Kahuto Chishi Sumi
Hevishe Village,
Khaghaboto Range
The Nagas must be the most delusional people in the world; we are driven by emotion and belligerent slogans, and the mirage of an “Honourable and Acceptable Solution” either silences us or shuts down our brains. The three operative word are “Honourable”, “Acceptable” and “Solution”; they cannot be used together in the context of the Naga Issue because they mean different things to different people. And now two more words have been added to the jingoistic lexicon of Naga Armchair Nationalists”:- “Flag” and “Constitution”.
HONOURABLE:- To do something with honour or honourably simply means to do it with respect or dignity, and without shame and disgrace. In the Naga context, any honourable solution is total independence; anything less is a shame and disgrace to all those who suffered untold miseries and gave their lives for the cause of Naga Independence. When any faction talks of an honourable solution, what they actually mean is an honourable surrender. There is no shame or retribution when one surrenders honourably, provided your terms of surrender do not have a negative impact on your people. So the right thing to do, for all the factions in talks with the Government of India, is to surrender honourably and negotiate the best terms India can or will give. The dishonour and retribution will come if you negotiate your surrender under the false pretext that what you manage to obtain from India was what the Naga struggle for Independence was all about.
ACCEPTABLE:- It is nearly impossible to find total acceptance to anything in this world; and in the Naga context, only total Independence will be acceptable to all Nagas. But any outcome which will see the end of multiple extortions in the guise of taxes for the Naga National Cause will by accepted by an overwhelming majority of the Nagas, especially those of Nagaland. So, surrender honourably, get the best terms that India is willing to give you and return to your homes. We will find that an acceptable alternative to being taxed under the guise of Naga Nationalism. To use Mr. Mhabemo Humtsoe’s analogy, the milch cow of Nagaland can no longer endure being milked by multiple factions on grounds of spurious Naga Nationalism.
SOLUTION:- A solution is possible only if all parties to a dispute can voice their concerns and demands; and the reality is that there can be no solution to the Naga Issue without the N.S.C.N.(K), but no one mentions them. We are ostriches with our heads buried in the sand, thinking that if we ignore something, it’ll disappear. What India can do is present whatever solution it has come up with and gauge the reaction of the N.S.C.N.(I-M) and the 7 N.N.P.G.s. I’m certain that the I-M will kick and scream at any solution which does not grant the Manipuri Nagas some sort of legal status in Nagaland; but that is unacceptable without integration of the Naga inhabited areas of Manipur; which, in turn, is impossible, not because of the Meiteis or Kukis, but because the ordinary Naga of Manipur is comfortable in Manipur.
The I-M can either accept it or go back to war with India. The difference in the event of the latter scenario is that they will no longer have a gullible Naga Public to aid and abet them.
I believe that the N.S.C.N.(K) is not averse to negotiations with the Government of India; it was the fact that the talks were going nowhere that led them to break off the negotiations and abrogate the ceasefire. If India does come up with a concrete solution, I’m certain that the N.S.C.N.(K) can come to some terms with the Government of India.
FLAG:- What exactly is a flag? A flag is just a piece of cloth unless it represents a nation or a cause. Leaving aside the fact that the Government of India has taken away the flag of Jammu and Kashmir, what right do people who have given up the cause of Naga Independence and Nationhood have to ask for a Naga Flag? Give us Independence and a Nation or keep quiet, don’t try to substitute Independence and Nationhood with a piece of cloth.
CONSTITUTION:- Once again, ignoring the reality of what has happened to the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, have any of the fools clamouring for a separate constitution for the Nagas read the Yezabo (Constitution) of the N.S.C.N.? Mr. K.K. Sema’s article, “Pan-Naga Hoho under the Framework Agreement”(NP,MeX and EM 16-9-17) and my explanation of it, “The Greatest Danger Nagaland Faces”(NP, MeX and Em 19-9-17) clearly outlines how the I-M plans to create a mini-North Korea out of present day Nagaland. This is what Atem meant when he said, “The State of Nagaland shall cease to exist”; they mean to replace it with an amorphous entity of the I-M, by the I-M and for the I-M, legalised with a Chinese Communism based Constitution with dictatorial powers held by a Yaruiwo.
The only recent change seems to be that they will “allow” three political parties, the Right, the Left and the Independents ( though how on earth independents can be considered a political party beats me).
Time to face reality and see what solution India has prepared for the Nagas. The I-M had 22 years to discuss the issue of a separate Flag and Constitution. Bringing it up at this juncture only solidifies the suspicion that the I-M is willing to drag on the talks indefinitely so that they can keep up their extortion under the mask of Naga Nationalism, till Kingdom come.
God save Nagaland
