The events of the past few weeks have shown us that Nagas cannot be complacent and yet hope to live in peace anymore. What is happening in Bodoland between the illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and the indigenous Bodo people is not too difficult to comprehend seeing the almost parallel situation in Nagaland. In a travesty of the proud tribal life, the original inhabitants, the Bodos are now refugees in their own land, thanks to unabated infiltration in Assam and the disease called “vote bank politics”. It does not matter who started the fire first. It matters why a fire was caused to be started in the first place. A similar conflict occurred in Burma in June between the indigenous tribals, Rakhine, and Rohingya muslims or miyas, originally from Bangladesh. In this case, the violence was sparked by Rohingya miscreants who gang-raped and brutally murdered a Rakhine nun. This was the spark leading to communal clash putting more than 30,000 people from both sides in refugee camps. The state media mentioned “1000 Rohinya terrorists” on rampage in Muangdaw township butchering locals. This rape is eerily similar to the Feb’ 6th gangrape of a married Naga woman infront of her husband by five (5) miyas, the only difference being Nagas did not retaliate. Not only we did not retaliate but we’re still carrying out our love affair with violence prone, stateless refugees. According to a Reuter report, the Rohingyas have gained “a reputation for drug-smuggling, gun-running and human trafficking” in Burma. This is not unlike our Dimapur where almost every instance of kidnapping, rape, auto-theft, murder, etc involves Bangladeshi elements.
A Bangladeshi from Assam, Basir Ali, almost singlehandedly brought about a new low in the relationship between Manipur and Nagaland state. Basir was the kingpin of the carjacking drama whose devilish act almost resulted in the death of two innocent Nagas. This had the impact of Southern Angami Youth Organization (SAYO) declaring a 96 hr bandh on NH-2, effectively cutting off Manipur. That the lives of thousands of peace loving citizens can be affected by the machination of one Bangladeshi is chilling enough. Again this incident is reflective of Dimapur where tribal Nagas are effectively manipulated to tear into each other, thanks to the economic control and wealth of the miyas.
The Public Action Committee (PAC) supports ENSF demand that Relise Sangtam, a muslim by birth, be immediately removed from the post of EAC. As if the total control of our nascent economy is not enough, that these people have the audacity to usurp our identity is a spit on our face and NPSC should under no circumstances drag its feet on this issue. The decision of NPSC, whether positive or negative, will set a precedent and therefore, NPSC is requested to take a stern decision keeping in mind the future of our Naga identity.
As the fire rages in Assam, the response of the State is always the same-berating and haranguing the administration to “control the situation”. No Indian politician or political party, not the BJP, not even the media has stated the obvious and the truth, that is, the so called Bengali muslims as described in the media are but Bangladeshi immigrants. This conflict has been effectively reduced to a simple “communal clash” between two communities. Missing between the lines is the obvious fact that these ‘bengali muslims’ have rendered infructuous the concept of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) as the former control the land and the economy under BTC, thereby depriving tribal bodos control over the very resources which the government sought to address through the formation of BTC when the tripartite agreement was signed between the Bodos, the Central government and government of Assam.
As events have shown, Nagas cannot depend on the State to settle the issue of illegal immigrants in our land. In the case of Rakhine-Rohingya clash, Amnesty International pointedly criticized Burma for not taking action to protect the lives of Rohingyas! In a globalised village when Human Rights is the new international lingo, the state is wary of criticism more than ever. Therefore, protecting the rights of indigenous communities is never assured. As rightly pointed out, the only recourse is to deny miyas living space and to boycott them socially and economically. Economic boycott may be harder given the fact that miyas control the economy but it would bode well to avoid goods sold by aliens and patronize fellow biharis and Indian citizens.
Sd/-
Joel Nillo kath
Co-ordinator
Public Action Committee (PAC) on Illegal immigrants
