New Delhi
In a major development the Nagas of Manipur and majority Meitei community have resolved to strive for maintaining territorial integrity of the state of Manipur. Representatives including village chiefs and authorities of 13 Tangkhul Naga and 6 Meitei villages conclaved at Chandrakhong, a converging point of Kamjong, Kangpokpi and Thoubal districts of Manipur on June 10 and decided to work for safeguard of Meitei and Tangkhul Naga villages and even demand NRC.
A few days earlier, as many as 10 Naga legislators from Manipur have dissociated themselves from the demand of a 'separate administration' for tribals by the Kukis and other smaller Zo communities and asserted that "Naga areas should not be touched" if at all any such arrangement is made.
These have triggered debate on the prospects of Naga peace talks and even so-called Naga unity. "We the Nagas have been trying to go forward on a back gear and perhaps we are soon about to reach the station called: “Solution? What Solution?”," says retired IAS officer Khekiye K Sema questioning the very rationale of ongoing Naga peace talks.
"To add salt to the wound, it appears that our Tangkhul brothers have finally shown their true character by openly joining hands with the Meiteis in a time like this… vowing to jointly safeguard Manipur’s territorial integrity," he writes in an article published in local newspapers.
He questions, " Are the Nagas of Nagaland awake to this recent development? For all practical purposes the NSCN (IM) is a Tangkhul outfit". The developments are significant. The Nagas of Manipur have shown preference to status quo arrangement with the Manipur state. Moreover, during last one month's violence between Meiteis and Kukis, there have been no untoward incidents between Meiteis and Nagas.
In fact, analysts also say that the efforts by Kukis to enlist the support of Nagas of Manipur in their demand for a separate administration did not enthuse Nagas showing their clear preference to stick to age-old friendship with the Meiteis.
The NSCN-IM, consisting largely of Tangkhul Naga cadres and leadership under a Tangkhul Naga Thuingaleng Muivah has been insisting for 'greater Nagaland' or Nagalim in their parleys with the Government of India.
The centre has rejected the demand stating that no compromise will be entertained to impact the territorial integrity of states such as Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
The umbrella organisation of seven Naga outfits NNPG with an overwhelming support base within the state of Nagaland led by N Kitovi Zhimomi is keen for an early solution pact with the Government of India.
The NNPG has signed a foundation pact called Agreed Position in 2017 while the NSCN-IM has its own Framework Agreement inked with the centre in presence of PM Narendra Modi in 2015.
The Naga civil society and influential Naga Tribes Council (NTC) have been insisting for an early peace pact and did not like matters related to Manipur or Arunachal Pradesh to be linked for delaying the Solution and a final peace pact.
The NSCN-IM on the other hand is not making forward movement on peace talks with the centre since 2019. Now a categorical assertion by the Naga legislators of Manipur that they would not like to be 'touched' by Kuki demand and 13 Tangkhul Naga villages backing the cause of united Manipur would have its ramifications in the peace parleys.
A former civil servant Khekiye Sema's statement must be seen from that perspective.
"Despite such ruthless hatred plainly being displayed by the Meiteis right before their very eyes against a tribal brother (Kukis), the utter indifference and lack of unity amongst the tribals of Manipur is clearly unimaginable," laments Khekiye - himself a Sema Naga and a Christian from the state of Nagaland.
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Khekiye suggests that the NSCN-IM leadership is still hiding from Nagas of the state of Nagaland the details of its "negotiations" with the centre.
"Their arrogant audacity lies in the fact that the NSCN (IM) have refused to transparently share their ‘Competency Clauses’ to the stake holders…that’s predominantly concerning us..the Nagas of Nagaland!
The Tangkhul brothers in the NSCN (IM)…lead by their unquestioned all mighty Muivah…are playing a treacherous game with the lives and the future of the Nagas of Nagaland with half-truths and sinister questionable motivations," he says.
Khekiye maintains that by way of Naga Hoho or an upper House in the new proposed system, the Tangkhul Nagas or the NSCN-IM leadership want to dominate the state of affairs of the Nagas of Nagaland state.
Since May 3 Manipur has been witnessing Meitei-Kuki violence which has claimed over 100 lives and left more than 300 injured. Thousands have been rendered homeless and around 9000 Kuki-Zo community people from the hills of Manipur are already taking shelter in Mizoram where native Mizos share ethnic bonds with the Kuki people and others.
