Z. Lohe
The Nagas had been divided into teams aftermath the Shillong Accord. The Accord was considered to be destructive to Naga political aspiration for sovereignty and thus it met the reprehension. However, the reaction to the Accord became equally destructive and rather catastrophic to many lives of Nagas and to Naga unity. The attempted repairs caused more damages than good. Since then the Nagas have been passing through a period mired with unity famine for the last 41 years. The more often we used the word unity rhetorically the more elusive Naga unity becomes.
As the Naga boat was rocked by the storm of blame game with malicious motives in the deep sea, it attracted the merciful attention of God Jehovah and therefore the distress calls reached the American and the British Christians. The humble Christian leaders from the most powerful countries with full of humility came to reason with the warring Naga groups. They even invited the Nagas to America to iron out our internal differences. One who was a delegate to Atlanta, America told me that the American mediators challenged saying “You (Nagas), unite and leave the rest to us”. The convergence failed to produce logical result due to absence of NSCN(IM). What a great miss of such honourable intervention. Aftermath both the subsequent signing of ‘Covenant’ and ‘Concordant’ reconciled agreements came to nought. The Naga arrogance and the rigid egoism fetched no desirable dividend except regrets after regrets.
What else is left for us? Can the Nagas survive with the prevailing fragmentations? Will any group with such cooked up philosophies can land the Nagas in a greener pasture?
Humanly speaking, there is a limit to everything. Nagas are tired of entertaining internal bickering. Nagas are fed of the style of taking undue advantage of the situation by ruthless minority against the gullible majority. It is becoming painful to observe few crooks crossing all limits by destroying the established systems in every respect. Will the Naga public continue to remain tolerant to self exploitations?
With sense of much burden, the NTC negotiated with the Naga National Political Groups to come together and try to have common approach to issues pending before us. Not because of the efficiency of NTC but because of God’s grace alone that the 6 NNPGs responded to the appeal and have agreed solemnly to work under the interim platform of ‘Working Group’ on 13.12.2016 as announced. The other 3 groups are yet to join the Working Group and yet the door is kept open for anyone to join.
Meanwhile, kudos to Nagaland GB Federation for encouraging the formation of Working Group as a ‘sign of hope’. Another individual in the person of Mr. Khekiye K. Sema lauded the ‘Working Group’ being launched beside adding some insights. Another individual Mr. Chotisu Sazo, Speaker, NLA expressed his happiness over the same though mean. Beside NGBF and the other two individuals, none expresses its support for such unity. Immediately after the Working Group was formed, the Chief Minister TR Zeliang called upon the people to reconcile ‘in the true spirit of forget and forgive’ and unite while speaking at Mhainamtsi village which appeared in local papers on 17.12.2016. Yet, he intentionally forgot to appreciate the Working Group. What about the rest 58 MLAs? What about the tribal Hohos and the so-called ‘apex’ Naga organizations? Once upon a time, the CYE leader in a Church conducted song practice. Though most of the youth members arrived, the leader delayed the practice session saying members have not come. Within minutes a female member arrived and the leader said everyone has come. Similarly, the Hohos and all those who are fond of calling themselves to represent the Naga people are perhaps waiting for the last female member to arrive. Till then it is not worth supporting such togetherness according to them possibly.
What a farce? While the NNPGs are remaining in division, unity call is on everyone’s lip and when 6 out of 9 have come together particularly those who have been very vocal for reconciliation opted to remain silent. Not only being silent but perhaps envied too, may be because NTC initiated. May be because NTC is banned by NSCN(IM) and therefore whatever is done under its aegis should not be appreciated or considered acceptable. May be because those who claim to be having public voice are gagged with intimidation or enticement through remote control. Here is the proof that though we tend to blame the NNPGs for disunity, behind the screen and in camouflage, we, the others, might have been playing bigger roles in keeping the divisions in status quo.
Having the matter analysed as above, I do not belief the silence of the people is hindrance to Working Group. I firmly believed that God has opened the mind of those likeminded leaders to converge and out of consensus the arrangement in the fashion of ‘Working Group’ became a reality. With the believers praying to God Jehovah for Naga unity, I have confidence on Working Group forging ahead as required.
