Extortion or taxing?
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: April 22 2016 -

It sounds perplexing rather than being re-assuring.

The Government of India has asked the NSCN-IM to stop extortion in both Nagaland and Manipur.

The issue of extortion by NSCN-IM was raised during a meeting of the Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG) at New Delhi on April 19. Special Secretary (Internal Security) MK Singla categorically stated that such activities (extortion) were not acceptable.

But NSCN-IM was not outwitted. The militant group’s senior leader VS Atem not only rebutted the Government of India’s extortion charges but also skillfully shielded themselves from any further admonition by claiming they were only ‘levying tax’ from people.

It does not need any reminder that the two words ‘extortion’ and ‘taxing’ have diametrically opposite connotations.

While extortion connotes a sense of criminality and unlawfulness, taxing carries an aura of legitimacy and of course a notion of authority.

If one looks beyond how the two words are articulated and presented, one will notice that the two words carry similar meaning i.e collection of goods and money from the public.

Whether this collection of goods and money should be termed extortion or taxation should be determined by the way how they are collected and how willingly they are paid by people.

The argument between New Delhi and NSCN-IM over extortion or taxing, depending on which side you are, is full of political implications.

The two terms ‘extortion’ and ‘taxing’ are divided by a thin line. There are no absolute parameters to determine whether collection of goods and money from public should be called extortion or taxing for it all depends on one’s perspective.

Indian freedom fighters were just insurgents or trouble-makers to the erstwhile British Empire but to the Indian people, they were patriots/nationalists.

By the same analogy, a group which has been branded as a terrorist organisation may be freedom fighters or patriots when viewed from another perspective.

Likewise, NSCN-IM or any other militant outfit operating in the North East region never appreciated terms coined for them by the Indian State like separatists or insurgents, not to mention terrorists.

They prefer to call themselves freedom fighters or revolutionaries.

In another word, terrorism and freedom struggle and extortion and taxing can become two sides of a single coin depending on one’s perspective.

The debate over extortion and taxing and for that matter terrorism and liberation movement may rage on for decades without ever finding a point of convergence.

But the question of extortion or taxing by NSCN-IM cannot be equated to similar activities carried out by militant outfits who have sworn total non-allegiance to the Indian Constitution.

This does not mean NSCN-IM has agreed to abide by the Indian Constitution.

Yet, the militant outfit is under a cease fire agreement with the Government of India and the two sides have also signed a framework agreement as a basis for resolving the vexed Naga issue.

Unlike other militant groups, NSCN-IM is now operating from well defined designated camps with full knowledge of the Indian State.

Whether one may call it extortion or taxing, the Government of India is aware of such activities of NSCN-IM.

Will it (New Delhi) allow NSCN-IM to carry on such activities?

If yes, this would certainly imply existence of a parallel government, that too with full knowledge of the Government of India for the NSCN-IM has boldly clarified that they are not extorting but taxing.

Both Government of India and NSCN-IM may go on with their diplomatic manoeuvres and articulation of political jargons to suit their interests but the hard fact remains that the people of Manipur and Nagaland are torn between two authorities.

Here we cannot help asking whether existence of two sovereign powers side by side within a geographical territory is ever possible.