Why is JI Kathar and his Karbi Anglong Peace Forum (KAPF) going around Kohima and Nagaland spreading pure canard that “third forces” are responsible for the Karbi-Rengma conflict? Why is he so eager about “tribal unity” in Karbi Anglong at this juncture? Is it because the Joint Action Committee for Autonomous Statehood (JACAS) has hit a wall of which Kathar is the Convenor? JI Kathar solicited the support of Rengmas in support of Karbi statehood which the Rengmas and other ethnic groups of Karbi Anglong declined to join since the Karbi-Kuki clash, Karbi-Dimasa clash, Karbi-khasi clash, Karbi-Adivasi clash, Karbi-Hindi speaking community clash in Karbi Anglong is still fresh in most people’s mind. Sensing the disunity among the different tribal communities of Karbi Anglong, Central leaders are believed to have told JACAS that Karbi statehood is not possible. Given the circumstances, the sudden turnaround of Karbi civil society blaming ‘third forces’ for the killings of Rengmas and thereby washing their hands off the whole affair is understandable. Kathar and AIKNA have been on damage control mode ever since by expressing desire for unity and brotherhood amongst the tribals of Karbi Anglong. This they have also sought to achieve this by raising the bogey of Bengali-dominated Karbi Anglong! To his credit, Kathar, the intellectual has realized, though belatedly, that the Central government is in no mood to talk about statehood when Karbi militant groups in one guise or the other has been involved in slaughtering women and children from different ethnic communities since 2003, the latest being Rengmas.
However, the insincerity of Kathar leaves much to be desired. Judging from the way kathar has been addressing the Naga media, the Karbi civil society is still not ready to admit that its militants were involved in the killings and displacements of ethnic communities, including Rengmas in Assam since 2003. Rather, it’s amusing at the way Kathar and KAPF has been hoodwinking Nagas with talk of ‘third forces’ being responsible for all the carnages in Karbi Anglong, Assam and patting us for the safety of Karbis in Kohima.
Why is Kathar calling for a CBI enquiry into all the ethnic clashes in Karbi Anglong? Calling for CBI inquiry is a calculated risk Kathar has taken since he knows it’ll not happen. However, the underlying message he is sending is diabolic. In essence, he is saying, “Dear Nagas, Karbis are not responsible for any blood spilt in our Karbi Anglong. No, we did not kill the Kukis, the Rengmas, the Adivasis, or the Dimasas even though they dared to demand an autonomous council within Karbi Anglong. Believe me, Tarun Gogoi, the RAW, the IB, the ISI and the Bengalis are responsible for the killings.” This is not a message Naga people should be hearing at this juncture. If Kathar and KAPF truly desire peaceful co-existence between Nagas and Karbis, it’s good but judging from the utterances, we’re confused as to whether Kathar’s trip is a peace mission or to spread lies.
As expressed by him, Kathar is very worried in case the tribal population in KAAC falls below 50% (Morung Express). Such a scenario is frightening, to say the least, since it may allow the Central government to remove the autonomous nature of the KAAC and reduce it to a mere district of Assam with just 4 MLAs to show for it ! Did the MHA hint of this possibility when JACAS met the officials in September and November 2013? As Convenor of JACAS, it’s apparent that instead of a state, Kathar sees the possibility of a mere district for the Karbi people if the Rengma issue in Karbi Anglong including Karbi relationship with other ethnic minorities is not handled with care. However, instead of sincerely addressing the concerns of the Rengmas in Assam, Kathar has chosen to play politics thereby hurting the sentiments of the Rengmas in Nagaland. Taking advantage of the overzealous hospitality of some organisations in Nagaland, Kathar talked about Naga-Karbi unity and at the same time cunningly sought to isolate Rengmas with his ‘third force’ propaganda for which unnecessary suspicions has been created. Any roadmap for peace in Karbi Anglong shall take into consideration the express wish of the Rengmas in Assam and the question of their future political identity shall determine the outcome of peace.
Joel Nillo Kath
