Though Nagas are divided into different Administrative Units, the spirit of a Naga never wavered. It is the general feelings of all Nagas irrespective of tribes and boundaries that, ‘If Nagas be for us, who can be against us’. The Naga political struggle for self determination has ascended to more than sixty years; however, the aspiration of the Nagas seems to elude us. The Naga Hoho’s White Paper on Naga Integration, defines Integration as “Removal of all arbitrary boundaries and superimposed upon the Nagas by the British and placing them into different administrative units within India and Myanmar without their knowledge and their consent”.
The Call for Unification of all Naga Inhabited Areas and to live under one Administrative Roof has been very loud and clear to the Nagas. The DAN Government, Naga Civil Societies, the general public and Naga National workers in unison supports the Naga Integration, but it continues to remain unresolved. The current impasse in NC Hills, where thousands of Nagas were made homeless, villages burnt to ashes, innocent public and children being mercilessly tortured and killed and many left orphan in their own lands by the aggressors in connivance with the Indian military forces is an acidic test for the Nagas. Many precious lives have been laid down and many are still willing to give their lives for the cause of Nagas aspiration to live together as one people. However, the question remains, the sincerity of the Naga people.
Our National workers have declared Integration of Naga homeland as one of the key issues in the Peace Talks. However, it is regretful to mention that they have totally failed to take into account the plight of the Naga people in NC Hills. The NSCN (IM) and some civil societies seem to be ignorant about the current happenings in Naga areas of Assam. The sacrifices of the people should not be taken for granted as weakness. If we cannot protect our own people from the hands of the aggressors, the people should be left alone to decide for their own future
Sometimes truth hurts and it is bitter but unless truth prevails there shall be no sustainable solution. Since time immemorial, the Zeme Nagas and Dimasa have been living together as brothers, as good neighbour and had maintained the age old mutual relationship. However, today it has turned otherwise due to reasons best known to the Dimasa brothers.
Whereas, the root causes of the ethnic conflict is the Dimasa’s demand for (i) Dema Hasao Raji (Dimasa kingdom), (ii) Reservation of 80% government Jobs exclusively for the Dimasas, (iii) Transfer of land rights to Dimasa only and (iv)Inner Line Permit (ILP) to all other non Dimasa tribes/communities in NC Hills District. All these demands are ridiculous and an infringement on somebody’s genuine birthrights. Unless we are prepared to address these core issues, to talk of Peace is a farce. If we are to revive our mutual relationship and pave way for peace, the Dimasa must respect genuine rights of the Zeme Nagas by doing away with their demand. The indifferent attitude of the Government of India towards the two communities proves beyond doubt the devilish policy of “Divide and Rule”. About 65, 000 security personnel have been deployed for the security of the people. However, on the contrary, the armies took the DHD Ceasefire group as guide and have been operating in the Zeme Naga villages in the guise of operation against the militants. In the presence of Indian security forces, villagers were killed and villages burnt. Human Rights violations by the armies are at random in the name of security. The people have become so insecure that even seeing armies causes terror in their minds. The deployment of security forces cannot bring an end to the conflict; rather it will keep escalating the conflict situation in the region.
The Nagas irrespective of tribes and factions must wake up from slumber and move forward in unity towards our common goal. Naga intellectuals must no longer sleep over their comforts but get going in shaping our shared future.
KUKNALIM
K. Elu Ndang
