Khekiye K. Sema
It would not be a misrepresentation of facts to say that the intellectual masses are now reasonably familiar with the progression of the Naga National Movement (NNM) from the start. It would also not be a misstatement to say that the concerned citizens are now generally becoming aware of where the problem lies regarding our inabilities to find the final solution. In as far as “Framework Agreement” (FA) between NSCN (IM) and GoI is concerned, every sensible Naga heaves a sigh of relief as they would after a tiresome climb from their ‘kheti’ to the resting shed halfway to the village. The storm now being perpetuated by this non-transparent “FA” is whether we are being expected to go right back again to the ‘kheti’ down below or to carry on home from that resting shed. Without knowing anything about the content(s) being envisaged by the NSCN (IM) (the negotiator on our behalf) and the GoI, expecting the Nagas to blindly endorse the FA is downright irrational and unacceptable. It is our destiny and the destiny of our children that is being put on the chopping block and therefore the Naga people have a birthright to have a say in the proceedings. NSCN (IM) has no mandate or right to deprive this privilege to the stakeholders. This is the core issue that needs to be addressed uprightly and yet Nagas are dishonourably fumbling with this simple exercise for fear of reprisal or loss of opportunity should NSCN (IM) form the next Government.History has amply proven that the GoI has an inherent ailment of consistently undermining and misreading the Nagas as a people...but the Nagas have also been largely responsible for reinforcing their unfortunate misconception by our optimum display of corruptive misdemeanours and disunity amongst ourselves, both within the sphere of our Naga National Workers through their divisive games and refusal to acknowledging one another as partners to the same cause on the one hand, compounded by indifferent silence of fearful majority on the other. Our first generation made their supreme sacrifice by blood. On a bigger relevant canvas our generation is now being called upon to make our share of honourable sacrifices of a different kind... that of ‘solidarity’ and ‘unity’ to achieve a greater goal together. Yet these are words that have completely been erased from our brains and dictionary while perfunctorily professing that we are all in support of the same cause. The main stumbling block is the inability on the part of our NPG Leaderships to submerge their individual EGO problems and conveniently taking refuge behind a high sounding “National Principle” without principles. Most of them are headhunting for ‘disunity’ to try and exclusively go down in history as the “Father of the Nation” through their solo performance. This unrelenting ego cauldron is further vitiates by their crazy and merciless money hunting occupation for their comfort zones at the cost of the ravaged common man...a sin that each faction is clearly guilty of. FNR has given their best effort to have the NPGs reconcile on a ‘Christian principle’ but in the name of “Nagaland for Christ” they have refused to unite. Their ego outranks Jesus Christ and the National interest. It is abundantly clear that Christian values are no longer relevant for our NPGs on the issue of unity that is indispensable at this point of history. It is therefore a futile exercise for the Chief Minister to be propounding that “At this crucial juncture of our Naga political history, the situation demands that we sink all our differences, and forget and forgive the past bitterness and pains, and come together for our common good and our common goal”. (Local dallies November 18, 2015). It is as productive as pouring water over a solid rock that has no absorption capability. Our Hon’ble Chief Minister must be living in another planet detached from the ground realities when he further said “I appeal to all tribal hohos, NGOs, Churches and civil societies and even commoners to encourage and appeal to all the Naga Political Groups to come together and talk with the GoI to resolve the decades old Naga political problem”. Such an appeal is merely blowing in the wind to serve the purpose of sounding politically correct and nothing much else.
Let us deal in truth with candid brutality: The Naga Hoho ought to have been the appropriate forum to provide honourable leadership to our people through all the other Tribal Ho Hos but their redundancy is clearly visible in their inability to commandeer all the tribal hohos under their roof. They also severely suffer from a general stigma and perception of one-sidedly being remote-controlled NSCN (IM). They have yet to disprove this general accusation by way of action. In fact their blind endorsement of “Framework Agreement” without knowing its contents validates the accusation. It is a clear description of an irrational and irresponsible partisan body that deserves to only be scoffed at. Was it Mr. T. Solo who referred to Naga Hoho as Naga Ha Ha? Since endorsement seems to be the style of the day this writer would unhesitatingly endorse the new ‘framework definition’ of the Naga Hoho by Mr. T. Solo and add that this is an apt description of an organization that has placed its honour in the market place... that too... close to the dustbin where flies infest. Mr. CM Sir, relying on the Naga Ha Ha to give us leadership at a time like this is like asking the crabs to walk straight. You are betting on a wrong horse.
