Stock taking vis-a-vis Status quo club in Kohima ::::: “...a bird in hand is worth two in the bush” --- Will dreamers of Naga Peace Talks remain "high and dry" ?

Should 'dreamers' of Naga Peace Talks remain "high and dry" ?

"..... After all, no one can predict what the future holds for the Naga Peace Talks to ever conclude in ones’s life time or fizzle out and leave the dreamers high and dry. 

When the time is right for Manipur Nagas to decide whether “a bird in hand is worth two in the bush”, it is hoped that better sense will prevail. Best of luck, my Naga folks. The ball will soon be in your court," runs an article in Nagaland's popular daily 'Morung Express'. 

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The article penned by Ngaranmi Shimray (A Tangkhul Naga) under the title - 'Belated Reaction: A Modern Disease Afflicting the Nagas' pointedly says among other things: 

"The Naga Peace Talks have become more complicated as the NSCN (read IM faction) seems to assert that without a Flag and Constitution there cannot be any settlement to the Naga peace issue. 

However, Naga people should not forget that it is the role of the Naga peace negotiators to seek and for the GoI to dispense. 

An adage comes to mind; "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride". 

"Reality points to the fact that J&K lost their special status of having a separate Flag and Constitution and suffered the ignominy of being downgraded from a State to UT under the current ruling party at the Centre and is begging now to get its statehood status back. Against this backdrop, logically speaking, the prospect of GoI conceding to the demand for a Flag and Constitution (for Nagas) would at best be remote."

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The article then talks about imposition of President's Rule in Manipur -- the state where Tangkhul Nagas and NSCN-IM stalwart Thuingaleng Muivah hail from.

"Against the backdrop of Naga peace talk stalemate, the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur has raised hopes of dialogue and peaceful resolution of the ethnic conflict in Manipur and this in turn has infused a sense of urgency for the Nagas of Manipur to make their stand clear as to whether they wish to wait for the final Naga peace settlement, with Flag and Constitution and perhaps a new structure of federal relationship ....," runs the piece. 

The article also says: "If the decision is to wait for the final settlement of Naga Peace Talks then the Nagas of Manipur, unlike the Nagas of Nagaland who already have a State and are not oppressed or subjugated by other communities, face the risk and prospect of the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes taking a march ahead in enjoying the fruits of their political settlement within Manipur".

The reference to Kuki-Zomi issue is all the more crucial for Nagas of Manipur than for the Nagas in Nagaland state or in Assam or Arunachal Pradesh,

Shimray's article runs: "The Nagas of Manipur should not forget that the Naga Peace Talks have been going on for 27 years and that the final settlement, desired and expected by the Naga negotiators, could prove to be “elusive” and fraught with the possibility of peace talks breaking down. Nagas should be reminded of the adage - “a bird in hand is worth two in the bush”. 

Nagaland (state) was created in 1963 more than 62 years back and has enjoyed fruits of being ruled by themselves unlike the Nagas of Manipur, along with the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes, who continue to be suppressed, oppressed and subjugated by the dominant community in Manipur and this scenario is likely to remain unchanged for the Nagas of Manipur if they forego what would be offered to the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes as a political settlement of Manipur crisis. 

Muivah remains a dominant Naga influencer: Ukhrul town, Manipur 

Then the article suggests which is seemingly impossible ----

"In fact, it could be advantageous to both the Nagas and Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes if they join hands and put up a strong negotiation unitedly to include separate land settlement and land revenue system and administration for “Hill Areas” of Manipur which the Bodoland Territorial Council lacks. 

The Nagas should seize the opportunity of an imminent resolution of the Manipur crisis by putting their weight behind the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes and strike a harder bargain and also bring out clarity relating to lands of Nagas in the Hill Areas where Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes are settled now".  

The writer is quite candid in stating that perhaps Nagas of Manipur are today at the receiving end of -- some jokes initially and which could turn out as a dangerous back lash if this Status Quo club games continue. 

Shimray's article thus runs: "If past responses is indicative of current trend, no one will be surprised by a slow sluggish response of Manipur Naga CSOs and organisations as they await advice. " 

(This actually should force people do soul searching. Reportedly some CSOs at the instigation of Kohima club even approached Opposition MPs and could enlist a letter for Amit Shah seeking a neo negotiator. 

The real purpose that this 'delay final peace pact' club is seeking stood exposed and the opposition MPs virtually committed a treason.) 

Nevertheless, Shimray notes: "However, there is the possibility of policy prescription of the Naga peace negotiators prevailing yet again. 

Under such circumstances, the Naga tribes of Manipur living in the “Hill Areas” of Manipur could face the prospect of witnessing and envying the gains of the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes on various fronts from the political settlement, while they languish under the antiquated “Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 for many more years to come. 

They may become the laughing stock of the north eastern people mocking them of "biting off more than you can chew" and having “missed the bus”.

snap from Ukhrul town hub of Nagas in Manipur 

ends