Jamir sheds light on CM years

‘Confides why Muivah harbours animosity towards him’

DIMAPUR, October 22 (MExN): “Naga people should recognize the positive contributions of leaders instead of their negative attributes and build a firm foundation for the Nagas of our dreams”, said Dr SC Jamir, Governor of Goa in a press communiqué issued by Sebastian Zumvu, OSD to the Governor. Interacting with a group of Gaon Buras (GBs) from Dimapur district who called on him this morning here at Raj Bhawan, Jamir said the good done by Naga leaders like Phizo, Imkongmeren, Zashei Huire, Kughato, Gen Kaito, Muivah, Isak Swu, Khaplang, P. Shilu, Jasokie, Vizol, Hokishe or “even SC Jamir” should be recognized instead of criticizing them as if they have not contributed anything to the Naga society. He confided that he can very well imagine why NSCN (IM) Surpremo Th Muivah harbours animosity towards him.

He narrated an incident which took place in the mid 1980s when he was the Chief Minister and when the first ever effort was made to bring the then undivided NSCN leaders to the negotiating table. “Hollohon was then my Political Advisor and along with Isak Swu’s brother Shikato, M. Vero, Longrisashi, Pastor Chingam Konyak and several others, we convinced the NSCN leaders including Muivah to come to Nagaland. The agreement was to let them have their headquarters at Tuensang with a Base Camp at Tizit. This was done with the full knowledge of late Indira Gandhi and the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

“About 75 NSCN leaders reached Khonsa, and the then Governor of Nagaland General KV Rao and myself headed for Delhi to pave way for the Government of India to meet them. Unfortunately, the then Union Home Minister SB Chavan and the then Union Home Secretary Pradhan did not realize the opportunity this offered and ordered them to be arrested since they, the NSCN had “kidnapped” 10 persons from Arunachal Pradesh. “I immediately rang up the 3 Corps Commander and also Hollohon to intervene, and somehow the NSCN leaders were released,” Jamir said and went on to rue that this effort to bring the Naga leaders to the negotiating table could have been sabotaged by some who did not want the problem to be solved.

“I had nothing to do with the arrest and the volte face of the Government of India, but since I was the Chief Minister of Nagaland at that time, Muivah must have thought that I was responsible for it. I do not blame him because he would not know which leaders at the Centre botched it up. Hollohon too had to pay a heavy price for this misadventure even though he was not at all responsible for the sabotage,” he said. 

Jamir also mentioned the case of the NSCN (IM)’s call to boycott the 1998 Elections in the State as another instance which could have hurt the sentiments of the NSCN (IM) leadership.

“When all political parties and NGOs called for the boycott of the 1998 Elections at the behest of the NSCN (IM), I stood firm on my ground since I have already taken oath like all former MPs, MLAs and Ministers swearing allegiance to the Constitution of India and that I would stand by my oath like a true Naga.

“NSCN (IM) leaders Phungthing Shimrang and VS Atem met me in 1997 to dissuade me from participating in the General Elections of 1998. But I told them that as a Naga and as a Christian, I could not go back on my oath and that come what may, I would have to stand by my allegiance to the Constitution of India. I told them that I am true to my word and that I would never back-stab them, but warned them to be careful of those who have forgotten their oath and were rallying behind them at that point of time would back-stab them. 

“As you know, elections were held and the Congress party swept the polls. We formed the Government and it was duly recognized by the Election Commission of India and the country. Some political parties realized their folly only too late. As a Naga and as a Christian, I stood by my oath of allegiance to the Constitution of India which was solemnly taken in the name of the Almighty.

“However, I am afraid this principled stand I took had hurt the NSCN leadership and I was branded as ‘anti-people’ and ‘anti-nation’. They have attempted to assassinate me several times, but by the grace of God Almighty, I have survived thus far. I have a clean conscience and I believe whatever I do, I do it for the welfare and benefit of the people of Nagaland.

“They then embarked on a media blitz against the 16-point Agreement and Statehood. So, in 2000 when I was the President of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, the party brought out a booklet called Bedrock of Naga Society in which arguments were put forth as to how the people of Nagaland have benefited from Statehood, and why Statehood has been one of the best things to have happened to the Naga people so far. Some uncomfortable truths were raised in the booklet, and I can understand how these truths could have hurt the sentiments of some people,” he said. 

“I have been blamed for various things and even criticized as being the stumbling block to the Naga peace process with the Government of India. I can only say that these critics are giving me too much importance which I do not deserve. They are making a giant of me! As if I am capable of influencing the stand or policies of the Government of India,” he added.

He went on to narrate how he as an elder citizen of the State has witnessed and come across the transition Naga society had undergone since the earlier half of the last century to the present.

He lamented that Naga people are not allowed to speak out their minds and that those who do are threatened with dire consequences.

“What kind of society can we expect when we cannot speak out our minds, voice our opinions or give dissenting views?” he asked and urged the GBs to seriously consider what has gone wrong with our Naga society and how to rectify the mistakes.
He urged the grass roots level leaders to appreciate the positive contributions that the leaders have made and to downplay whatever human mistakes they might have committed.

“When a house is on fire, even quarreling couples forget their differences and try to save their home. The Naga house is now on fire and it depends on us to forget our differences and save it from being completely razed down to the ground,” he said.

The group of twenty GBs from Dimapur district is on an exposure trip traversing the entire length and breadth of the country. The GBs arrived here in Goa day before and will be departing for Pune Wednesday from where they are scheduled to leave for Calcutta on their way to Nagaland.