Common Interest

In an indirect reference to the move for a separate State by the tribal bodies of Eastern Nagaland under the banner of the Eastern Naga Peoples' Organisation (ENPO), a top commander of the GPRN/NSCN's Naga Army has expressed apprehensions that internal conflicts and differences among the different groups and organisations may hamper the ongoing peace process which has reached a critical juncture. Maj Gen Niki Sumi, who was speaking to one of the Morung Express Correspondent, has expressed what every right thinking Nagas should also ponder upon—are we ourselves encouraging division or unity. The Naga army commander has made a mention of emerging tribal groups like the ENPO, Tenyimia People’s Organization (TPO), United Naga Council (UNC) and Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) which includes the Sumi Hoho along with some other tribes. Recently another tribal conglomeration called SARK was floated—a platform of students belonging to the Sumi, Ao, Rengma and Kyong tribes. As so rightly pointed out by the Maj Gen, we need to give priority to the common Naga interest instead of creating further divisions within the Naga people. Echoing similar sentiment, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has also raised the slogan of unity, reconciliation and integrity. In fact, Rio has gone to the extent of making some welcome suggestion for the Naga people. These include the need to do away with “individualism, tribalism and partyism” and coming up with a new idea – “Nagaism”. The above similar sentiment and concern expressed by two very different people is quite significant and we need to start a people’s movement to propagate these positive ideas of common Naga interest to the rest of the people whether politicians, tribal hohos, Church, students, mothers, national groups etc.
 
Time for Naga People to Ponder
 
Much before the ENPO demand for separation, the Morung Express in its editorial ‘Time for Nagas to Ponder’ published last year, had expressed our concern about how the hard earned peace processes as also the unity of Naga tribes could be derailed if we are not careful. The Morung Express editorial had forewarned with these following comments: “Let us admit that today there is growing distrust between certain tribes. Some are not even on talking terms. We also have the growth of new tribal identities based on some mutual affiliation. Then there is the perennial problem of the Eastern Nagas who have their own separate conglomeration. So in Nagaland we already have two tribal blocs created—the eastern Nagas and the Tenyimia both now active and pursuing their legitimate interests or goals…As such separation within the Naga family is therefore a reality”. As mentioned in these columns, while identity as a tribe and larger grouping is acceptable within a reasonable limit, the point is what will happen to the common identity of the Naga nation. It is time to seriously ponder over this all important question and whether we want to live together as one people. As a society the need of the hour is to work together and find solutions to some of the impending problems that confront us. Many times problems remain unresolved because we are afraid to confront the truth or fail to respond to it. If we have the attitude of brushing everything under the carpet, then we will only allow our problems to grow. Unfortunately because we have failed to deal with them, Nagas have accumulated many problems. The day is not far when these will become insurmountable and will crush us under its load. One of the other challenges that we will have to tackle in the days ahead is how we can think and act as a cohesive entity—shedding our different identities and interests to be united on common goals and a shared future.