“It is time we changed all this, for it is now come to a point where we either move up the ladder or be swallowed by the snake.”
Kedi Haralu
The recent news item which appeared in some local dailies were in a way a personal view and not the actual ground reality. Though I appreciate the journalist for taking all the problem of visiting the abandoned oil drill sites, but with due respect, I have to say that it was a rather a news item that has been written by someone without the in-depth knowledge of the problems faced at Champang, which has been festering over the years and many villages, even families have been fighting amongst themselves, thus just a white wash of a news item does not justify the actual facts. I remember since the last year I have been writing on the oil resources in Nagaland and had visited Champang numerous times, plus had in-depth discussions with ONGC as well as private Companies like Conarro and Assam oil. The whole problem had actually started way back during the late eighties, where the Government of Nagaland, under the leadership of a very senior politician had messed up the whole issue, especially the royalty factor. The Student body too had tried to solve this issue, but without having much knowledge on the pros and cons of allowing outside Companies to invest in Nagaland, had made the issue more complicating. Thus taking the conversation of a local and making it into a news item does more damage, then good, to the already strained relationship between the Nagas and the Drilling Companies. We may quote Article 371, a million times, but have any one taken the trouble to read the rest of the clauses in the Article? As ONGC is a Government of India undertaking, all resources belongs to the Government of India and since Nagaland was and is a State under the Indian Union, we have to abide by the directions of the Government of India. So let us be more careful while quoting this Article, for those who had written the Article in the Indian Constitution, were one of the most intelligent citizens of India, plus the English language is very flexible and can always turn the tables on the enemy without even uttering a word. So, as a logical and rational person, I know that whatever they have written down always had a counter somewhere between the lines. (It is somewhat like those cheap Chinese Kung Fu movies, where the student after years of training, finally challenges his master. Everything would favor the pupils side till in the end when the pupil is about to win, the Master comes out with a new technique, which he had not taught his student for he foresaw that one day it would come to this. Ultimately the student is killed or his life is spared but never to show his face around these parts). This is how the Constitution of India was written.
Now as Nagaland has developed and as the Nagas have become more educated and have accumulated more knowledge and outside exposure, we are slowly understanding our mistakes and also the mistakes of ONGC. This is good and positive, but since Oil is found only in an area where there is complete turmoil, it has become somewhat dicey. I have been observing one thing where Oil has been found, there is always a war or civil war taking place. Look at the Balkan states? Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo in Yugoslavia, the oil belt runs right through the area of the war zone, then look at Uzbekistan and Chechnya, again here there is a civil war happening. Why was oil not found in Moscow instead, for it is all in one same oil belt. Then Look at the Middle East. I do not have to say much here, but the western countries are interfering in the politics in this area for what? For oil, of course, hence there is an uprising of Muslim fundamentalists who have no qualms in strapping explosives on themselves and blowing up anything in site, plus the money that has been earned through the sale of crude oil, has created monsters like Osama Bin Laden, Colonel Gadaffi and numerous other fanatics. Then look at the African Continent, oil has been struck in places like Nigeria, Angola plus the surrounding countries where there is a full scale war taking place and numerous mercenaries are fighting for domination. Now, in our case why could oil not been found in Assam but only in the border of Assam and Nagaland, where there is a bitter boundary dispute, where there has been open confrontation between the Assam Police and Nagaland Police? I can go on giving examples, and facts and figures, but I guess by know the readers should have got my jest.
What is sad and unfortunate is that the Oil drilling in Champang had benefited only a few people and not the locals as a whole. If you visit this area, you will see for yourselves on how much they have been neglected, especially with the lack of proper basic amenities, such as educational and health infrastructures. To add to their woes, the people of this area are not united, thus the dirty linen being hung for all to see (I am talking about the Press Releases and counters and also countering counters). One thing Nagas need to realize is that, anything precious found in Nagaland will increase the economic status of the State, but when individuals start meddling due to their own vested interests, it only damages the image of that certain tribe, plus the rest of Nagaland will not give two hoots on the difficulties faced, for in the first place why was the natural resources claimed by the certain village or land owner or tribe. We need to be more careful and learn from our mistakes and not let history repeat it self ever again. I may own the land where oil is being drilled, but I cannot give them the permission to drill nor can I ask them not to drill, for whether we like it or not, Article 371 had been given the consent of the Naga leaders at that time and period, thus Nagaland becoming a State under the banner of the tri-color.
