Much has been said about the so-called political talk between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India and in the recent budget session of the puppet Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) MLA Achumbemo Kikon has also made some ambiguous remarks about it while also trying to cite some historic events to introduce his statement on the subject.
While it is much appreciated that the NLA seems to be very concerned about the Indo-Naga issue, its concern also seems to be very misconstrued, and historically and legally misplaced by a long shot. The question is whether it is intentional or sheer ignorance of Naga History or a fear to state that which is legally, morally and historically correct and true, or is it being maneuvered by covert manipulation of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
While the Nagas were occupied by invading forces of India and Myanmar a few Nagas serving in the Indian government service have created a so-called Nagaland state within the union of India by an insidious agreement known as the 16 Point Agreement which is neither legal nor ethical.
This creation of the so-called Nagaland state is only a very small portion of Nagaland and has therefore further divided the Nagas geographically by demographically clubbing them with other ethnicities making the Nagas minorities in those areas which did not come under the ambit of the so-called Nagaland state. Therefore, the so-called Nagaland state is a puppet state within the greater territory and country of Nagaland. It is not a puppet state of Nagaland but a puppet state IN Nagaland – I repeat, a puppet state IN Nagaland.
In other words the Nagaland state is therefore, the first, the largest and most powerful faction in Nagaland directly and covertly created and overtly supported and sustained by India. This in turn has created numerous factions all proclaiming to be fighting in defence of Nagaland but financed by individuals and political parties of the puppet state government for their own agendas while claiming to solve the Indo-Naga issue.
While the present puppet state in Nagaland is the biggest faction it is also by far the biggest manufacturer of factions to empower itself and project itself as a stakeholder and liaison between the other factions and the Government of India.
The recently concluded NLA budget session has brought to light the illogical, misconstrued and delusional
understanding of Naga History whereby leading the Nagas to the proverbial phrase “putting the cart before the horse.” In such a case no society or nation, nay, neither the cart nor the horse can move forward. MLA Achumbemo Kikon stated that after the failure of the Shillong Accord in 1975 “our movement” intensified and our leaders were even fighting outside the country….the Prime Ministers of India were frantically looking for our Naga leaders.
This statement of MLA Achumbemo Kikon, while showing a keen interest in the issue of Nagaland and India, is a misconstrued perspective of Naga History. First and foremost, Nagaland was never part of India nor was it bequeathed to India by any power, not even the British. There wasn’t any merger or instrument of accession and the Nagas under Naga National Council (NNC) legally declared Nagaland’s independence on the 14th of August 1947, national Plebiscite in 1951 (99.9% in favour of remaining independent as before), establishment of the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) in 1956.
Thus, the Nagas already had the prerequisites of an independent sovereign Nation while India invaded Nagaland. In such a case as Nagaland, therefore, our fight in defence of our country against an aggressor cannot be construed as a movement. It is a war in defence of our country against India’s act of aggression.
Another point to be clarified is the statement “our movement intensified after the failure of the Shillong Accord…..and our leaders were even fighting outside the country..,..the Prime Ministers of India were frantically looking for our Naga leaders.” Who or what is being referred to in this statement? Is it the NSCN-IM and its leadership? If so, are you aware of the history of the NSCN-IM or its leadership?
If not, such statements are irresponsible and irrelevant to the Indo-Naga issue. NSCN-IM and it’s leadership did nothing to alleviate the Indo-Naga issue rather the history of fatricide began with them and they have internalised an international bilateral issue by making it a political issue needing Indian constitutional remedy; hence, their demand for flag and constitution. Remember Nagaland is not Kashmir which had historical and political ties with India.
We have our own constitution – the Yehzabo, we have our own flag – the star and the rainbow. We only demand that India leave Nagaland to its own devices by withdrawing her military and her pseudo administrative agencies.
Nagaland’s sovereignty is as non-negotiable as India’s sovereignty. In the equation of solving such an issue NSCN-IM is not formula nor is it the legal authority. It is simply an interloper milking the Nagas dry into dehydration thereby confusing the Nagas further and pushing us into a rabbit hole with no end in sight.
Beside internalising the Indo-Naga issue its leader Mr. Muivah was even denied asylum by the UNHCR when he broke Thailand’s law in 2000. The UNHCR cited Article 1F of the 1951 Convention which would categorise him as a terrorist and/or war criminal. Who bailed him out of such predicament in Bangkok- it was India.
The NSCN-IM is therefore a mere borrowed knife of the enemy to perpetuate and prolong the issue at hand. In a situation such as this the so-called peace process is a farce and at best it is a ‘piece’ process India has initiated to further dissect, segregate the Nagas into different groupings as has been evident with the so-called Framework Agreement and Agreed Position.
