The whole Christian world is gearing up to celebrate the
birth of Lord Jesus with much joy and happiness. Naga people are no different
and as Christmas decorations, carols and hymns add to festive vibes in cities,
towns and villages, WC, NNPG deems it very unfortunate that the NSCN IM has
chosen to dampen the festive spirit with a blatant statement in their
mouthpiece and in the local dailies, attacking the WC, NNPG with the same old
narrative of glorifying themselves as the righteous children of the Almighty
God and the rest of the Nagas as treacherous devils. A closer scrutiny and one
senses an element of desperation and helplessness in their statement. It
appears that the design to confuse, threaten, brainwash and continue their
profiteering activities in Nagaland, hiding behind emotional elements of Naga
history, is crumbling slowly unable to stand against the factual evidences.
WC, NNPG stands before the Naga people and make their
position clear. New Delhi 17th November 2017: “...The Government of India
recognises the Historical and Political rights of the Nagas to self determine
their future in consonance with their distinct identity. The two entities have
agreed to work out the details of a relationship that is honourable, enduring
and an inclusive peaceful co-existence with due regard to contemporary
political realities”.
Based on this historic document, the political negotiations
began and by 31st Oct. 2019, except for few matters requiring both entities to
resolve through future political exercises democratically, all critical
political matters had been resolved. The next step is formal agreement between
the Nagas and the political leadership of India.
Ironically, the same GoI Interlocutor Mr. R.N Ravi had
signed the Framework Agreement with NSCN IM leadership two years earlier on 3rd
August 2015, with much fanfare. The single page FA is, unfortunately, not
sustainable as a political or historical document. Nagas are witnessing this
reality. The accusations and counter accusations between GoI and IM leadership
on the interpretation of FA reflects a failure of the entire exercise.
Apparently, words and lines inserted appears to be doing somersaults,
gymnastics and vanishing acts on their own! FA is, in reality, a substandard
jumbled draft, with historically incorrect timeline on Naga political struggle,
repetitive and ambiguous words, more of an indulgence in the metaphysics rather
than be taken as a serious political document.
Accusing WC, NNPG as agents of GoI propped up to
counterbalance IM is the most absurd and baseless narrative in the last three
decades of Naga history. Here is a group of men who were warmly welcomed into
Indian national mainstream by none other than the Prime Minister of India, Mr.
Narendra Modi in the presence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security
Advisor Ajit Doval, GoI Interlocutor R.N Ravi etc. on the evening of 3rd August
2015. Now, what flag and constitution do they mean? These inherent Naga
elements were never a part of 3rd August 2015 discourse. When Naga
revolutionary leaders agree to transition to Indian national mainstream, the
matter and status of Naga flag, Naga constitution or integration cease to be
their subject. Prime Minister Modi called upon other entities to join the
national mainstream as well. TV news channels of the infamous evening are still
available. Despite churning out lies after lies in an effort to change the goal
post and shift the blame to Mr. R.N Ravi, GoI, Dr S.C Jamir, NNPG, NNC or past
leaders, the images and words spoken by Indian Prime Minister on 3rd Aug. 2015
will testify against them and haunt those who joined the national mainstream.
The lights were bright but the smiles were forced. Perhaps it was God’s plan
that no other Naga outside IM witnessed the drama.
On the eve of signing FA, there was great panic in the IM
leadership with the seemingly deteriorating health of late Chairman Isak Chishi
Swu. Any agreement had to be signed with the GoI while he was still breathing.
The reason is non-political, Indo-Naga issue was not the reason. Manipur Nagas
in the NSCN IM needed late Isak Chishi Swu to hold pen over a paper, resembling
political document without which their money minting sources would dry up in
Nagaland. Late Isak Chishi Swu was in hospital, in weak health and mind, not in
a position to hold a pen, let alone sign a political document. Was he forced in
any manner? Humans can justify but God in Heaven will reveal the truth in His
own way sooner or later.
Few questions arise. Did they invite the apex Naga tribal
leaders? No! Did they invite the FNR? No! Did they invite the church leaders?
No! Did they invite the Naga Hoho? No! Did they invite the NSF? No! Did they
invite the NMA? No! Did they invite any other Naga civil Society? No! Did they
invite UN observers? No! Did they invite UNPO? No! Did they invite any other
independent third country as witness? No! It was an exclusive IM leaders and
GoI affair, welcoming all into national mainstream. There was much pride in
their countenance. Elsewhere, Nagas in Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and
in Assam, glued to TV never saw or heard Prime Minister of India say a word on
Naga Flag, Naga Constitution or integration. The ambience and spirit of the
evening was one of homecoming and nation building as the Prime minister of
India lucidly laid out the script for the evening and thanked the participants.
What Indian Prime Minister said on live TV then and what IM have been trying to
interpret the same ceremony is astonishing. That ignominious evening, Naga
Sovereignty, flag, constitution and integration all went down the drain.
Naga people recall that NSCN IM accepted the offer of CF
from the GoI in 1997 when all efforts were being made to bring the warring Naga
groups together by the American Baptist through Atlanta Peace Mission. They
deliberately stayed out of the peace mission and accepted CF with GoI. It is to
be noted that harping on Naga sovereignty, thousands of innocent Nagas were
exterminated. The offsprings of those killed without reason would ask
questions. Issue such as Greater Nagalim cannot succeed when common people are
not taken on board. Naga integration is a common vision but suffers from
perennial trust issue. Strange political terminologies such as Greater Nagalim,
Supra state, Pan Naga Hoho etc., coined behind people’s back do not auger well
for the future. Nagaland is not an uninhabited empty space in SE Asia.
Peace-loving Nagas do not appreciate despotic and dictatorial traits. They
fought the British intruders for the same reason a century earlier. Nagas do
not buy impractical dreams either.
Two years after signing of FA, Naga political issue was
still in a limbo. The issue was and is with the Naga people and not owned by a
single entity. All apex tribes of Nagaland came together. NTC, NGBF, Shisha
Hoho and key Civil Society Organisations played a great role in the formation
of NNPG.
In 2017, when official invitation came from the GoI, WC,
NNPG leaders knew there had to be clear unambiguous political structure, route,
language and tone to successfully traverse the dangers of political
negotiations. The apex Naga tribal bodies, the village headmen (GBs), the
Church, intellectuals, professionals, retired bureaucrats, politicians, legal
luminaries etc. were the critical invisible components of WC, NNPG journey.
There was always an element of supernatural intercession in the entire duration
of negotiations between GoI and NNPG. God always had a way when there seems to
be no way out.
