Talking beyond ceasefire and the Nagas worry

Wangdibou Pamai *

As far as the issue of the Nagas and the solution to it, begins from the question as to why there has been a ceasefire between the government of India and the NSCN (IM)? Why there has to be such that there should be a peace between the two. Peace or ceasefire doesn't mean that the matter just stops there. It was a new beginning to the journey of finding a permanent settlement between the two.

It was a start and the main foundation on which permanent peace for both sides could be found or realised. However, the ceasefire agreement was signed on August 31st 1997 between NSCN (IM) and GoI when the United Front government led by H.D Deve Gowda was in power. The agreement was arrived at after prolonged negotiations in which Isak Shu and Th Muiva were in contact with Rajesh pilot who was minister of state for Home in the government led by PV Narasimha Rao.

The Indian government from their practical difficulties realised just lately that they could no longer suppressed or eliminate the Naga insurgents by use of force and military power since the signing of ceasefire agreement between the two. The Congress government since Nehru's time was never their intention to accommodate Nagas issue within peace or the so called ceasefire.

They, therefore, the government had their time dealing the Nagas with the strongest iron hand to crush the Naga insurgent by imposing the infamous Arm Forces Special Powers Act (1958). The Nagas on the other hand never give up but, remain resistant even to the strongest military might of the Indian Government.

When we were just a small kid, we are afraid to see the Indian army coming to our village. Every mother will try to use the term 'army' just to silent her crying child. But we were never afraid when the Naga army came to the village instead, everyone will look at them with great admiration. Well, our boys will form a group of two, one as Indian army and the other as Naga army.

We name our names to such and such, the names of those great Naga heroes during that time. Unfortunately, they could be all death now. But still the spirits of those great heroes still remains at the hearts of many today.

That was just part of a story. The fact was that by no means could the Indian army totally eliminate the Nagas on the land of the Nagas and so, the ceasefire between the two was the clear evidence. It is logical and rational to have a fair conclusion now, if not, for the sake of discussion on that ground.

However, there is likely a danger that the Nagas in pursuit of resolving their freedom may in future opt for "revolution" for quick result. While in this case, Nagas may need another revolutionary leader like Lenin and Mao Tse Tung like in Russia and China. At the same time, Muivah also gave his final remark in his recent interview that the volt for the final settlement is at the court of the Indian government.

He also says that he is ready to go back to the jungle, may be in a sense with stronger determination. It is seen that his old age did not deter his struggle for Nagas sovereignty, also his colleague Isak Swu, even to the point of death as an old man. Whenever an old people die in a family they leave certain core advices to their dearest ones.

The young generations of Nagas could have felt themselves obligate and reaffirmed to maintain the age old legacy of Nagas history and their struggle now. The fact that its history is unique, their land inalienable, their struggle uncompromised on which their final settlement base upon.

Keep aside, the rest for a while, there is this belief that every society evolved through struggle and I belief the case of Nagas is slowly fulfilling, except an internal disunity among them that makes itself the most complex one within their own family. Whatever reasons it is, they sure know that they are not better off alone in the struggle and thus, everyone is equally compel to accept the final agreement.

However, the Naga's in one aspect had been quite diplomatic to go these far, in fact for more than six decades now perhaps, one of the oldest existing insurgency after all, how long could they still be polite to endure and belief a radical views on democracy? The Naga's had been considerate enough to have come down to its lowest level of their talks to "Alternative Arrangement".

Now, I'm wondered if it's time that every friends of the Nagas or the so called neighbouring states should graciously accede to the interest of the Nagas if not, at least at the 'minimum'.

With much concern and worried, the unpredictable future that lies ahead to both, the high possibility of being overbalanced either by both sides is at the peak. While, the writer here did not tend to affirmed anything or imposed his personal ideas to the readers.