Joel Nillo kath
VS Naipaul, the Nobel Prize winner called Pakistan a “Criminal Enterprise”. Amidst the deepening corruption, extortion, law and order breakdown and unbridgeable gaps between haves and have-nots, it becomes more imperative that the Naga issue is resolved one way or the other since “every embezzlement, corruption, money laundering and every criminal act in the state have been shoved under the rug citing the peace talks and freedom movement” and governance thrown out of the window. Most of the politicians, civil servants and Naga National Workers (NNWs) could be jailed under various sections of IPC, CrPC and disproportionate assets case if at all the rule of law is applied unflinchingly. This is at the heart of decadence; legitimization of wanton corruption, extortion, and criminal actions as acts of commission in the course of freedom struggle. Unaccountability, non-transparency and fear is the order of the day due to presence of numerous pseudo-national groups, each claiming to fight for an ideal Nagalim but stuck deep in corruption muck with conniving overground politicians and bureaucrats. The state and the public have been bled dry, like a cow stripped to its bone by hordes of piranhas. Corruption has being institutionalized in the state and it is now generally understood that Nagaland is one big criminal enterprise or even a Failed State even though as an administrative unit of Indian Union it functions most excellently as per constitutional parameters.
The biggest stumbling block to change is the Naga political problem and as long as it remains unresolved, decay remains. It is now apparent, as clear as daylight, that, despite the roof-top proclamations of Naga Hoho and the ruling DAN government that settlement is around the corner, i.e, before elections in March 2013, such optimism is misplaced, even possibly guided by ulterior motive to divert the public and the opposition party alike from serious issues facing the government. At this juncture, when Naga people are expectantly praying for a Solution, that we may have been taken for a ride is playing with the emotions of public since we suspect that NSCN (IM) simply does not have enough leverage to force India to ink a settlement, thanks to ‘drain them out’ policy of GOI over the past 15 years.
To clinch this historic deal, the need of the hour, as noted intellectual, Fr. Abraham Lotha suggested, is the constitution of perhaps, an All-Naga Convention; an all encompassing Naga body, comprising of NSCN (IM), all Naga political groups, civil society, intellectuals, tribal hohos, etc., to negotiate with the GOI for a final and binding settlement. Such would be a truly collective effort and legitimate too. This body, representative of every section of Naga people should be able to negotiate with India from a position of strength and with renewed vigour. Also, the desperation, killings and divisions of post-Shillong Accord years should be avoidable if negotiation is led by a non-partisan all-Naga body. In case NSCN (IM) decides to take the risk and feels that it is the only body good enough to negotiate with GOI, it may do so but if in the process it fails to clinch a deal- by 2013- then any hope for a future “honourable solution” should be discounted as unrealistic and utterly unattainable, however united Nagas may project itself to be, since, apart from the NSCN (IM), no other Naga national groups is powerful enough to sit across the table with Indian leaders.
Incase of such a debacle due to NSCN (IM) refusal to accommodate Naga civil society and other factions in the negotiations, armed recourse as an option towards attaining sovereignty should be seriously deliberated, or preferably disbanded by all the armed groups. Whether cessation of armed struggle will mean the end of Naga struggle for identity and whether such is desirable is a matter of debate but the fact is Nagas have to move forward and do to so armed conflict has to end. Sixty years of warring has taken a toll; on our values, economy and work culture, thus giving birth to a failed state. Naga people should be able to determine whether the fight for right to self-determination be continued albeit through democratic and peaceful means and the result binding on all NNWs and factions. In any case, armed struggle should be deemed over. Any dissenting armed groups should be dealt with under “containment policy” by the state government. For instance, armed groups still refusing to give up will not be allowed to function under the guise of ‘national workers’ without inviting the wrath of law since in the present context, there’s only a thin line preventing the armed groups from being defined as organized criminal organisations. Therefore, what is essentially now a law and order problem will be treated as such without having the complexities of “political problem” attached to it. Such armed groups, therefore, can be justifiably treated as criminal organisations and tackled with an iron hand.
The moment of truth beckons us. History will judge if NSCN (IM) took the right decision and whether Naga people spoke for its destiny; If not a historic blunder stares before us.
