Media reports on the destruction of insurgent camps along Indo-Myanmar border by the Indian Army seemed to be an effort to hide the failures of our leaders to find an amicable solution to the vexed Naga problem. The reports didn’t question why a solution to the said problem is still eluding us? What have we achieved during the last two decades when the Naga insurgent groups decided to give up arms and agreed to find a solution through negotiations? The reports only glorified the deeds of Indian soldiers painting the Nagas as enemies. There is nothing wrong to take actions against those who do not abide by the rule of Law. But such elements are few in numbers. In future, the media should do well to keep it in mind that the Nagas are as peace-loving as the people from other parts of the planet. Naga problem is completely different from the problems which the world is facing today. So don’t club it together with terrorism.
Let us clear the doubts of those who still think Nagas as terrorists. The Nagas never indulged in terror acts. Yes, the Nagas were engaged in fierce fight with security agencies, but the Naga insurgents never targeted common people like the terrorists to register their protests. Rather the Nagas always responded positively whenever there was an offer to find a solution through negotiations. Number of accords between the Government of India and Naga representatives stand as a testimony to this fact. One may ask that after signing so many accords why peace has not made a comeback to this state? The answer is simple. Unfortunately, those accords were not implemented in its true letter and spirit. Thus the failed accords further compounded the problem. It can be safely said that if any of those accords was implemented properly things would have been different both for the mainland and also for the North-Eastern populace. It’s clearly a story of missed chances.
So it is always advisable to go for a negotiated settlement of the Naga problem, rather than relying too much on gun power, as guns can never redress the genuine grievances of the people. Nagas are also in favour of a negotiated settlement of their grievances. Prolonged unrest has affected the vibrant and colourful Naga society badly. Development has come to a halt. Youths are not getting proper openings. Investors are not interested in investing in the state fearing huge financial loss. Like all Indians, Nagas too are desperate to come out from the vicious cycle where lack of development gives birth to unrest and unrest keeps away development. As fellow countrymen, we are duty bound to support the Nagas in its endeavour to usher a new era of peace ensuring speedy economic development. But instead of supporting them if we continue to blow our trumpet by eliminating those who preferred to be on the opposite side of Law, we will be nowhere near to bring the Nagas to the mainstream. So media should always remember that destruction of few rebel camps is not a great success. Rather it was a painful decision taken to establish the rule of Law. We have not defeated our enemies. We have only punished our own people.
