Childish factionalism – lesson we have not learnt

Jimmy Pamei *

Factional killing between Naga brothers is not something very new, but its interpretation can highlights new meanings for condemnation and for reflecting over one's purposes and mission. It also injudiciously reveals one's weaknesses and empty-headedness to the whole world.

These days many killings are actually a kind of 'Strength-Show' of a particular faction, reciprocated by the other faction at another time. But for the Naga as a whole it is 'we have met the enemy and he is in us' (Pogo).

On 8th of October 1960, while reporting and condemning the atrocity committed by the Indian Army on the Nagas, AZ Phizo had pointed out at the United Nation that 'whatever the aggressors (Indian Army) may have to say, the Nagas are human beings, and not beasts just to be killed off'.

But today the Nagas are killing each other just like the beasts! Some people attain their independence after paying the price in blood and bones. But they don't spill their own brothers' blood for that matter. And this factionalism is starting to show its ugly head in Tamenglong HQ area.

Tamenglong is the British version of Inriangluang, the land founded by our ancestors in peace and dignity hundreds of years ago. The headquarter area is given for the Government as Notified area by the people of Inriangluang. And hence any factional killing, scheming and advocating violence in this peaceful town will not be tolerated and condemned. There is no bloodshed in the history of Tamenglong and there must not be one.

Human life is precious. Even the greatest scientist cannot create a drop of blood. Life is in the blood. Spilling blood is a serious sin against humanity. Can we hope to attain our genuine and humane goal by spilling blood?

History is filled with stories and examples of violent men who have met their disastrous ending. Though King David was a righteous man he was not allowed to build the Jerusalem Temple because he was a man of war.

The violent Assyrian nations in the history have no more mark in the map of the world today. Vanished. Did Hitler live a long blessed life? Should we think that we are exceptional and so will not come to bear the consequences of shedding blood? What a stupidity? What a shame it is for me when the newspaper flashes the news of Naga factional fighting?

Is this the scene the Nagas wanted to be as a nation? What an insanity and inanity? Supandi stupid! This Factionalism is created by some influential leader. They hatch the idea and then delegate other to execute the plan. It is this leader who must pay for the price of the blood that is shed. The stupid followers too are equally responsible.

For every problem there is a solution. Meeting together, thinking and deliberating together can bring solution to many problems. That is what we should be doing. One factor that impedes people from seeking consensus when differences arose is the access to and dependency on arms and ammunitions. With the AK or Pistol in one's possession, some guys are disillusioned.

Another lesson to be learnt these days is that the Nagas are relishing too much on the nectar of the Indian Rupees. And this could be the strategy the Indian policy makers have devised 10 or 20 years before the actual Indo-Naga Peace Talk have gone to the table. Everybody is crazy about money.

Now there is the cease-fire, and there are lots of avenues where Rupee is available: taxation, contract works, percentages, etc. In this craze for this 'black diamond' the Nagas are disillusioned. The Pussy cat that has gone to London to look at the majestic queen is just frightening a little mouse under the chair! And the Indian policy makers have succeeded in creating some dogs out of some Naga and then throw in the bone. And the Naga didn't realize that they are talked and designed into dogs.

It is high time now for us to look back at those achievements we have made during these decades of Cease-fire and the Indo-Naga Peace Process. Don't you notice how slow and tepid this process is? If this process was finalised 20 years back, do you think there will be these much of faction today?

Don't you think they anticipated this situation, and even this factional killing between the Nagas as the scheme of the some clever policy maker? Why play the game programmed by someone? Let us take a fresh look back, and wake up to original paradigm of freedom struggle.