The peace talk and the talk of unity

The history of the Nagas dating back to time immemorial is clear that the Naga Territory is not a part of India either by conquest or consent. Amongst the Indian authors, Murkot Ramunny was a distinguished member of the (IFAS) Indian Frontier Administrative Service during “Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru” in his book titled “The world of Naga, Quote: The presence of Indo-Mongoloids (which referred Naga) was noted ten centuries before Christ at the time of compilation of the Vedas. One of the most important aspects of Naga life is that each tribe has its own area of land.
In the early century, when the Nagas were illiterate, it was the Indians who wrote about the Nagas of their unique history and situation which has not disputed and undoubted that the Nagas are ethnic people. The history also clearly mentioned that the Naga villages was self sufficient, self reliant and its governance was purely based on what can be described “Naga democracy” functioned as individual units of sovereign village. Basing on its historical fact, –Nagas has every right to self-determination. The British colonial ruled in India by mistake misplaced the Nagas under Indian administrations when they left India. However, Nagas never stoop down to the forced ruled and occupations of their land resisted tooth and nail leading to the armed confrontations which claimed thousand lives from both sides. Having fought for several years and belated realization of the futility of armed confrontations, Government of India (GoI) declared ceasefire in 1997 for a peaceful resolution to the decades old Naga issue.
The ceasefire Agreement read: that the talk shall be at the highest level, in the third country and without any pre-conditions was appreciated by all the peace loving people with the hope that the long standing Naga issue may be resolved at the earliest.
When the talks were held in the third countries and the people were informed about the progress of the talk, people were very happy to learnt the signing of the joint communiqué on Jul.11.2002 in which the Government of India officially recognised the unique history and situation of the Nagas. The progress of the talk also achieved the signing of the Frame-work Agreement on 3rd Aug.2015 which clearly mentioned the Naga as separate entity which expression implies the Nagas are not Indian.
After months of signing the Framework Agreement R.N.Ravi the then Interlocutor himself came to Nagaland and held consultations with the Naga Civil Societies, Tribal Hohos including the state Government led by the Chief Minister and MPs on 8th December 2015 at the ’State Convention Hall. In a mammoth gathering of all the stake holders of the Nagas R.N.Ravi said(1)That the Naga political solution will be comprehensive and inclusive of all the stake holders (NPGs) and the Nagas (2)That, the (GoI) Government of India is talking with NSCN-IM, but not for NSCN-IM alone, but NSCN understands more and better of the positions clearer(3) That, Prime Minister is determined to resolve the Naga issue and said that the two entities shall be equal partnership (4) That, there shall be sharing of sovereign power between the two entities (5) That, there is no question of small or big, but equal respect and honour. However, those sweet words are all gone with the thin air.
Meanwhile, the people were anxiously awaited the implementation of the “Framework Agreement” another agreement as “Agreed Position” appeared to confuse the people and polarized the issue. By signing the two agreements on one issue, Government of India’s policy of divide and rule was reflected and given to understand that the Government of India (GoI) has no political will to resolve the Naga issue but to keep on dragging the “Talk of the Talk. Today, people are becoming increasingly impatient, sensing that the Naga political talk has hit an uncertainty or deadlock, but as we embark on this journey towards nationhood, we must draw aspiration from the sacrifices of those who have come before us. We must not forget to honour the sacrificial acts of those revolutionary groups who have fought and died for the Nagas freedom. The present generation must take the lead to the end with what have been started in the beginning.
The lofty word “Unity: All the Naga populations profess the need of unity as it was universally aspired, but the contrary of the talk of unity is that, if anybody propagates the inclusive approach or broad out look to Naga political solution, he is branded as Naga outsider, no matter what the person is trying to convey or from which tribe he belongs to.
Unity is everting the Naga society for the last many years because of the facts that we only talk and wish to be, but failing to set the common objective or road map on which basis unity can be achieved. It is a fact that our forefathers were honest, sincere, simple and respect each one another, but today, our society is in turmoil due to the clash of interest as because everybody knows everything to his finger tips and no need to listen to what the others had to say.
The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) formed in 2008 by selecting the reputed personalities was primarily to unite the Naga political groups so as to bring about an amicable solution to the decades old Naga issue.
As entrusted by the people “FNR” worked hard with all possible efforts that subsided the factional clashes and brought down the rate of killings which deserved appreciations and awards. The FNR’s attempt to unite all the factions was to let the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) regain the confidence of the people so that they may be able to resolve the decades old Naga issue. However,instead of appreciations “FNR” is blamed for not fulfilling the interest of either of the groups, alleging that the unity move is the road-block to the Naga political solution for accommodating more and more factions to the reconciliation process.
Looking back to the events of unity move, the more we talk of unity, the more divisions are causing to the extent of jeopardizing the Naga political solution. However, unity” is a wish and voice of the people and therefore, every political groups must try to appreciate the voice of the people and try to come to a meeting point.
To move forwards into a free and self determined future, all the national political groups must release themselves from the prison of the unresolved sinful and tragic burdens of the past against one another that refuses to go away and seek forgiveness for the wrongs they have inflicted.
So long, the Naga Political Groups remained divided, Naga Civil Society will remain divided and there will be no solution howsoever we talk of our rights. Whether the ongoing peace talk achieved the aspired goal of Naga sovereignty or not, Naga history shall exist, therefore, Nagas need to come together for now to resolve the Naga issue.
Every Nagas believed that the divisions within the Naga Political Groups and Civil Organisations are the handiwork of the enemy, but it is we who are unintentionally or unknowingly succumbing to our enemy’s trap and aspirations.
It is shameful to blame only others as if we do not know where we have gone wrong.
H.K.Zhimomi