Alternative administrative arrangement for Nagas and the need for our preparedness
- Part 1 -

Dr Khomdon Singh Lisam *

Students rally in Ukhrul demanding 'Alternative Arrangement' on 25th November 2011 :: Pix - Jimmy Leivon

The final settlement of the 60 year old Naga issue is now in the offing and Isak Chishi Swu, Chairman, NSCN-IM and T. Muivah, General Secretary, NSCN –IM have already arrived at camp Hebron on 18 October, 2012 for a "home consultation" with various civil societies and other factions. Nagaland Chief Minister Nephiu Rio and 19 MLAs had also met many national leaders to urge them for a speedy final settlement of the Naga issue. Mr. T. Muivah said "something honourable will be achieved" He further said "the commitment from the highest level that the solution will be based on the unique history of the Nagas means a lot"

Under article 371A of the Indian Constitution, Nagaland is enjoying a special status. No Act of Parliament can disturb Nagaland in respect of -
a. religious or social practices of the Nagas.
b. Naga customary law and procedure.
c. Administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law.
d. Ownership and transfer of land and its resources.

It is also reported that the Government of India is likely to agree to a constitutional amendment providing
1. Upper House (State Legislative Council)
2. Separate flag for Nagaland
3. Autonomous development Council
4. increased autonomy for Nagaland
5. Special Status for Nagaland
6. Development projects for Nagaland
7. Formal recognition of the unique history of the Nagas.

All these are very good achievement of NSCN-IM.

We are happy that the final settlement of the Naga issue is in the offing. Our only wish is that Nagaland should live like a good neighbour according to Christian spirit if they are true believers of Christianity. Other-wise, there is no meaning of "Nagaland for Christ". They should not even think of disturbing or interfering in the internal affairs of Manipur or any other neighbouring state. Manipur has no right to interfere in the internal affaires of Nagaland. Similarly. Nagaland has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of Manipur.

The earlier demand of the NSCN –IM was sovereignty. When sovereignty was out of question, then the NSCN-IM insisted on Greater Nagaland or Nagalim or of "integration of contiguous Naga areas" Then the Prime Minister expressed his inability to accept the NSCN 's core demands of integration of contiguous Naga areas. The Prime Minister reportedly said to Rio, the Chief Minister of Nagaland "Whatever is possible will be possible even after 100 years, whatever is not possible will not be possible even after 100 years".

The Nagas sing the National Anthem, probably borrowed from America in English. Please refer my earlier article on "Weakness of NSCN's demands for Nagalim". Now, the phrase of "alternative administrative arrangement" for the so called Nagas living in Manipur. invented by Mr. T. Muivah was borrowed from the principles of European Union or U.K-Scotland, Wales, Ireland relationship. Mr. Muivah's advisors are Europeans and Americans. Mr. Muivah never bothered what will be consequences to the common people of this small state called Manipur if this continent wide concept of European Union is applied to Manipur.

This concept of "alternative administrative arrangement" is likely to affect Manipur seriously -destabilising the state, dis-integrating the social fabric of Manipur and destroying the administration and political status of the state. It will be like One State –two systems just on the pattern of One Country –two system. The proposed administrative structure for the Nagas will be completely separate from the Manipur State Assembly or the Government of Manipur. If this is achieved, then the territorial split is only a question of time.

That is why the people of Manipur need to stand united and firm for opposing any such move. The Government of India may readily agree to the dictates of Mr, T. Muivah to implement this proposal of "Alternative Administrative Arrangement" even upto the extent of amendment of the Indian Constitution. The Government of India is doing this not for the love and welfare of the Nagas but as a part of the bigger hidden agenda to dis-unite the North Eastern people and to incite one ethnic group to fight with another and to prevent any possible linkage of NSCN-IM with China. The NSCN-IM becomes a handy pawn in this drama.

T. Muivah said on 18 October, 2012 "the solution will be based on the unique history of the Nagas – the phrase "unique history of Nagas" was used in 1918 for the first time by Mr. Charles Pawsay, the then Deputy Commissioner of Naga Hills who became Sir Charles Pawsay, Since then the NSCN –IM and other active Naga groups are using this phrase to conceal their true identity. The unique history of the Nagas is that they do not have any written history before 1918. Nagas did not have a Raja or a King. Nagas did not have a well defined kingdom or territory or boundary or sovereignty.

The Naga Hills was created out of Assam vide the Government of India (Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas) order, 1936 by the order of His Majesty at the Buckingham Palace dated 3rd March, 1936. The boundary of Nagaland was created by India with the attainment of statehood only in 1963. Even the term Naga was given by the Assamese to the Angamese, Ao, Lhotas, Konyaks and other tribes living in the hills. The term was perpetuated by the British to win over them and to convert them to Christianity. Every village of every tribe was an independent republic in its own right. No tribe had ever ruled over any other tribe or any village over any other village. Naga society was literally the village (Charles Chasie, The Naga Imbroglio-A personal perspective, United Publishers, Guwahati, 1999).

Can Mr. Muivah contradict this statement? The 16 Naga tribes recognised by the Government of Nagaland cannot communicate with each other in their own language. Moreover, there are many tribes in the north eastern India having such similar history. There are Tangkhuls, Kabuis, Maos, Marams and other groups who have been living together with the Meiteis from time immemorial and they formed part of the history of Manipur. The Manipuris never called them Nagas. If Naga is a single community, what is their history, language, script, dress, culture. They do not have a common language. They speak broken Assamese as their language. They do not have a common dress and common culture. The only unifying force is Christianity. History is the factual account – it can not be fabricated and approved by somebody. Do we need to bring this fact to the notice of the Government of India ?

