Weakness of NSCN's demands for Nagalim
- Part 4 -

Dr. Khomdon Singh Lisam *

The Manipur Factor and the  Naga Peace Process

The Manipur factor is a very recent phenomenon in the Naga national movement.  Today  the Manipur factor poses the most formidable obstacle to the peace process of the Nagas  because of the  following factors :-

1. Manipur was a sovereign Kingdom  with more than 2000 years of history  with its own Kingdom, laws, rules, regulations, scripts, language etc. The Manipur language is included in the Schedule-VIII to the Indian Constitution.  All the hill districts including Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and Chandel and all the tribes were  under the Manipur King from time immemorial. The Tangkhuls, Maos , Marams , Kabuis and other Nagas were protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur for  thousands of years. 

Four days before India's independence on 15 August 1947, the King of Manipur had signed the Standstill Agreement and the Instrument of Accession entrusting defence, communication and foreign affairs to the Government of India. Manipur then adopted a new state Constitution under which  democratic elections to a State Assembly were held and Manipur had a democratically elected Government. The Manipur Maharaja Bodhchandra signed the Merger Agreement with the Government of India on 21st September, 1949. The Government of India and the Nagas can't afford to ignore the 2000- year old history of Manipur .

2. The Meiteis always supported the Nagas in their political aspirations. Two Tangkhul politicians, Yangmasho Shaiza and Rishang Keishang, in spite of their small size, have been Chief Ministers of Manipur with the strong support of the majority Meiteis. There is no love lost between Meiteis and the Nagas.

3. The Meiteis and Nagas have very close historical and  cultural  ties . Many Meiteis have been converted into Nagas and they have settled down in the hills.  Similarly many Nagas have been converted into Meiteis and absorbed into the Meitei society . Presently   around one  hundred thousand Nagas are permanently settled in the  valley and thousands of Naga women are part and parcel of the Meitei families. This ties  can not be severed  even with a major blood shed and civil war .

4. Christianity came to Manipur through the liberal outlook and generosity of the Manipur Maharaja . In fact , the first Christian convert was a Meitei from Imphal .Now . there are thousands of Meitei Christians working hand to hand with the Nagas in Churches.

5. In 1994 when the Nagaland State Assembly called for the unification of all Naga areas, the Manipur State Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to uphold the territorial integrity of Manipur, whole heartedly supported by the Chief Minister of Manipur, Rishang Keising, a Tangkhul Naga,

4. The possible effect of destroying the territorial integrity of Manipur can be gauged from the past few events in Manipur.  Manipuri street protests against the cease-fire began as soon as the present ceasefire came to effect on 1 August 1997. On 4 August 1997, hundreds of thousands of  people (more than 3 Lakhs  people ) participated in a protest rally in Imphal and the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed a resolution protesting the extension of the ceasefire. This was probably the biggest rally so far in India.

The mood that animated the spectacular protest in Manipur after the June 2001 announcement of the ceasefire having  "no territorial limits"  is best captured in the words of a Manipuri activist. "The people of Manipur naturally felt that their apprehension was now coming true. Feeling deeply betrayed, they rose in protest against the Central Government's decision. When the news of the signing of the 14 June agreement in Bangkok reached Manipur there was a general disbelief. Gloom was writ large on the people's faces. The initial general disbelief and gloom soon turned to an unprecedented demonstration of strong, powerful protests"  .

The Great June  Uprising  need no introduction.  People came out to streets in hundreds of thousands (more than half a million)  without any word all over the valley. The protest included general strikes, social boycott of all  political parties, burnings of the Indian National flag and of effigies of Indian political leaders, attack  on leading political leaders irrespective of party,  burning of  Manipur State Legislative Assembly, demolition of some MLAs' quarters, disarming of the Manipur police etc. This happened in spite of curfew imposed by the Manipur State Government.

