Amid an otherwise progressive narrative concerning the Naga peace talks the news on the health of Chairman Isak Chishi Swu is quite disturbing. After a long period of blow-hot, blow-cold relationship between New Delhi and NSCN-IM cordial engagement has just begun. And when every Naga is expecting and hoping for something good from this last straw engagement news such as this is really disappointing.Yes, it is true that to get so near and yet be so far away is a fate that has befallen many revolutionary leaders. However, the Nagas need a leader like Isak Chishi Swu and it is every Naga’s prayer that he comes out of the hospital soon to be in the engaging platform of Naga political dialogue again.
Another disturbing development is the newspaper reports speculating the successor of Isak Chishi Swu. If the reports are true such development is detrimental to the occasion and contains tremendous energy of explosion. Even if the NSCN-IM wants to sound practical such measures should be given extra care . The only attention for the NSCN-IM at this moment should be on the health of the Chairman and nothing else. We may not be wrong to say that the Naga case has been haunted at this best of times, hobbled by our adversaries’ fervent campaigns to complicate the situation. Given this scenerio the NSCN-IM should be cautious that the epicenter of trouble should not be in the Hebron Camp.
Meanwhile, we are not uncomfortable of saying that our (Nagas) nuanced understanding of the complexities of today’s Naga situation often plays spoilsport. What best every group can do at this moment is not to indulge in unnecessary activities but to give enough space to the Naga leaders.
