A group of citizens has written an open letter to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio expressing deep concern over the reported “Pan Naga” agenda in talks between the NSCN (IM) and the Govt of India.
"It is learned the NSCN (IM) proposes a Pan Naga Body comprised of all Nagas of the Northeast India but of different States and residing in separate States, to be the common Cultural Authority with a Supreme Head in a socialistic pattern, which is strikingly contrary to the democratic culture of the Nagas of Nagaland," the letter said.
Signed among others by Takuyaba, Kahuto Chishi, Kevisiezolie Suohu, Dr Kepelhousie Terhüja, Neisakholie Ziephru, Khekiye Sema and Thepfulhouvi Solo, the letter October 14 makes it clear that --
"Barring territorial physical integration, there is no possibility of Nagaland, accepting the Pan Naga scheme contrived by the NSCN (IМ)."
The missive says: "In Nagaland, it is not the Government, but the villager who owns the land in accordance with our customs and traditions: and the Government of India realizing this has protection under Article 371A".
"The Naga lived under our own form of governance from time immemorial and before the colonial Power left India; we demanded, in 1929, from the Simon Commission to leave us as we were in ancient times.
People from outside do not understand our Customs, Traditions and Culture; the most durable Interlocutor and former Governor of Nagaland Mr R N Ravi honestly admitted he was not aware of the intricacies of the customs and traditions of the Nagas of Nagaland and expressed personal regret".
Copies of the letter were marked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, NSCN (IM) leader Th. Muivah, NNPG Convenor Kitovi, FGN Kedage Kezhalevor Angami, former interlocutor R N Ravi and Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav.
The territorial integration of Nagas - as was envisioned - aimed to merge all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas—spread across Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and parts of Myanmar—into a single administrative or sovereign entity.
In the contemporary this is found as unacceptable and impractical as several states would impacted and this also involves international geo-politics vis-a-vis Myanmar.
The government favors localized or regional autonomy arrangements within the Indian Constitution rather than redrawing external state borders to form Greater Nagaland.
Even as the Naga peace talks have seemingly 'revived' aft remaining stalled and almost derailed for years; it is more often argued that the vexed 'greater Nagaland' issue remains a "hanging fire".
Around 2009 when Shivraj Patil was Union Home Minister; it was maintained that while the Nagas were not ready to give up the demand; the Meities in Manipur would find it extremely difficult to stomach the same. In this context, experts even maintained that in 2001, the erstwhile Vajpayee government had taken an "ill-advised" move and extended 'Naga ceasefire to all Naga inhabitant areas' without assessing the Meitei-Manipuri mindset.
As a result, both the hills in the state of Manipur and the Imphal valley were set into fire.
From time to time a 'variety' of stylistic genres, commentaries, first hand experience and anecdotes and rare media reports from the local tabloids published in the region were used in the last few years to understand the complexities of such issues.
Lately, new advisor North East, Ajit Lal - armed with a letter from Home Secretary Govind Mohan - has been talking to NSCN-IM leaders and also representatives from two factions of NNPGs and other groups.
Analysing that at a time when hot pursuits against militancy and Naxalism might have been 'advocated', the refrain in Delhi still is that such an orientation in north east can "only harden the tribal people's attitude" and keep aggravating the problems.
The armed fight between security forces and even the other side, the militants, has actually always left the common people in a miserable state.
The Naga talks in technical sense entered a new phase with the appointment of Keviletuo Kiewhuo, an Angami social worker and businessman, as a 'go between' for NSCN-IM in its parleys with New Delhi.
Keviletuo has been a long term close associate of chief minister Neiphiu Rio and perhaps also enjoys confidence of NSCN-IM Hebron camp vice chairman, V S Atem. Hence, many see this recent appointment as a step to put the long pending Naga peace parleys on a faster track.
"This may be one way to judge that the Rio-led NPF-BJP Govt is now serious for an early Solution," came in a refrain from a quarter which was generally seen as a conservative school of thought.
ends
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