Khekiye K. Sema
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t is a pity that the Government of Nagaland has been compromised and paralysed beyond redemption. The picture of an indifferent Government that has lost its honourable sense of ethics and responsibility towards its citizens has become apparent and clear. Yet another Sumi life has succumbed to the unfortunate incident of 28th December 2013... the Mukalimi NSCN(IM) flush out episode. Nipulo Chishi was just another carefree youngster sucked into the vortex of a man-made disaster. The poor lad has been made to bite the dust for good. The Government seem to lack the basic understanding that it does not represent one Tribe or the other alone but ALL the Nagas Tribes of Nagaland as a primary responsibility.The ‘Hon’ble’ Chief Minister has however not been too honourable by choosing to opt for a determined silence which is as good as affirming that the Sumi Tribe is of no concern to him...by his action or inaction. Projecting a picture that the loss of Sumi lives is unworthy of being officially and forthrightly condoled, that too caused through an incompetent handling of the situation by the Government, is downright demeaning. The indifference of the Nagas seems to have lulled the sensitivity of the Chief Minister of Nagaland in his inability to see the dishonour in his silence. On the other hand the Sumi Hoho and all the Sumi Minister and Parliamentary Secretaries do not also seem to feel that something is drastically out of place. May they be informed that beyond their individual powers and comforts there is an issue of honour of the community that needs to be protected and upheld. This is an appeal to the conscience of all the Nagas as a community in general and the Sumis in particular to take a view on this. This can happen and is happening to every community in Nagaland. Should we sit and do nothing when our daughters, sisters and mothers are molested right in front of our eyes with absolute disregard of our existence by the ‘National goons’? Does this behaviour of the Government not display a latitude of disrespect and utter disregard for the Sumis as an inalienable entity within the State of Nagaland? Do the Sumis deserve this ignonimity from the Government that was allowed to purchase their vote to power? Today it is in the court of the Sumis. Tomorrow it can be in the court of another tribe. It is simply a matter of principle of fair governance towards all Tribes of Nagaland on equal terms.Now let’s truthfully analyse the sequence of events. The Sumi ladies were molested by the NSCN(IM) cadres. While not condemning the whole Organization for the commission of a few, the wrong done nevertheless is unambiguously clear as to who the guilty parties were. The NSCN (IM) dirtied its organization’s hand, choosing to undermine the Sumi public outcry for justice by refusing to hand over the culprits to the Civil Administration. The Government of Nagaland, instead of taking cognizance of the crime, chose to mediate with the aggrieved citizens in coordination and cooperation of the defaulting party. As a concerned senior citizen I for one have a sincere concern that the Nagas have the right to self-determine. However the humiliating crime that was committed by the cadre against its own citizens can by no stretch of imagination be accounted for as a condonable act in which people’s representative Government should refuse to take cognizance. This is downright unpardonable. There are certain realities that we are all expected to live under. It is often vociferously expressed by our the Southern Nagas brothers of Manipur ridiculing the existence of the State of Nagaland as a puppet of the Government of India and consider NSCN(IM) as the true Naga Government. Until such time the Nagas achieve our goal to its finality the fact of the existence of the Government of Nagaland cannot be wished away and the law of the land must prevail. The philosophy of NSCN(IM) is in tune with the thinking process of the Southern brothers of Manipur that the existence of a Government of Nagaland cannot be acknowledged and therefore, no matter what magnitude of crime has been committed, handing over of the culprits to an enemy establishment is against their political ethos. It is for the Government of Nagaland to assess whether they are the ones who are administering a rogue establishment and that the NSCN(IM) is the true legitimate Government. Their action has amply stamped this status definition this time. Even if the perception of NSCN(IM) were to be given any credibility they still had the option to turn to the Naga Customary Court to dispense justice as per the Naga customary Law without overtly acknowledging the State Government...or do they consider the Naga Customary Court as an alien infrastructure as well? The height of their arrogance in failing to consider any other options other than to dispense justice within their own organization is unacceptably unrealistic. It is unfortunate that the NSCN(IM) has failed to realise that the citizens of Nagaland are governed by the Government of Nagaland on a day to day basis. The tax being paid to the NPGs by the citizens of Nagaland can by no means be taken as an endorsement of the Factions to govern its citizens on a routine basis. It is no longer a voluntary act as it once used to be...the Nagas pay tax out of fear of those who proclaim to be fighting for our freedom. We fear our own...does that not tell us anything? We fear those who are supposed to be championing our cause.
Being subjected to continuous extreme provocations and humiliations in the hand of the NPGs over the years, the Sumi citizens could tolerate it no longer and was honour bound to carry out an action that the Government of Nagaland had every opportunity and authority to stem the negative tide by promptly apprehending the wrong doers in this case, but had not done so. The Sumis have absolutely no cause to feel guilty for seeking justice against the perpetrators. The critical flaw of decision making within the NSCN(IM) organization in this case is most regrettably unfortunate. The inability on the part of the State Government to shoulder its rightful responsibility is pathetic to put it mildly. Having defined the fault lines...the loss of Sumi lives, which could have been averted by a sensible application of mind and responsibility both by the Government of Nagaland and NSCN(IM) did not happen as a result of which events led to the loss of Sumi lives. Hence the accountability rests squarely on the shoulders of Government of Nagaland and the NSCN(IM) and not the Sumis. The Chief Minister is expected to read the situation positively in its right perspective and express his regrets and condole the unnecessary death that had culminated in its aftermath. The people of Nagaland knows without doubt that the present DAN Government owes a great deal of gratitude to the NSCN(IM) for its political survival but that should not get in the way of upholding what is considered to be the right thing to do. It is obligatory for the Chief Minister to officially condole the death of the Sumi youths and consider ex-gratia grant to the bereaved families and those injured during this stupid mismanaged fiasco. When due consideration was rightly shown to the Karbi carnage victims’ families by way of ex-gratia grant the least we expect is the same yardstick being applied for the Rengma brothers of Karbianglong who too lost their lives in a similar undeserved fashion and more so for the Sumis closer to home. Unless honourable amends are made, this issue has all the potential of raking up a Tribalistic sentiment where the honour of the Sumi Tribe is deliberately being ignored and trampled upon. The ‘Hon’ble’ Chief Minister is obligated to publicly answer to the people of Nagaland as to whether the Sumis are being counted as a recognized Tribe within the community of Tribes in Nagaland. This insufferable insult to the Sumi community will not just fade away. The possibility of a serious consequences cannot be ruled out if this subject is not forthrightly and honourably addressed. The question being left behind for the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland is this: If the Sumi ladies, who were molested by the NSCN(IM) cadre, happened to be his daughter, sister or mother would he have remained inactive or maintained the same sublime silence that he has observed so far? Would he sit back devoid of honour and do nothing? Perhaps when he answers these questions truthfully, he would understand and realise how defiled the Sumis have felt about this incident. Compromising a legitimate Government to this level indiscretion and dishonour, on account of a shady understanding with another organization, is despicable.
It is with utmost sincerity that this appeal is therefore being made to the Government of Nagaland: Do consider offering official condolence to the families who have lost their loved one and consider giving ex-gratia grant including the injured. They deserve it. It is never too late to do the honourable thing. This subject will be kept alive until this is done...the Government be rest assured!
Khekiye K. Sema IAS (Rtd)
Forest Colony, Kohima.