The worst  disaster happened on 18 June, 2001 when there was a police firing leading to 18 deaths and hundreds of injuries. But people's tempo never died down.  But not a single Manipuri Nagas  was attacked – not even slapped. But  fearing  violence due to the tense situation, some educated  Manipuri Nagas fled to Dimapur and gave false news to the national TV channels like NDTV that they were attacked. Since NDTV itself was more interested in creating a controversy and in giving sensational news, people lost faith  in the NDTV. But since the reality was  otherwise, it did not give any impact .

The protests died down only after India's Home Minister announced on 27 July 2001 that the three words "without territorial limits" would be dropped from the agreement signed with the NSCN-IM regarding the scope of the cease-fire. This is nothing but lack of political maturity and lack of  understanding about the  complexities of the insurgency problem in the north eastern India on the part of the Government of India. Now Manipur is demanding  for an amendment of the Indian Constitution to guarantee the inviolability of Manipur's borders. The Government of India now may like to think of  providing the room for plebiscite  in the  affected states/ states before changing the boundaries of the states.

The MPs from other states who have nothing to do with the state boundary issues should not be allowed to take a decision in the greater public interest. Since Manipur had a definite historical international boundary at the time of the merger with India, the Government of India  should not destroy these  boundaries. No alien force nor internal contradictions can break the territorial integrity of Manipur (AMCTA, 2001: 38, 48). Nagaland should learn to respect the  2000  years old historical boundary of Manipur if they expect other people to respect their distinct identity .

Possible solutions :

The Nagas should insist on non-territorial solutions without disturbing the boundary of other states. Religion  and culture is not the only unifying force . Why the Muslims are fighting against the Muslims in Iraq ? How can the Nagas guarantee love and unity among the odd 40 Naga  tribes and sub-tribes, speaking more than 30 dialects ?  A lasting solution lies in genuine economic development, human resource development , accelerated infrastructural development, creation of job opportunities, opening of new international trade routes,   foreign investment , more autonomy to the state of Nagaland , more Central funds and a little bit of pressure on militant groups to accept the peace proposal based on non-territorial solutions.  Sincerity on the part of political and insurgent leadership and unity among the Nagas alone can bring 'peace to the land of the exhilarating Nagas. Lasting solution lies in love and unity among the Nagas and other tribes of north eastern India. .

Nagaland can see the  wisdom of peaceful co-existence and  live like a good neighbour  in the spirit of a true Christian and  insist on non-territorial solutions . They can demand for an Upper House,  demand for  a more strength in the  Nagaland State Assembly , more representation in Indian Parliament, demand for more autonomy. They can adopt a policy to invite  other Nagas  from other states or countries who would like to come and settle in Nagaland giving them free land, citizenship encouraging economic investment. This will increase their population. This will be a  more  effective instrument to measure Naga solidarity than Plebiscite.

They can demand more share in  education, employment  in central services, army , central police forces, railways  and All India Services. This will benefit thousands of educated youths from Nagaland. They can demand for exploration of mineral and forest resources, development of tourism, hydro-electricity, Information Technology, Industries, foreign investment,  removal of Inner Line Permit or  Restricted Area Permit,  etc. These measure will definitely uplift the economic condition of the  masses. They can demand for speedy completion of the Asian Trans Highway passing through Nagaland and Manipur via Myanmar to Bangkok  or Chiangmai and open up the international trade routes.

They can demand for a bigger  financial package from the Government of India in addition to plan money every year for another twenty years to create infrastructure, employment generation, industrialization and boost the economy.   The NSCN leaders are great , charismatic and patriotic leaders . They should be given an honourabe position in the Central  and state politics and state administration. The Prime Minister  may be persuaded to give  ministerial positions in the Central Cabinet  for the leaders of NSCN.  The present politicians of Nagaland and Manipur may  sacrifice their positions  as Chief Ministers and  offer the top positions to the T. Muivah and Khaplang .

Other leaders from other organizations may be accommodated in the ministerial posts but they have to face the election in due course of time as per  Indian Constitution. When they come to power, let them achieve their vision and mission. The people of Nagaland and Manipur perhaps would like to see them as great political leaders before they are too old.

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