Naga Political Settlement?

Vihuto Yepthomi In fulfillment of his assurance to solve Naga Political Problem within 18 months with effect from January 2015, Narendra Modi Hon’ble Prime Minister of India harnessed his Interlocutor to work out possible and honourable Naga Political solution and brought out framework Agreement on 3rd August 2015. Though the Framework Agreement was signed, the final touch to the settlement has not been given. It is dragging on for last the 28 months. The contentious issue between the NSCN (I-M) and the govt.  of India is contiguous areas of land occupying by the Nagas. The term of Nagaland according to the NCSN (I-M)   is all lands occupying by the Nagas with regardless of territories under neighbouring states like Assam and Manipur, Burmese and  Arunachal Pradesh. Whereas according to the Government of India, Nagaland means only Nagaland State. The Naga political settlement with only Nagaland state is not solution. To put the matter straight we shall retrospect the Naga migration and land occupying by Nagas in the 1st Century A.D.

1. In 150 AD Claudius Ptolemy in his book Geographia, has  recorded, “….. the line of hills on the east of the plain (Assam) are  occupied by the realm of naked  people (Nagas). This means that it is confirmed that Nagas came into Nagaland in    1st Century A.D.
2. In 645 AD during the reign of Bhaskarvarman king of Ahom, a Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang visited Ahom (Assam). His observation was recorded, “….the east side of the country (Assam) is bounded by a line hills, these is no great city to the Kingdom. The frontiers are barbarian of the south west china. The tribes are in fact akin to those people in their customs”.
3. The Ahom Buranjis also recorded that by the time when the Prince Sukapha came to Assam (Plain Area) through hills in 1223 AD, the Nagas were already settled there. The Prince Sukapha came to Assam with 8 nobles, 9000 peoples, 3 elephants, 30 horses. The Ahom Kingdom was in the Upper Assam with its headquarter at Sibsagar. The ruined physical structures of building are still visible on the national highway near Sibsagar.

The Ahoms and Nagas had good relationship. There was no boundary disputes between Ahom and Nagas. The Nagas of those days owned land even in the plain areas and recognized by the Ahoms. Even today some tea gardens are in the pay role in the form of annual tax/toll tax to the land owners (Nagas) in the plain areas. The Assam-Nagaland boundary shall be determined on the bases of the Ahom times.  During the British Rule in India, the vast forest lands of Nagas were clubbed up with other adjacent areas for administration convenience. These areas are still with Assam. The Nagas are not claiming Assam land but fighting for restoration of land from Assam. We will continue to fight tooth and nail till all the lands are restored from Assam.

1. On the southern front, it is distinctly clear that the plain areas in Imphal Valley are owned by the Manipuris (Meite) whereas the hill areas are owned by the Nagas.

  During the Anglo-Burmese war in 1823-25, the British government recruited 500 Manipuris into the pay role of British government to fight against Burmese forces. The Burmese forces were defeated. At the end of the war a peace treaty between the warring parties was brought out. This treaty was called “Treaty of Yanbabo”. Under this treaty the Burmese government surrendered Manipur Cachar Hills and Jaintia  to British in honour of their services during war. Manipur was granted state. To set up their own government and create police forces and Manipur Rifles, the British government supplied 3000 muskets with huge amount of ammunition to the Manipur government. Gumbheer Singh the leader of the Manipur force was declared  Rajah of Manipur. With these weapons and trained police force, Manipur government suppressed Nagas in the hills and ill-treated them and called them haos. Hao means dirty people (Untouchable). They even tried to avoid shadows of Nagas,. Where, they pass through on the road specially during day times. The same attitude the Meites are maintaining. The ill treatment to Nagas is intolerable. The impasse for negotiating parties is land. The land is the contentious issue between the Government of India and NSCN (I-M). The big questions are to be answered as one: The Nagas are after money! Money! Money!. They want money for next general election into Nagaland Legislative Assembly 2018, only moneyed people will contest elections. Nagas  are dreaming. When will they wake up, they will see that the best opportunity shall pass them away. The speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly has called the consultative meeting with all the MLAs and Ex-Parliamentarian on 7th December 2017. The agenda should be as follows:-   The peace talks is dragging between the government of India and NSCN (IM) for 20 +2 years. Though the agreement is not officially declared, Shri. K. Khekiye Sema has published a part in local daily for public consumption. There is nothing to object. If there be any flow in the agreement, then the matter has  to be examined for rectification. The  neighbouring states  like Assam & Manipur, have time and again  said that they wish Naga Political problem should  be settled at the earliest possible time, but they are worried. If Naga lands are pulled away by the agreement. The unsettled contention is land, contiguous area of Nagaland. The dispute is land ! Land! Land! Land!. If this question is settled, the Naga problem shall be peacefully done away with . Well, as to my understanding consultative meeting is a fabric of the modern society. It was done, doing now, shall continue for all purposes. As for land dispute, the original history of land and ownership is the bases for settlement. May God bless Nagaland  and grant wisdom to the negotiators.