If the puppet state government in Nagaland is so cozy with the NSCN-IM then it has to revisit the history of the creation of the so-called NPF Party claiming to be the oldest regional party in the puppet state in Nagaland and has been. coincidentally in ruling since the so called “Framework Agreement” and “Agreed Position.”
The NPF Party claims that it is the oldest regional party in the puppet state in Nagaland with the motto “Fide Non Armis” literally meaning “By Faith Not Arms.” This was the original motto of the first regional party known as the Democratic Party of Nagaland (DPN) and has morphed into the present day Naga Peoples Front (NPF).
The Naga Peoples Convention (NPC) held 3 conventions from 1957 to 1959 to liaise between the Government of India and the Federal Government of Nagaland to bring about ways and means for a peaceful settlement. Mr. A Kevichusa was also part of this NPC however, the NPC was manipulated and maneuvered in such a way as to project itself as a party to a settlement rather than being a liaison for the contesting parties.
Mr. A Kevichusa abhorred such manipulative tactics and was not subservient to the games played by the Indian intelligence bureau. He walked out of the NPC and his friend and colleague Tajenyuba also did likewise.
Therefore, when the 16 Point Agreement was to be tabled by the NPC, Kevichusa wrote to the Governor of Assam thus-
“A settlement presupposes the existence of two contending parties. In the present trouble, one party is the Government of India and the other party is NOT the Naga Government servants or retired Government servants. Any settlement to be permanent must settle the differences between the two parties ……”
But looking at the scenario of the present day the same mistake that had been done seems to be replayed again with much vigour.
NSCN-IM is not a contending party in the Indo-Naga issue. They call themselves revolutionaries. If so they can only be a contending party in the issue by a revolution dismantling the NNC/FGN. However, the NNC/FGN exists and is the legal authority and foundation for a peaceful resolution of India’s withdrawal from Nagaland.
The DPN was therefore formed on April 21, 1963 with a manifesto stating that “The party will have as its primary object, the restoration of peace and normalcy. With this end in view, the party will advocate free exchange of views by personal contacts and the creation of conditions necessary for such contacts.”
The DPN which today has evolved into the NPF had such grandiose plans to not being a party to any talks or settlements but simply a facilitator to such conditions. Therefore, when the Ceasefire of 1964 between the two countries’ governments, the Government of India (GOI) and the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) was made all DPN members, 12 in number, resigned.
Today’s so-called ceasefire and Framework Agreement is between the GOI and NSCN-IM a socialist political party which at best represents only socialist cohorts. Can a group of people with certain political ideology having only the support of like-minded people decide the fate of the nation? If so, what is the fate of those who do not subscribe to their ideology?
If at all there is to be a peace talk it must begin where we have left off, that is the Ceasefire of 1964 which is between two legitimate and legal governments i.e the GOI and the FGN.
Now, if the ruling majority, the NPF, of the puppet government in Nagaland really wants to solve the Indo-Naga issue they should stop calling the Indo-Naga issue as merely Naga issue. Naga issue is an internal matter of Nagas and needs no foreign intervention. It needs to call a spade, a spade. Half hearted rhetorical statements and trickery cannot solve any problem but will rather create more of it.
Moreover, what is lawful, legal and moral has to be applied. Hence it is only right to go back where we left off, then only the rightful parties can discuss the issue at hand. The rightful parties means the FGN, the legally mandated and legitimate Government of Nagaland, and the rightfully established Government of India.
The NPF bearing the legacy and motto “Fide Non Armis” of the DPN and calling itself the oldest regional party seems to be far from its agenda and motto “By Faith Not Arms.”
“By Faith Not Arms” does not mean you should be cowardly or ignorant and only lean on faith. But I doubt whether faith. even factors in the equation of the NPF. Faith needs knowledge which leads to wisdom and wisdom leads to freedom.
However, the party seems to have far gone beyond the limits of human ideals in the game of trickery by promising a solution every coming election. Solutions can never come from illegal non entities who are masquerading as genuine players. If non entities win the people loses.
By faith not arms but faith seems to have been misplaced; faith has been placed on money and power, not God or the goodness of the people. Yes, not arms but sycophancy, luxury and an amorous and amoral lifestyle seem to be the order of the day. Nay, the Nagas have suffered too long from the aggression of India and the trickery of the Naga collaborators in the puppet state government serving as useful idiots for our aggressors while being satisfied with the crumbs that fall from Delhi.
Kezhalevor Iralu, Dimapur