Ten Naga legislators including from BJP, NPF and NPP called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah last week and appreciated the Home Minister's 'swift actions' to control the escalating tensions.
The 10-member group comprised 5 NPF MLAs (Ram Muivah, Khashim Vashum, Awangbow Newmai, Keishing Leishiyo, and Losii Dikho), 2 BJP MLAs (Dinganglung Ganmei and SS Olish), 2 NPP MLAs (N Kayisii and Janhemlung Panmei) and Independent MLA J Kumo Sha, local newspaper 'Nagaland Page' reported.
Legislator Losii Dikho has said that for the first time in many years, there is now a Naga MLAs forum in Manipur.
Meanwhile, the CBI has filed six FIRs and formed a special team to probe the alleged conspiracy related to the ethnic violence in Manipur. The agency will probe into details whether there was a 'conspiracy' to foment communal tension in the sensitive state of Manipur and whether there was a coordinated effort behind the continued unrest, ethnic/communal clashes and also looting of arms and ammunition by Kuki groups from the security forces.
The state DGP has been replaced by a Tripura cadre officer Rajiv Singh and one security advisor Kuldiep Singh too has been appointed. There is also a judicial body probing the violence.
The Centre has set up a Peace Committee with Governor Anusuiya Uikey as the chairperson and that includes representatives from all communities and also Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
Many leaders including Nagaland politicians and civic body leaders in private and otherwise have been insisting that the Government of India should not delay inking a peace pact with the umbrella organisation NNPG.
The NSCN-IM is against signing of a peace pact without a separate Constitution and Naga flag.
ends
(Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of the books 'The Talking Guns: North East India', and 'Modi to Moditva: An Uncensored Truth'. Views expressed are personal)
Extract of Khekiye's article:
"On 3rd May 2023 a simultaneous comprehensive Solidarity March involving all the Tribal folks took place in the entire Tribal Districts of Manipur against the possible grant of ST status to the Meeteis…which included ‘our very own’ Tangkhul brothers.
Thereafter, the audacious silence and inaction by all the other Tribal people of Manipur was palpable when the Kukis had to suffer the full brunt of the brutal backlash from the well organized, well armed, preplanned frenzied Meitei mob.
While most seems to be focusing on the job angle to the ST status being sought for by the Meiteis, the end objective is more sinister than meets the eye. Once the Meiteis obtain their ST status they would thenceforth be legally empowered to buy Tribal land without any restriction.
No matter how much the tribals try and restrict their tribal people from selling land to the Meiteis…poverty has no sensibility or propriety…and therefore our poor tribal folks will eventually sell their land to the highest bidder which is more likely to be the Meiteis.
This to my mind is the bottom-line threat not only to the Kukis’ land adjoining the Meitei’s valley but for all tribal land in the hills as well. With wealth concentrated in the Imphal valley it would not take too long for the Meiteis to overrun the landscape and a day will come when the Meiteis will take command of most of the viable land in the hills as well.
Despite such ruthless hatred plainly being displayed by the Meiteis right before their very eyes against a tribal brother, the utter indifference and lack of unity amongst the tribals of Manipur is clearly unimaginable. The original plan of ethnic cleansing has now slowly shifted gear into a Hindu Christian slugfest where hundreds of Christian Churches have been looted and torched with the Manipuri BJP Government complacently stocking the fire from the shadows. Meanwhile, what happened to the NSCN (IM) with their oft proclaimed “Nagaland for Christ”?
I suppose this slogan is only applicable to the State of Nagaland…but obviously not relevant in Manipur! To add salt to the wound, it appears that our Tangkhul brothers have finally shown their true character by openly joining hands with the Meiteis in a time like this… vowing to jointly safeguard Manipur’s territorial integrity according to “The Sangai Express”.
Are the Nagas of Nagaland awake to this recent development? For all practical purpose the NSCN (IM) is a Tangkhul outfit with some Naga tribes of Nagaland (including the Sumis) tamely following them as their superficial Naga window dressing!
Having said this…now let’s revisit the history of our Naga National Movement. The Tangkhuls, as a people, refused to join the Naga National Movement when it first began. This is a fact of history.
It was a time when their mass involvement was desperately needed during the worst period of a horrific genocide being inflicted upon the Nagas of Nagaland by the Indian Army. That a few stray cases of an individual Tangkhul or two having joined the Movement is of no real consequence. Finally, under advisement of one farsighted gentleman named Mr. Suisa, the godfather of a few people like Ramiyo and Muivah, they too joined the movement only in 1965 after cease fire was in place and when the environment was relatively less dangerous.