Can Muivah or NSCN –IM represent all the Nagas? Does NSCN-IM require a referendum of the people for all the Nagas in Nagaland? While the NSCN(IM) claims to represent the Nagas, this is contradicted by a press statement issued by its rival faction, the NSCN (Khaplang), on 27 June 2002, cautioning against using the term 'Nagas' in place of NSCN(IM). In another press release dated 11 July 2002, the NSCN (K) went to the extent of declaring Th. Muivah a non-Naga, stating that Tangkhuls are not Naga citizens. Why the NSCN-IM is locked in a bitter fight with the Khaplang group (NSCN-K), dominated by the Konyak (the largest Naga tribe in Nagaland) and Hemi Nagas (who live in contiguous areas of Burma). Why the ZUF is directing the NSCN-IM to leave the Zeliangrong areas of Tamenglong and its 'neighbouring areas' on 9 October, 2012. We should not forget that the Government of India is playing communal cards to add fuel to the fire.

The uniqueness of the history of Manipur has no comparison in the entire history of India, if not the world. Manipur was a sovereign country since 1445 BC. Till date, Manipur is the only state in India with unbroken history and its own territory since 1445 BC. The first democratic election was held for the first time after formation of UN and after World War-II in Manipur. The British preserved and safeguarded the monarchical system of Manipur from 1891 to 1947. Manipur had many international treaties and recognised by neighbouring countries. Manipur is the place where the Indian National Flag was hoisted for the first time in India on 14 April, 1944 .Manipur had its own De-Jure Constitution by 1947 whereas India adopted De-Facto Constitution only in 1950. Manipur adopted democratic form of Government by 1947 whereas India becomes a democratic republic only in 1950. Manipur was never a part of India before 1949.

If T. Muivah dreams of bringing an alternative administrative arrangement for the so called Nagas in Manipur, he is utterly mistaken. He is a great leader. He should think of unifying the whole North Eastern India and become a leader of North East instead of dis-integrating them. He may even become the Prime Minister of North East India. Being a leader of such charisma, he should not allow himself to be used as a pawn by the Government of India. Mr. Nephiu Rio had already offered to step down along with his 59 MLAs. He may consider offering Chief Minister ship to Mr. T. Muivah till the next election in March, 2012 so as to enable Mr. Muivah to make necessary preparations to win the election.

Now, it is difficult to speculate what shape of things to come in the form of alternative administrative arrangement as nothing has been disclosed by the Hon'ble Chief Minister, Mr. O. Ibobi Singh. But he had constituted a four member Cabinet sub-committee headed by himself including another three senior most ministers- Mr. Gaikhangam, Home Minister. Mr. Debendra, Revenue Minister and Phungzathang Tonsing, Health Minister to monitor the progress on day to day basis. The Hon'ble Chief Minister stated that "there is nothing much to be apprehensive over the territorial integrity of Manipur". There is also an unconfirmed report that the state government is constituting a "quick response team" under an unified command to tackle any possible mass uprising. If the vital interest of Manipur is not affected, why should the Union Home Minister call our Chief Minister? Is the Union Home Minister going to force our Chief Minister to sign a memorandum of understanding against his will as happened in 1949.

Now, Manipur stand not only for the territorial integrity but more importantly for communal harmony, unity and peaceful con-existence of all Manipuris. The anatomy may be perfect but what is the use of anatomy if there is no physiology. It is simply a dead body. The Government of India or the NSCN –IM should not attempt to destabilise and dis-integrate Manipur by bringing constitutional amendments which will destroy the administrative structure, political status, communal harmony, unity and peaceful con-existence of all Manipuris. If the so called Nagas wants to go on communal lines, they can integrate themselves by leaving Manipur and settling in Nagaland.

The land belongs to Manipur from time immemorial. They do not have even pattas of their land. The Israelis are welcoming any original Israelis from around the world and allow them to settle in Israel. Similarly, if the so called Nagas wants to integrate themselves the Nagaland should invite all Nagas from Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh to come and settle in Nagaland. The land is given to our elder brother the Tangkhuls, the Maos, the Marams and our elder brother has no right to sell away the ancestral lands of Manipur. The fault is not with the Nagas. It is the Government of India who is at fault to fulfil their hidden agenda. But the hidden agenda is now known to all the Manipuris. Why should we allow ourselves to be used by Mr, Shinde or the Union Home Minister for their own vested interest.

There are 250 million Dalits in India-about 16.2 percent of India's total population (2001 Census) Dalits are still treated as untouchables in many parts of India. The Dalit population is broadly distributed across Indian states and districts- Punjab. (28.31%), Himachal Pradesh (25.34%), West Bengal. (23.62%), Uttar Pradesh (3.51 crore Dalits-21.05%), Gujarat (7.1%), (http://www.dalitsolidarity.org/). Maharashtra has got the second-largest Dalit population. (http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/3267/48/). Mr. Shinde may think of making alternative administrative arrangement for the Dalits in these states, which has got much higher population in India.

There are 138.18 million Muslim population in India (2001-13.4%)- scattered in almost all states and in more than 300 districts. Hyderabad city has got a Muslim population of 15,76,583 (41.17%). Bihar has got at least four districts with sizable Muslim Population - Kishanganj -876,105 (67.6%), Purnia -935,239 (36.8%), Araria -887,972 (41.1%), Katihar * 1017495 (42.5%). Assam has got three districts with sizable Muslim Population -Dhubri -1216455 (74.3%), Nagaon -1180267 (51.0%), Cachar -522051 -36,1%). Mr. Shinde may think of making alternative administrative arrangement for the Muslims, which has got much higher population in India.

To be continued ..