By Huzintao
Nagas have experienced enough bitter taste of suffering and many lives have been sacrificed on the altar of the nation. There were countless orphans, widows and homeless in our country for the last 60/70 years yet due attention of National status has not been accorded to the Naga Nation till date. Nevertheless, in course of time God has opened a way for Nagas to have their stand through a political talk with the Government of India. Thus the framework agreement between the two entities had been signed on 3rd Aug.2015. Henceforth dialogue for final settlement of the protracted Naga political issue is set on proper channel and direction. Nagas case and struggle have now been placed on stage for international attention and importance. No mere or sheer dream or rhetorical rhyme of talking about the Naga issue at home without reasoning on truth about the matter can result a thing for good. Questioning and demanding clarion on the Framework agreement between the Nagas and GOI are just without reasoning.
Things that need to be disclosed have been vividly expressed in media several times. We Nagas need to change our outlook and broaden our political dimension to that of National and international. Then only we can solve our political problems. The greater our understanding the better we become as competent citizens of the world not just of Nagaland. We are to be fellow nations with the rest of the Nations of the world. To establish our basic understanding of the 3rd August Framework Agreement, we need to know the background rationale and mission purpose of Nagas’ struggle against foreign invading politics that have spoiled and divided us into pieces politically. The principle content of the Frame Agreement made between India and Nagalim are that, both the parties are two national entities having their own separate National flag, Parliament, Nomenclature, Constitutions etc. In the initial stage, there shall be sharing in governance; like external affairs, defence, Monetary, Exchange of essential goods and boundaries. All the Naga inhabited areas are inclusive in the framework yet to materialize. Things above the ground and below that fall under Nagas domain remains and belong to the Nagas. It is God’s will that Nagas shall be sovereign nation on earth and we are the children of His nation. If we remain confined to politics of factionalism and Indian political affairs we will loss our nation. We need land and people to be a nation. Frame work agreement can be understood as it is intended; as we analyse and understand the motive of the talk interlocutor Shri. R. N. Ravi from Indian counterpart and the interlocutor Shri. V.S. Atem from Naga counterpart official dialogue on mutual negotiating round.
Analysing the version of R.N. Ravi’s statement, on the subject matter of the competency“ Division of Power”, the Nagas shall exercise absolute power over their land and people. He said that the first point in sharing sovereign power is that Nagas will be the “Master”. And secondly, in case of Mineral and Resources wherever; below and above belongs to the Nagas. Ravi said sharing of power will not be mere semantics or playing with words but that there will be a genuine devolution of power where Nagas will become ‘sovereign-like’ basing on the uniqueness of the Naga history. The Interlocutor pointed out, that at one point of time, Nagas Nationalist groups started with a motive when independence meant sovereignty. Ravi however explained that, if independence were the only thing that Naga political groups need to talk about, then there would have been no talk.
When asked if the issue of Article 371(A) only covered Nagas of Nagaland, Ravi replied that both the entities(GOI&NAGAS) were talking about Nagas comprehensively and not only Nagas of Nagaland. He clarified that the negotiating parties were working on how to empower the Nagas in other parts of the country.
On inclusive of other NPGs, Ravi said, we want all groups to join and share the ownership. The GOI was serious about other groups joining the consultations and for which invitations were sent. He said that there will be just one Interlocutor each from both the sides and one talk for Naga issue. He said having several Interlocutors and several talks could result in several solutions which would only make a “mockery” of the Naga issue.
Having understood the practical aspect of the Nagas talk for final count-down, it is pertinent to know how to raise our united voice and rights over our land to the National and international arena. Instead of finding faults and defects in the cause, it is far more important to unite our spirit and struggle for common and inclusive final settlement. We shall no longer brood and break ourselves with our limitations and defectives mistakes of the past but shall jointly exert our concerted effort toward realizing the dream and aspiration of our honourable patriots who have left their legacy of hope on our present generation. Our Naga future lies on our struggle today. Every Naga citizen is equally responsible for solution or dissolution.
