Which One Should the Nagas Opt For: Political Solution or Surrender?

Neither that I had a dream nor that I have power of Spiritual vision nor somebody fed me of what I am particularly talking about. Yet, as some others definitely have genuine concern for the future of the Nagas, I too have the same humble concern, and in my personal observation, the Nagas of today may have to ultimately accept one or the other compulsorily of the cited caption.

No matter how some Nagas tend to undermine the Framework Agreement between the NSCN(IM) and the GoI dated August 15, 2015 or the Agreed Position between the Working Committee (WC) of 7 NNPGs and the GoI dated November 17, 2017; or no matter how NSCN(IM) belittles the Agreed Position, I believed had it not been the divine intervention from the Living God, none of such agreements would have been possible. Therefore, I opine that one group undermining the achievement of the other with superiority complex or backtracking from what one has committed in written is perhaps against the will of God. The consequence of going against the will of God will be tremendously regretful.

However, the Naga people are divided on the issue of Naga political solution. As for the NSCN(IM) and the Govt. of Nagaland are concerned, endless political negotiation with the GoI is their preference. Reiterating what I had said earlier, these two authorities did not like to respect the official conclusion of the political negotiation between the GoI and the Naga political negotiators on October 31, 2019. Therefore, the Govt. of Nagaland and the NSCN(IM) jointly moved for the removal of the last Interlocutor and Governor Mr. R.N. Ravi who was very ardent to transform the two basic agreements into a single solution. Then having allowed the dust to settle, the Govt. of Nagaland proposed to the Union Govt. to appoint another Interlocutor vice Mr. RN Ravi, Governor which was out rightly rejected by the latter as known. The logic of the rejection of such appointment is that the necessary political negotiations with both the Naga political negotiators had been successfully completed and closed. There is no more task left for the Interlocutor and whatever task left to be done as yet can be handled by the emissary in the person R.K. Mishra is the message so conveyed to the Naga people.

The certain segments of the Nagas have taken undue advantage of the existing ceasefire and political negotiations by stalling the expeditious resolution of the issue and withholding the process of political solution to move at snail’s pace. And under the given circumstance, these segments curved out their empires of comfort zone at the cost of the political future of the Nagas and of the poorer section of the people. These segments are hell bent to protect such empires with relentless efforts which are indeed conspicuous than camouflaged.

There is also certain sycophantic element playing subtle games insidiously diluting and distracting the focus of the people on political solution to secondary matters. The game of such players seem to be more interested in personal gains than leading the people with agenda of common interest. Such attempts seem to be mercenarian in nature than organic.

People manning civil bodies are supposed to remain as assets of the society and stand for the suffering common man, and yet they shrank from their responsibilities of spearheading the movements for the common welfares and preferred to recede to their cocoons of comfort zones. These people are bereft of concern as to what disaster may befall Nagaland hereafter. They are in their dreamland as though they can escape from being blamed should disaster strikes our land. Such vested interest and lethargy will pave the way for preventable misfortunes.  

Now, these are my readings of the situation. As determinedly declared by GoI more than a year ago that the Naxalite movement in Jharkhand and in few other States would be rooted out by March, 2026, there have been successive surrenders of the Naxalite cadres in those States due to massive armed operations against the movement. The PM of India stated that from 125 Districts being infested by Naxalites some 11 years ago, it is now just confined to only 3 Districts hoping that India is free from Naxalites soon. The GoI has no intention to have any political dialogue with the Naxalite except the warning that ‘Surrender or get killed.’ It now appears that finishing the Naxalite movement may become a reality within the time frame.

Despite the political solution being inordinately delayed, the GoI has not declared it to be a fiasco implying whether a political solution can still be evolved out of the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position. And I believe, for that very purpose, the GoI has kept the official emissary Mr. R.K. Mishra to fine-tune the process for solution.

Whereas, the yardstick used against the Naxalites by New Delhi was not used against the Naga National Political Groups for the obvious fact of what is stated in the Agreed Position that “The GoI recognizes the historical and political rights of the Nagas to self-determine their own future.” The Naga political issue being exclusive and totally different from the Naxalite problem, the GoI has prepared the ground for resolving the issue through political solution with political status. 10 years and 8 years have passed since the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position were signed respectively. Solution is overdue.

Whereas, it’s painful to observe how the anti-solution segments have been playing its games thwarting and blocking the passage for solution tacitly and with bombastic statements all through these years. Are the anti-solution elements promising better and brighter future for the Nagas with indefinite negotiation or without solution? As for indefinite negotiation, the bona fide citizens of Nagaland in particular are tired and fed up. So much retrogression in every aspect of life has taken place, adversely impacting especially the younger generation. What people want is the result of the negotiations, either success or fiasco. Even the GoI may not like to continue the negotiation endlessly.

When the Nagas have political solution on volition under both of the basic Agreements, namely, Framework Agreement and Agreed Position or under anyone of the basic Agreements, we will have political status. Whereas, in the event of failing to have political solution either based on both Framework Agreement and Agreed Position nor on one of the two, still the GoI may not possibly overlook the Naga National Movement. Under such circumstance, the Nagas may have to opt for status less offer of ‘Surrender’ or ‘Violence’ under compulsion. As much as I cannot guarantee that such optional imposition would be forced upon the Nagas ultimately after March, 2026 and so also none can guarantee that no such imposition will ever be forced upon the Nagas except the major policymakers in Delhi. 

Should such detrimental situation is caused for the Nagas to undergo, who is to be blamed? Those who are hell bent to sabotage political solution today are responsible for such disaster, should such happen. Will I be branded to be too sensitive to apprehend that those Nagas who have been relentlessly working hard to delay political solution or doing their best not to have solution are in hobnob to ultimately lead the Nagas to surrender than to have solution with political status?

In the Scripture John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” The Bible says so that only the truth can save the Nagas from shame, loss, pain and decimation. In other words, our political status, recognition and promotion can never be restored with white lies. Everything will evolve according to the truth. 

Z. Lohe