits of their political settlement within Manipur which may come in the form of financial, legislative (customary, traditional and land laws), administrative, and policing powers for the district/territorial councils. The Nagas of Manipur should not forget that the Naga Peace Talks have been going on for 27 years and that the final settlement, desired and expected by the Naga negotiators, could prove to be “elusive” and fraught with the possibility of peace talks breaking down. Nagas should be reminded of the adage - “a bird in hand is worth two in the bush”. Nagaland was created in 1963 more than 62 years back and has enjoyed fruits of being ruled by themselves unlike the Nagas of Manipur, along with the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes, who continue to be suppressed, oppressed and subjugated by the dominant community in Manipur and this scenario is likely to remain unchanged for the Nagas of Manipur if they forego what would be offered to the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes as a political settlement of Manipur crisis. In fact, it could be advantageous to both the Nagas and Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes if they join hands and put up a strong negotiation unitedly to include separate land settlement and land revenue system and administration for “Hill Areas” of Manipur which the Bodoland Territorial Council lacks. The Nagas should seize the opportunity of an imminent resolution of the Manipur crisis by putting their weight behind the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes and strike a harder bargain and also bring out clarity relating to lands of Nagas in the Hill Areas where Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes are settled now.
If past responses is indicative of current trend, no one will be surprised by a slow sluggish response of Manipur Naga CSOs and organisations as they await advice. However, there is the possibility of policy prescription of the Naga peace negotiators prevailing yet again. Under such circumstances, the Naga tribes of Manipur living in the “Hill Areas” of Manipur could face the prospect of witnessing and envying the gains of the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes on various fronts from the political settlement, while they languish under the antiquated “Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 for many more years to come. They may become the laughing stock of the north eastern people mocking them of "biting off more than you can chew" and having “missed the bus”.
After all, no one can predict what the future holds for the Naga Peace Talks to ever conclude in ones’s life time or fizzle out and leave the dreamers high and dry. When the time is right for Manipur Nagas to decide whether “a bird in hand is worth two in the bush”, it is hoped that better sense will prevail. Best of luck, my Naga folks. The ball will soon be in your court.
