The reaction of Manipur Nagas (Southern Nagas) on important issues seem to be very slow. For instance, the Manipur Naga Youth Organisation (MNYO) has recently urged the government of India at the end of September 2024 to restore the FMR (Free Movement Regime) and to stop the border fencing in Naga areas on the Indo-Myanmar border. Opposition to the policy change should have been made by them and other Naga bodies at the relevant time when Shri N. Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur had proposed the idea. The Government of Mizoram and Nagaland had opposed it then, but there was no strident outcry from the Naga CSOs. Protests at the crucial time could have been registered, but doing so now when policy decision has been taken is rather tedious and annoying.
Another issue of no reaction from the southern Nagas is on the demand for an empowered self government. The Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes have already demanded for separate administration which, in the opinion of many seasoned political thinkers, would boil down to a Bodoland type of Territorial Council under Article 244 and 244-A. However, southern Naga CSOs have not yet uttered anything on this issue. Since the Indo-Naga peace talks has been going on for 27 years and is yet to be concluded with the likelihood of an agreement during the current parliament under a central coalition government receding, it would be prudent for the southern Nagas to make their position clear. They should ask for a Bodoland type of Territorial Council under Article 244 and 244-A. Asking for a self government will in no way infringe on the higher and greater political demands of the NSCN expected under the Indo-Naga Framework Agreement. Southern Nagas need to be pragmatic and ask for a Territorial Council under Article 244 and 244-A which will, under the current circumstances of ongoing Indo-Naga peace talks, be a temporary measure till the final and grand Naga peace settlement is brought under the Indo-Naga Framework Agreement.
The third prickly issue where the southern Nagas have been keeping mum is the Schedule Tribes status demand by the Meitei community. Recalling the manner in which the ST demand organisations have carried out their campaign for inclusion of Meitei community in the list of ST, first in the Manipur High Court and now a campaign in mainland India based on age-old socio-economic survey and ancient ethnographic study, raises doubts about the sincerity and transparency in their approach for the demand. The Meitei ST demand bodies appear to be hell-bent on basing their demand based on age-old socio-economic survey and ancient ethnographic study without any intention to demand for a fresh socio-economic survey and new ethnographic study. Their plea in the Manipur High Court was carried out surreptitiously without involving any of the affected parties and both the State government and Union government keeping mum on their plea without even asking for time does not instil any confidence on the STs of Manipur that they will not try their devious underhand methods again with a Meitei dominated state government and a sympathetic Central government. The STs of Manipur have to be vigilant and on high alert as their stated goal behind the ST demand is to grab tribal lands in the “Hill Areas” of Manipur by becoming ST themselves. In spite of the fact that this is a very sensitive matter, which allegedly ignited the current Manipur ethnic conflict, it would be appropriate for the tribes of Manipur, who are STs, to come out with statements that - this is a free country and every community can ask what they want, but advice that the demand for ST to Meitei community should be done in a scientific and transparent manner as already advised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 2013, and for accuracy and genuineness the socio-economic survey and the ethnographic study should be carried out by an independent third party with wide consultation of all stakeholders with reference to the Lokur Committee criteria.
Although the first issue on FMR and border fencing has also affected the Naga tribes of other states including Nagas of Manipur, there are two hyper sensitive issues which are seriously affecting only the tribes of Manipur. The tribes of Manipur should be super alert with the Meitei community who control the state government and all its paraphernalia as they have the capacity to rid roughshod over the concerns of the Manipur tribes in pursuit of their selfish goals as they have done in respect of FMR and border fencing. The Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes including their MLAs have been banished from Imphal valley having opposed the Meitei ST status demand and have asked for a separate administration. Expecting the elected Naga MLAs to raise their voices on the two sensitive issues would be delusional. It is only the tribal CSOs who can make the position of the Manipur tribes clear to the state and central governments.
The southern Nagas, if they are to coexist with the Meitei community, should state what they want regarding empowered self government and the Meitei ST demand issue so that there is no ambiguity on these two sensitive issues in the manner the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes have done and usher in concerted demands on common goals for survival of Manipur tribes.
Ngaranmi Shimray
New Delhi
shimray2011@gmail.com