The buck stops at Mao Gate

P Gangte *

As the ding-dong battle of words and action amongst the adversaries of the visit of the Ato kilonser (NSCN-IM) Shri Th. Muivah continues, some lingering and yet vital questions being asked in gossips need appropriate answers.

While doing this, the ethos of the Naga nationalism and their polity vis-a-vis that of others in the backdrop of the working of the Federalism of the Indian Constitution needs to be taken into consideration. Therefore, inspite of the pre-eminence of the Naga polity, it is a wrong premise to presume that the rights of the Nagas as their birth right can override, that of others who are much more than them and more religiously restrained, humanly more humane and accommodative.

Stopping of the entry of Muiva at Mao Gate, besides being a manifestation of Indian federalism, is also symbolic in that Naga nationalism cannot always be the overriding factor at the expense of others, and that it is also the assertion of the stand taken on the integrity of the boundary of Manipur which was once a sovereign state, and that its boundary had since been known way back in AD 33; and it has stood the test of time except for ceding of the Kabaw Valley to Burma in the wake of Indian Independence.

But the question is - Why should Muivah be not allowed to visit his native place after more than four decades? A nostalgic and an emotional one indeed! Isn't he entitled? Was it not his birth right? Was he not given "visit permit" by the Union Government? What are the road blocks, and they better be mighty ones and convincing, keeping in mind that his name gathers huge supports and he has earned being called almost reverently as the "Awo-Kahar' the equivalent of the 'Grand Old Man' And of course, there are people who are hugely pitted bitterly against him. What are the crimes that may prevent him to come home?

Some say: At present he is in a state of being an incognito - man without a state - an interregnum - though he is a Manipuri he had spurned it and is bent on eking out parts of it as a gift to his new find roots in Nagaland, A Greater Nagaland called "NAGALIM FOR CHRIST" at the expense of the state of Manipur! Not Manipur alone, but also would affect Assam and Arunachal.

Some others say: He is an Indian despite having rebelled against the Government of India as he has been provided with an Indian passport to facilitate his movement in connection with peace-talk with the GOI. But that does not facilitate automatically his entry into Manipur even with the Centre's green signal for reasons that follow on.

Still some quarters who had been victims of his ethnic cleansing pogrom against the Kukis during 1992-96 feel about it? He is simply referred to as the "Monster" of the Ethnic Cleansing pogrom because of the devastation it brought in its aftermath by activating and using Naga frontal organisations as its tentacles of destruction with active supports from regular NSCN(IM) members.

It must not be forgotten as some quarters usually do and presumed that he was a misguided youth! No. He is a committed and firebrand of Naga nationalism since the change of guards in the Naga movement, and has since acquired much wisdom and practical sense and become an expert par-excellence of psychological warfare. Thus the way he twisted incidents during the Kuki Rebellion 1917-1919 and termed them as an attempt to annihilate the Nagas particularly the Tangkhuls and the Kabuis (Zeliangrong).

Though honestly unhistorical facts, he could find wings the spirit of "Hate and Kill Kukis" campaign that was epitomized in a video released during the height of the ethnic violence echoing the propaganda that the Kukis killed the Nagas in hundreds in the past, and now the Nagas killed the Kukis in thousands! This is the kind of enthusiasm that finds acceptance and it would be "Nagalim for Christ"!

Indeed, the Kukis who had killed only some particular Tangkhul and Kabui villages - (for not giving them food they needed during the Kuki Rebellion, but not for being Nagas who themselves were not yet aware of their being Nagas those days), they were Non-Christians; and when the Nagas took revenge on them, the Nagas were already full-fledged Christians. And they are, indeed committed fighters for a Nagalim for Christ! Even after having committed such heinous crime, they have never felt the necessity for saying sorry to the least for having over reacted in a monstrous and in a most unchristian way!

In his psychological game-plan, the Frontal Naga organisations did respond to his strategy in that the UNC kick­started with its Quit Notices dated 22.10.1992 to the Kukis and thus became to be known as the "Mother of Quit Notices"; and even now this characteristic continues to bug this organisation calling Naga MLAs for quitting their legislative membership besides insinuating those Nagas living in the Imphal areas to leave the valley which has potential to ignite ethnic misunderstanding amongst the people in general. The Valley Frontal organisations are against such a move by the UNC and the like and are all out to douse such communal thing, an admirable attitude. Communal organisation, such as this UNC be branded as "Communal", and undesirable for association till they shun their narrow objective!

Then came the Naga student bodies under ANSAM that changed its nomenclature into an All Naga Student Volunteer Force which later was solidified as NAGALIM GUARDS (NLG) which had become like the SS (Sehutz staffel) of the Nazi Germany. The fact that NLGs extensively made use of ANSAM official letterhead is no secret but an open one. One of such letterheads was issued to the villagers of Zoupi asking them to vacate the village on or before 15 September, 1993.

