"Nagas have to decide what is better today ... and also we have to contemplate the consequences of our decisions", says NNPG leader Isak Sumi :: P Tikhak of NSCN - R backs Nov 18 Rally by GBs and Common Platform

Hours before the historic Nov 18 rally for an early Solution pact on the Naga issue, P Tikhak Naga of NSCN-R says :

"It is important for us to keep pressurising the Govt of India .... 10 years after FA and eight years after the Agreed Position we have not arrived at the final Solution pact... So at times this kind of rally or meeting as proposed by the Common Platform of GBs is also important". 

 

Isak Sumi and Tikhak 

Answering questions, Tikhak (also a working convener) of the NNPG led by Neakpao Konyak; said - there is an urgent need for the Nagas to come together. 

"At the moment unless we Naga people can come together  there is no much hope. Our Naga people are suffering. My Naga people in Arunachal Pradesh are facing the worst kind of situation. There is utter negligence of our areas even by the authorities in Itanagar", 

He said - "The Naga issue is not between the GoI and the Nagas of Arunachal Pradesh or Nagas of Manipur or only from Nagaland .... It is between Nagas as a whole unit and the Govt of India. 

We have to appreciate one thing; the Govt of India has maintained that Sovereignty is out of question. Our second demand has been for Integration. But it is not possible at this juncture. The Govt of India acknowledges the right of the Naga people to be integrated and come under one administrative umbrella but it is not possible now. We have to be realistic. 

"But this can be carried forward in the future through a democratic and maybe even a political process. So we have not abandoned the issue of integration so far ... It is therefore ...very much there. And with all other pending issues we have decided to leave it for the future". 

veteran rebel leader Neakpao Konyak 

Talking on various aspects of the Naga peace talks and hurdles being faced for an early Solution agreement; another prominent Naga underground leader Isak Sumi (also a working convener of the NNPG) said --

"The Naga issue is complex and complicated. We cannot sum up this in one or two sentences. If we can straight way land with sovereignty; we could have proceeded with that. As a society or a community we cannot be stagnant as the world is evolving. So we we have to be adaptable to the changing dynamics of the times.

"What we have today may not be available tomorrow.... but that does not mean that we have to forget what will come tomorrow. Because of the past, what we are today and what we decide today will determine the future." 

Answering questions, Isak Sumi told this blogger - 

"The Naga political (underground) leaders should be very prudent and bold enough to not only decide what is better for us today but also we have to contemplate the consequences of our decisions.  

"So what we are trying is big or small ... it will be only feasible and acceptable if all the Naga groups come together and with the support of the people if we accept anything with the consensus.

We have to create some sort of middle path where our history is neither betrayed nor our future is compromised." 

Isak Sumi further said --"Our Naga struggle should not be only a lofty ideology. It should be a struggle for our people ,,,, therefore it should not be a hardline radicalised violent doctrine.

It should not be a pretext for the ruling political elite to misuse this just to hold on to power. It also should not be seen as an anti-India movement or anti-Myanmar movement". 

Elaborating further, he said -- "Rather its a just struggle of the people to live a free, just and sustainable and progressive modern society in tune with the rest of  the world. 

The NSCN-IM might have thought they alone will bring the Solution. But that did not materialise. 

The Govt of India and also others are saying all other groups should be engaged with. This is why the NNPG entered the talks process and in 2017, the Agreed Position was signed."

Hence, he underlined -- "It is time to talk about convergence. How do we all Nagas irrespective of Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position ... converge and reason together and collectively try to formulate a policy of Solutions where every Naga's interests irrespective of boundaries is addressed.

"Earlier we resolve the issue .... it is better for Nagas because there is extreme hardship the people are facing now for years.

He also cautioned -- "There is always a vested interest who benefits from this conflict".

ends