Mission 'pro-delay' to Naga Solution will threaten Ceasefire
FNR must invest in Neutrality and Hope

Nirendra Dev *

A good beginning has been made at a time when expectations are higher than ever. But skeptics and game-spoilers could be still working behind the scenes covertly. The so-called reconciliation between NNPG and NSCN-IM could herald a sea of change and optimism but due to prevalent negative factors it may be too early to bet on it and expect miracles.

The Sept 14 Joint Statement and Oct 9 meet of NGOs, pressure groups and church leaders under the banner of the Forum of Naga Reconciliation (FNR) ought to be appreciated. But this is not the season of selecting Victors and Vanquished. Compromises ought to be made and only brave ones with sincerity can do it. PEACE will be the only Victor.

It's time for a right synthesis between Realism and Sincerity. One speaker at Oct 9 (Saturday) meet rightly suggested that efforts should be made for "logical conclusion" to the prolonged peace talks.

The FNR may have to run the extra mile - as intelligence agencies often speak about peace negotiations - to present themselves as a genuinely and extra ordinarily neutral body. It's a tough call but the situation is such that only in such a situation one can garner more confidence from the people.

Some NGOs and pressure groups like a particular political class are against solution and so they could be still raising questions about 'unity and integration'.

The FNR will do well to bear it in mind that they are expected to deliver something which the elected state government, the legislators and so called 'facilitators' have failed because of their 'friendship' with some elements. Moreover, when NGOs and civil society groups gather under a roof -- you are assured that some could be pro-Solution, and others would be for 'Mission pro-delay'.

The Ceasefire is never an end in itself. It's only a means. But the most important facet of any ceasefire is it is not permanent. It can be abrogated anytime or in other words, there's nothing called natural death.

Wise men and women should strive to reach the 'milestone' of a permanent peace during this period of ceasefire.

Between 1997 and 2022 many years have been lost. No further loss of time should be permitted. The delay in Solution is slowly working in favour of the Government of India and none other than the likes of NSA Ajit Doval and Home Minister Amit Shah realise this pretty well.

Kashmir lost Ladakh because between 1947 and 2019, the BJP thought things have been 'delayed' a lot.

Flag and Constitution have been rejected not because the Government of India or some whimsical pro-Hindutva Netas want to do so. But this is a dead end area.

The perceived Hindutva agenda has nothing to do with it. No elected Prime Minister of India under oath can give away these two principal pillar stones. What a communist Home Minister or ill-informed Prime Minister could have done is not my guess here.

Even if a Prime Minister decides something like that; any such move would have to go through the closer scrutiny of the Supreme Court and also the two Houses of Indian Parliament.

The spoilers - political and from apolitical class - have suffered first major defeat when Home Minister Shah told Nagaland Core Committee that Flag and Constitution could not be negotiated at all. "Woh baat nahi karna".

Shah's crisp remarks had another message - "What request..." -- to an observation by a Core committee player that they will "request" NSCN-IM leadership.

Fundamentally, the Modi government could not be more specific than they are already. They want a Solution. An early Solution suits Team Modi and it suits Nagas of Nagaland too. The whole world could be around money and self-serving powers. The NDPP protagonists may soon realise reality is bitter.

In Nagaland state today people dream of a revolution -- and without doubt it is the revolution of mindset. The FNR knows a good beginning was made in 2009 but things did not make much headway because saboteurs were at work along with fate. This calamity of mutual suspicion should not be repeated.