The villagers complied with the notice days ahead of the date of ultimatum and reached Tamei on 12 Sept. Inspite of this, they were herded together at Tamei which was under siege of the NSCN (IM). It may be hard to believe to say this that there was no local administration, but it is true. The coy of the Manipur Rifles posted there was completely immobiled and ineffective as shown by the incident taking place at the heart of the town itself speaks volume.

In active consultation with the chairman of Tamei township, the Naga youths executed 87 men, women and children. 15 braves escaped the pogrom. This was in direct obedience to Muivah's instruction to organise the Nagas themselves and take action against the Kukis. His articles in Freedom were like inspiring gospel against Kukis and well-done message dated 18 Sept 1993, and published in Freedom issue of 29 Oct, 1993.

The manner and reason for killing 15 males under 4 years of age of Taloulong on 19.9.93 by tossing them up to facilitate their spear target practice in Mongol style has not been an easy incident to forget. This was followed by chopping off of three bodies along the river and let them float along with the current. This was preceded by a number of beheading innocent people unleashed by Neo-Naga converts in Chandel.

One such unforgettable killing was that of Paraolen jungle on 10.10.92 in which a young mother was killed and stripped naked and the body was tied on a stump as if standing and insert a stick inside her private part. To complete the grotesque killing, the Neo-Nagas tied the baby on her mother's bosom as if it was sucking after slicing off her face. And these people are working for Nagalim for Christ! Have they ever been reprimanded for having been excessive by Muivah, he would be head of the Nagalim for Christ Government?

Then the incident of killing of 13 villagers of Khallong on 9.8.93 includes 10 women, 1 girl and 1 baby. And they worked for Nagalim for Christ! These are some of the incidents of the work of Neo-Nagas from Chandel (whom Prof Gangmumei described as "Politicallly Nagas but culturally Kukis") in company of those from Ukhrul. And they all killed happily for the glory of the Nagalim for Christ!

During the Hate campaign period, the Christian cadres of Nagalim, out of the total incidents of killings committed, 34 incidents are on Sundays including one in-side'the church itself of Saipimol-28 in Manipur, 5 in Nagaland and 1 in Assam. It was reported that for all the killings and burning in Nagaland Assam during the period, no Naga from the mainland Nagaland was involved.

The main thrust from the religious body was their preaching on (Old Testament) Numbers 33: 51-55 with the main emphasis on "drive out all inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all inhabitants of the land..."

This article is not meant to give full details of ugly incidents but to stir up numbed conscience that can lead to take action to heal up the wound. The Government of Germany has shown compassion to the Jews of the Nazi victims by tendering their grief and apology and showed due sympathy and granted compensation in terms of millions of dollars. So did the Vatican for having failed to live upto its moral standing and value during the year of the Nazi's reign, and apologised for their failure and pardon!

Muivah, himself a devoted and staunch Christian and undisputed top leader and the Ato Kilonser of "NAGALIM FOR CHRIST' has not shown even his crocodile 'tenderness' [leave alone tears] for the killing of over a thousand Kukis when things had gone out of control! It was noticed that most quarters paid at least lip-sympathy over the recent incident of two students killed at Mao incident; and the Government of Manipur came out with a Magisterial enquiry!

But when so many Kukis had been killed, and became homeless, Government so far has not paid full attention including institution of a Commission of Enquiry though the communal violence between Meiteis and Muslims had been speedily enquired into and the findings published for remedial action.

It will be good for all sections of the people of Manipur to live in peace and harmony and come shoulder to shoulder towards our march to future development and welfare of our people. If Muivah tenders his apology towards the Kukis and shun his Hate Kuki policy, he will find willing hearts to accept and forgive and forget.

There had been a movement for reconciliation from Tamei for all Unchristian-like behaviour, but UNC put a stop to it. And all these leaders are good Christians but unable to say, "Sorry, let us forgive and forget." And I dare say that if Muivah gives up his effort to disintegrate Manipur. there is no reason why he cannot become be the Chief Minister of the State?

The State of Israel is a model for those who had discovered their roots of being of a particular nationality if they wanted to be united with the people at the mainland. The Nagas and the Neo Nagas should go to Nagaland which had been particularly meant for them; and leave alone Manipur and others.

The Bedrock of Naga Society has sincerely and honestly identified the reality of the Naga mirage-chase-of sovereignty concludes that the creation of Nagaland has
"..fulfilled the aspirations of the Nagas to a large extent : the identity of the Nagas had been preserved as desired by the Naga leaders ever since the feeling of Naga-oneness began. A special provision in the Con-stitution of India guarantees the protection of the religion; culture and traditions of the Nagas as well as their land and its resources. The 16-Point Agreement was not drafted by blind persons and signed blindly....." (p/16).