Today, through various devious political maneuvers and ruthless exterminations of opposition, they have overpowered and usurped the Naga National Movement (that they refused to join) through the power of their guns and merciless taxation and are now dictating the terms of negotiation with the GoI…presumably for the Nagas.
Their arrogant audacity lays in the fact that the NSCN (IM) have refused to transparently share their ‘Competency Clauses’ to the stake holders…that’s predominantly concerning US…the Nagas of Nagaland! The Tangkhul brothers in the NSCN (IM)…lead by their unquestioned all mighty Muivah…are playing a treacherous game with the lives and the future of the Nagas of Nagaland with half-truths and sinister questionable motivations.
Their definition of “Shared Sovereignty” is a sham… just to save face...knowing very well that Mr. Muivah had himself publically proclaimed in 2012 that “Sovereignty” and “Integration” was no longer on the negotiation table.
While “Sovereignty” might have understandably been an impossible ask, the ease with which our Tangkhul negotiating brothers were willing to forego the issue of “Integration” can now be discerned more vividly. On the one hand, it’s no wonder then that this so-called Southern brother has now very willingly and voluntarily joined hands with the Meiteis to safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur while the rest of the tribal folks, including the Kukis, are being forced to live in fear.
On the other hand the NSCN (IM) wants to declare the State of Nagaland as a “Naga Nation” for obvious reason.
While enjoying their independent exclusive privileges within their own “Autonomous Regional Territorial Council” that they have salvaged for themselves from the GoI, they want to also enjoy equal privileges as citizens of this so-called “Naga Nation” after pretentiously negotiating for and giving up on the ‘geographical integration’ of the Naga contiguous territories in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh…thus putting in place their unambiguous policy of “mine is mine…yours is ours”.
The ‘end game’ of our scheming Southern brother does not end here.
They want to ensure that GoI concedes to their demand for PAN NAGA HOHO…for what purpose? Is emotional integration their true purpose? The real reason in their scheme of things is to continue controlling the Nagas of Nagaland even in the post-solution era.
The Tangkhul brothers envisages a Bi-cameral setup…Upper House- Lower House ( Rajaya Sabha/ Lok Sabha equivalent) for their so-called ‘Naga Nation’ where the ‘Lower House’ will house the Elected Representatives while the ‘Upper House’ would consist of Members nominated by the PAN NAGA HOHO that they will control in the like manner of their redundant ‘Naga Haha’ of today.
The working dynamics so craftily designed in this set up is that no matter what Bills are proposed by the ‘Lower House’, such Bills cannot become an ACT/ LAW without the approval of the ‘Upper House’ which would consist of puppet members nominated by PAN NAGA HOHO.
This diabolic plan of wanting to control the lives of the Nagas of Nagaland in the post solution era is a firsthand knowledge acquired from one of the Tangkhul king pins in the NSCN (IM) set up. This is a real plan of our Tangkhul brothers in the NSCN (IM)…and believe me…this is not a joke!!! I dare NSCN (IM) to deny this fact!
Is it not clearly apparent to the Nagas of Nagaland as to why NSCN (IM) is extremely reluctant to transparently disclose their “COMPETENCEY CLAUSES” that they have been negotiating with the GoI all this while????
Is the present Naga generation of Nagaland so desperately devoid of courage to perceive and collectively stand up for what we believe to be the right thing to do…rather than succumb to the dictates of one single human being called Muivah who had publically disavowed “Sovereignty” and “Integration” but now demanding “Naga Flag” and “Naga Yezahbo” for the Naga Nation?
I have said this before and I am saying it again…NO INDEPENDENT NATION SEEKS PERMISSION FROM ANOTHER INDEPENDENT NATIONS FOR THEIR NATIONAL FLAG AND THEIR CONSTITUTION!
The ‘Flag’ and the ‘Constitution’ is a natural independent protocol of an Independent Nation that does not require any permission from any other Nation. Period!
Yet here we are…the so-called “Sovereignty” of the NSCN (IM) requires the permission of the GoI to have a “Naga Flag” and a “Naga Yezahbo”…for their delusional “Sovereign Naga Nation”…for which the talks has run into a road block…and we the fearful stakeholders have nothing to say. "
Khekiye's article: Morung Express
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