How Soon is Soon?

Trust is like a castle made of sand. It is hard to build but easy to break. Once broken, it takes time to rebuild. Unlike in the past, when Nagas used to look forward to RN Ravi’s visit in the hope of hearing the much-awaited news of solution to the protracted Naga political issue, there was relative silence when he recently came to the state to hold consultative meetings with civil society organisation leaders in Kohima and Dimapur. A few apex bodies – Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers’ Association and Naga Students’ Federation – boycotted the consultative meetings called by him to protest the delay in solving the Naga political issue despite his assurance on several occasions that the final solution would come “soon.” It was a clear message both to the government of India and its interlocutor for Naga peace talks that Nagas have lost patience and have waited for too long - over six decades of struggle for self determination and 21 years of peace talk. It’s more than three years since the historic peace accord, a framework agreement for Naga peace, was signed between the government of India and the NSCN (IM) but that “soon” hasn’t come. With the Working Committee comprising seven Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), including the Khango-led NSCN (K) having joined the peace process, and the legislators of Nagaland government giving the green signal to solve the long-pending issue, there is no tangible reason to hold the sealing of a final deal and bring peace to the war-torn land. It indicates lack of political will to solve the issue. This is why some apex bodies that had played a big role in bringing all the stakeholders to a consensus have run out of patience and the public seem to have taken the “delay” as a ploy to stall the final deal. History tells that Naga forefathers were not known in the game of diplomacy. Rather, they were known for simplicity, valour and sincerity; and gullible at times. They trusted their kinsmen and friends. And not keeping one’s word was considered a taboo. These ideals still seem to run in the veins of the Nagas of this generation. The people trusted the government of India, as promised, to bring a solution that is “honourable and acceptable” to the Naga people but much of it (trust) seems to have withered away over time. Now, both the sides – Indian government and Naga people – should sincerely work towards rebuilding the lost trust by engaging in honest talks with a clear time frame to end the Naga political issue.