When ONGC had been questioned on the reason why they had left all the oil fields and wells as it were, what they produced from their record was very shocking. Since the ONGC were given an ultimatum by a certain faction to leave immediately or suffer the consequences, the company had pulled out in a hurry for the fear being kidnapped or being shot. They had literally left the sites like a desperado (an escaped convict), leaving their luggage’s unpacked, for all they were thinking of was how to save themselves. So in a way Nagas have contributed either directly or indirectly on the Champang turmoil. Plus the oil leakage from the abandoned wells were also justified, for the fields being left as it were, was tampered with by locals as well as labors, so that the crude oil could be sold off to use as oil for the lamps, and also the pipes were cut up by some people, who sold them in kilo’s to scrap metal dealers. Infact, there was a pipe line that connected the oil fields with the refineries in Assam, but where are those pipes now? Obviously it was easy picking and a chance of making fast money selling them off to scrap metal dealers. Another mistake Nagas have done is that we have sold acres of land to some private companies dealing in oil. Yes, the land owner may get a few lakhs of rupees, but how long will it last? I have heard of villagers in Champang, who are land owners of some drilling sites, but they are living in utmost poverty, where even to get a new pair of sandals is a novelty. All these problems had occurred due to our lack of Awareness, hence, the media should be more constructive and give more awareness news instead of writing the views of some frustrated individuals, who had got a sour deal. In fact we have made a complete mockery of our Fourth Estate, since multi-national Companies working under the banner of ONGC are not a private undertaking, but are companies where it is run by a board, who are answerable to the share holders, who have invested their hard earned money to buy shares. Now, with just one news item, which will obviously be read by the share holders abroad, will have no option but to stop all works in Nagaland and invest somewhere else. Now who is losing? It is us Nagas who will be losing a major chunk of our liquid money, where we could heve been well of economically. Economic stability means that we do not have to continue as a welfare state, and every time we need funds our Government has to humble themselves and go to Delhi with their begging bowls. While this is taking place, how can we dictate terms to the Government? we do not have any right to oppose the Indian Government, for we cannot spit on the plate that has fed us?
If we want to see a brighter future for Nagaland, our goal should be how to get enough money from our natural resources then dictate terms with Government of India. It is time to be shrewd, and let the Indian Government allow foreign investors to work freely in Nagaland, but the catch has to be that the State Government has to have its major share of the booty. This is the only way we can achieve a stable economy, and the and then we can very think of sovereignty. Nagas should also not allow non-Nagas to write about any sensitive issues, for due to their lack of our Naga history and mentality, they always portray a news item, which is half baked, thus damaging all the good deeds and steps some Nagas have taken to enhance our status. Editors (with all due respect) need to let only Nagas write and report on any sensitive matters, and nobody else, for a Naga will write for the benefit of Nagas but a non-Naga will always write as per the perks given by those inviting them. For when something is published, it becomes a document, and which cannot be deleted or rectified
In conclusion, let us be more practical and also not be greedy and self centered, for in the long run it is us who will be losing out and we have no right to leave such a legacy to the coming generations, but instead we need to start taking positive steps for a brighter future, which we can then proudly hand over to our children and grandchildren. We are now in the era of a new dimension of democracy, with the introduction of new faces in the Government, both in politics as well as bureaucrats, thus, new ideas and concepts and most significant, new developmental steps. This is a very important and crucial stage for us, for we are in a phase where, if we do the right thing today, our Naga Society will surely be an advanced State in the near future, but one wrong step will draw us back down to the starting point, like a Ludo game. Our Neighbors are gaining from our lack of proper leadership, and also our stubbornness and our orthodox views and concepts.
