Has NSCN(IM) found itself in a quandary as NNPG is perhaps inching ahead to sign the much expected Final Peace Accord with the Government of India ???
Biggest challenge for Nagas is internal divisions, says CM Neiphiu Rio
New Delhi: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has been on a virtual dream run -- pursuing his relentless persuasive skills moving from pillar to post.
The efforts have been to build a consensus between all sections so that there is One Solution to the Naga political issue. Fresh from his consultative meeting with civil society members and other stakeholders at Kohima on October 15, Rio spent a few days in Delhi, meeting important players and movers and shakers of Indian politics. Once in Delhi, he also met important NSCN (IM) leaders and tried to pass on the Government of India viewpoints - vis-a-vis the demands for Flag and Constitution.
Unlike many including for example, NPF leader TR Zeliang, Rio has avoided hunger for media limelight as well.
At the end of the Delhi meet, he only told some of his associates and NDPP colleagues that -- "Those who matter in Delhi were receptive of his suggestions and views".
Sources close to the Chief Minister say, Rio has been categorical that any genuine peace would herald in Naga hills once there is "political solution based on Naga historical and political rights".
The Naga history has been unique and complex and thus to presume that a solution can emerge based on Kashmir strategies or the so called Mizoram prism may not be true either.
Kashmir has a different ballgame and thus the use of military forces cannot help in Nagaland.
Rio during his stay in the national capital has tried to drive home the point that any solution should be worked out "under the spirit of mutual respect and commitment for peaceful co-existence".
In this context, during deliberations with Home Minister Amit Shah or BJP leader from Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, it was underlined that a nation and its people stand to be all the more dignified only by resolving conflicts through respect.
Dr Visier Sanyu, president of the Overseas Naga Association, put it well during the Oct 15 meet at Kohima that the Modi government in the centre has the "political responsibility and power" to make these happen.
However, there have been strong comments in the media by NSCN (IM) leadership and NNPG also.
While Muivah did not hesitate to dub other Naga leaders as "traitors", the conglomerate of seven Naga groups has hit out at him for describing other Naga leaders as 'anti-Naga or traitors'.
"No Naga political leader till now has dared to call 14 Naga Tribes or sub tribes, GBs or other civil society as 'anti-Naga or traitors' for demanding early Indo-Naga political solution, honour and acceptable to Nagas everywhere. To tag or question the wisdom of Naga tribes and civil societies at this hour is very unfortunate," the NNPG said in a statement.
Muivah in an interview had said NNPG leaders have been conducting themselves as "traitors".
Rivalry between rivals has been the bane of the Naga insurgency legacy. These have only delayed the talks process and also given some advantages to the centre since the 1960s to use military power.
But it is true that the tribalism and ethnic differences have been a reality too.
"We must know what tribalism has done to Nagas," says Naga intellectual Niketu Iralu. And thus concerned individuals in advanced tribes should start to take any resentment from smaller and hitherto neglected tribal groups.
Who can really unlock the deadlock that has been reached with regard to the Naga peace talks?
In more ways than one, experts say the Nagas are at the threshold of seeing a new dispensation.
Here comes the relevance of the resolution adopted at the end of Kohima meet.
One of resolutions read: "Affirmed to relentlessly work in a collective and unified manner with one voice so as to facilitate the peace process and strengthen the negotiations for early realisation of the desired One Solution in a transparent manner which is acceptable and honourable".
Of course, this vital point has been also highlighted that all Naga negotiating groups must come together. The use of words 'traitor and anti-Naga' and an equally strong snib from NNPG shows that so called unity is far off. Naga Hoho leader H K Zhimomi has said - everyone is talking about unity when there is no unity.
But while talking unity is easier said than done; the NNPG has made it clear that Muivah's outburst that Nagas will not accept Indian constitution is like a circus.
"After 23 years of political talks, when a negotiator declared that Nagas do not accept the union of India or Indian constitution, it could only mean, political dialogue was a circus exercise for personal gains," the NNPG statement said.
For his part, Nagaland Chief Minister Rio has in the ultimate diagnosed the malady well.
The biggest challenge today for Nagas is 'division' and this is also a roadmap to self destruction, he told this writer.
The Nagas need to correct themselves; and on the part of the centre, New Delhi must review its policies towards the region.
In fact, some of it has been done by the Modi government. In diplomatic parlance, for instance, Indo-Myanmar cooperation is vital both at the ASEAN and sub-regional levels. Recently, foreign secretary Harshvardhan Shringla and army chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane visited Myanmar.
Naga groups are active in western Myanmar also.
Another active Naga sociologist, Rev Wati Aier says - what has not worked in the past should not be given a chance yet again. That means 'piece meal solutions' are no solution to the problem of Nagas. If keeping some tough actions against a few groups and keeping them at bay and talking to the other camps could have resolved the problem, we would not be debating the Naga issue in circa 2020.
The statehood for Nagaland came in 1963 following a peace pact of 1960 and since then a few more agreements were inked, but the peace remains an illusion in Nagaland and some pockets in northeastern states.
NSCN (IM) woos PM Modi
"How PM Modi is going to interpret his commitment into concrete form is all that matters now" - NSCN (IM) on 'deadlock' in Naga talks
In their mouthpiece 'Nagalim Voice', the NSCN (IM) recalls Modi's August 3, 2015 speech during signing of the Framework Agreement.
The militant group, which has raised the twin issues of Flag and Constitution, said the Prime Minister had "closed his speech giving a clear indication that Naga solution must carry with it a sense of pride, self confidence and self respect".
Thus, Modi's speech on the eventful day drove home the point that the Naga solution should be "honourable and acceptable to the Nagas".
The mouthpiece also said that - "no Naga solution will stand out as honourable and acceptable without Naga flag and Constitution as these core issues define Naga people's political identity".
"Interestingly, every line of Prime Minister Mr Modi's speech was a reflection of his keen interest and understanding of the northeast, particularly the Naga issue. It also reflects the critical importance of resolving Naga political issue to help his government implement Act East policy which constitutes the heart of his foreign policy.
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It is, however, disheartening that certain Naga political groups along with a few civil society organisations are pushing for Naga solution going down to their knees before the Government of India to accept whatever is vainly negotiated and offered san the Naga Flag and Constitution.
This (proposed new agreement between NNPG and GoI) would be seen as committing an act of historical treachery if any Naga political groups go ahead for solution without the Naga Flag and Constitution.
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