Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 11
It would appear that the remedy to the “controversy” over the public discourse initiated by Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) on September 12 at the DDSC stadium was only a phone call away from all concerned, especially in the case of those who have decided to boycott the event.
Almost all the “major” Naga civil organizations, including the Naga Hoho, Naga Students’ Federation and even the Naga Council Dimapur, have frowned upon the ACAUT initiative while announcing their decision not to participate in the event.
The contention of those civil organizations, among others, was that the ACAUT was doing more harm than good by organizing the event. Yet on Friday afternoon, ACAUT members clarified that the intention and the nature of their initiative have been misinterpreted all along.
Addressing a press conference today here in Dimapur, member of ACAUT consultative body and retired bureaucrat, Khekiye Sema, dispelled all doubts by informing that event would not seek to adopt resolution(s) of any kind but solely seek to promote “a serious and pure intellectual exchange” that would help the Naga public to have clear grasp of the current political situation of Nagaland.
As such, Khekiye informed, the ACAUT has no intention of calling off its public discourse on Saturday. He said that ACAUT can neither encourage the people to reject nor accept the framework agreement since the contents of the agreement were not known. Against such a backdrop, Khekiye said, the major Naga civil organizations had no reason to engage in a “confrontation” with ACAUT. In hindsight, the confusion could have been cleared if only the parties concerned had engaged in proper communication before blowing it off in the press.
Citing the October 31, 2013 resolution of ACAUT rally in Dimapur, Khekiye said that the question of ACAUT working “beyond its brief” was not a valid argument. He reasoned that the Naga public has every right to ask for the contents of the framework agreement between the NSCN (IM) and New Delhi.
While reminding that the ACAUT was not against the NSCN (IM), Khekiye said that the Naga civil organizations cannot, and should not, endorse the framework agreement without knowing its contents.
“Could it be a legitimate endorsement because none of the apex hohos has been served with the contents of the framework agreement? And none of the apex hohos can endorse something as serious as this without consulting their constituents,” he said.
According to Khekiye, Nagas can neither be happy nor disappointed now with the framework agreement, since its contents are still in complete secrecy. “This is your reality presented right in front of us,” he said.
“How can you and I be in a position to endorse something of which we have no idea in the first place?” he said while reiterating that ACAUT was not in an “ego fight” with any NGO.
He warned that blindly giving consent, without knowing the contents, to any deal would be plain stupidity. “In the stupidity of this confusion, all that we want is to help out people have a clear thinking.”
He said that ACAUT could not help but wonder why so many agitations have come up after its announcement to convene a public discourse. ACAUT’s worst fear, according to him, was that the aftermath of the framework agreement would come in the form of violent period.
In order to avoid such a violent probability, Khekiye reasoned, the Naga public must engage in an honest discourse today. With this singular motive, ACAUT has called for the “Common Platform” discourse, he informed – and not to hijack the Indo-Naga talks.
ACAUT member, Joel Nillo Kath also informed that the NSCN (IM) was invited to send a member to be among the panelists at the discourse. The invitation, however, went unreciprocated which forced ACAUT to drop its plan to invite other Naga underground groups to the event, he informed.
Interestingly, Khekiye also informed that ACAUT members are receiving threats from Naga undergrounds to call of their public discourse on September 12.
List of panelists for Common Platform
The ACAUT Nagaland has highlighted the background of Common Ground panelists for its 12th September programme.
They are Niketu Iralu a noted peace activist who is a committed fighter for change and healing on human relations in the Naga crisis. Rev. Dr. Tuisem Shishak an Emeritus Principal, Patkai Christian College. An eminent educationist, who founded the college with the motto of “Light and Truth.”
Rev. Dr. VK Nuh, General Secretary, Fellowship of Naga Baptist Associations. A founder member of FNR. His contribution to peace efforts has been invaluable.
Dr. Visier Sanyü Meyasetsu, President, Overseas Nagas’ Association. His academic background is history and archaeology. Now based in Australia, his last held post was Project Officer, World Vision, Australia.
NBCC: the Baptist Church body. The Church has been facilitating peace over the decades. Its efforts go back to the fifties and sixties and the 1st ceasefire was declared in 1964.
Rev. Dr. Mazie Nakhro, Ph.D is the Director, Mission Facilitator, USA. He is a columnist for the Morung Express. His grasp of Naganomics (Naga economy) may just about lay the foundation of a Naga economy. Khekiye K. Sema, IAS (Retd): He is a forceful exponent of Naga unity grounded in the 1951 plebiscite.