With all due respects, the Churches are still wrestling with the issues of what is religious responsibility, what is social responsibility, what is political responsibility and what is their role in it all... without being able to find rational actionable answers. The generally visible and definitive action on their part is to invite moneyed Politicians as chief guests in their religious conferences for obvious reason unrelated to faith. The Church has by-and-large achieved in reducing Christianity into another “Christian Tribal Clan” minus Christian faith and Christian value system. With their ‘closed door’ operational policy of exclusive interaction within their own theological club without honest feedbacks from the congregation they serve, answers will be hard to come by for them to act upon. Mr. CM Sir, appealing to them to find a direction to support the effort of solving our political problem would be like asking the seven blind men to define an elephant and lead the way. They have yet to discern their own kitchen problems before embarking on a journey to make our society better.
The NGOs and civil societies have no defined common agenda, more liable and prone to making compromises when their varied interests come in conflict with a given issue of common good. They are mere flotsam pieces of puzzle that is used by the players to create a greater picture on a canvas of their choosing.
As for the commoners that you appeal to Mr. CM Sir, do you know that a commoner can only see themselves as ‘the common punching bag of the Government of Nagaland and the NPGs’...being ‘tax-raped’ in every conceivable legal/illegal position above the table, below the table behind closed doors with rubbed in insults to injury with AK 47 in every other positions while eunuch-turned-voyeur GoN watches this xxx tax rape through a peeping hole but pretend that it is not happening...Mr. CM Sir, the commoners are barely managing to keep their legs together and are afraid to howl “Rape” in a loud voice for fear of recurring AK 47 nightmare. All the above mentioned sectors are handicapped by an all encompassing ‘fear factor’ perpetuated by our very own home-grown NPGs who have succeeded in generating a roaring silence across the board. This is the fact of our daily lives. Therefore, is it worthwhile for a king to be appealing to his fearful subjects for an honourable exercise that he can perform without passing the buck to those who are unable to help themselves?
The Hon’ble Chief Minister is clearly in command of Government machinery which can cause events to impact on any given issue if he has a determined unbiased heart and the clarity of thought to honestly address our present Naga political predicament instead of appealing to helpless organizations. Since all other efforts have failed to forge unity amongst our NPGs or drum some sense of propriety into the NSCN (IM), getting back to roots is perhaps the last bastion for the Nagas to evaluate our circumstance. The Naga social fabric of customs and traditions can still be relied upon if given the opportunity. In a general appraisal, the Village Chiefs (GBs) and the Village Councils still command a reasonable respect of its citizens within their respective spheres. If the Chief Minister can provide them a common platform along with all the tribal hohos, issues such as...unity amongst the NPGs, the “Framework Agreement” of NSCN (IM) with the GoI that lacks transparency thereof, the imperative need for inclusive solution to avoid another civil war in its aftermath etc... can all squarely be put on the table for them to mull over and arrive at a decisive conclusion that is bound to emerge. Their final verdict would truly become the unambiguous voice of the people compelling enough for both NSCN (IM) and the GoI to acknowledge. Without such an exercise, the GoI will continue to callously play cat and mouse games with the Nagas as long as there is no united exertion of pressure from the Naga masses beyond the NPGs which has thus far not occured. This is an exercise the Chief Minister is well within his capability to make it happen provided he is truly concerned about the final solution. It is even more opportune moment since both “Equi-distance” and “Equi-Closeness” party policies have closed ranks for “Equi-plunder” and therefore the Hon’ble CM need not be apprehensive about compromising the future of NPF party by forging a lasting path that will lead the Nagas safely home even if the glory hunting almighty NSCN (IM) is displeases with their “Equi-decision”. At this stage of history it seems apparent that our NPG Leaders, especially those in the NSCN (IM), desperately needs to undergo ego transplant with a recommended brain surgery for all those who wield authority to deal with the issue at hand without fear or favour.
