The History of the Naga Political Movement, from the Memorandum submitted to the Simon Commission in 1929 by Naga Club to the Ceasefire Agreement in 1997 between the GOI and the NSCN (I-M) is well documented. It is suffuse with many acts of heroism and patriotism but a Final Settlement to the conflict could not be arrived at. Thus, it was with a sigh of happy relief that Nagas welcomed the signing of the “Framework Agreement” on 3rd August 2015. At present however, the Nagas are being represented at the negotiating table by more than one party with divergent aspirations and demands that it confuses the expectant public as to which party, the Government of India is going to ink the settlement with. At this juncture, when every piece of information about the negotiation, whether real or concocted, is being analysed, digested and disseminated, it seems prudent for us as stakeholders, to place on record through this article, a few apprehensions and misgivings before they escalate into a full-blown calamities.
The Nagas embarked on a quest for freedom under the banner of NNC with the singular desire to live together under one self-governed administrative structure. The political boundaries that fragmented the Nagas were imposed on us well after the Nagas had expressed our political desires. While it is only natural that the seed of Naga Nationalism should germinate somewhere, it has been firmly founded on the principle that Nagas are one people, that the struggle is for all the Nagas and all our land. It is saddening to see that the political acumen of some sections of Naga People is confined by imposed political boundaries within the state of Nagaland. We deplore the emergence of certain state-centric, regionally and tribally influenced interests in the negotiations. No section of the Naga people, tribal or regional, can claim exclusivity or precedence in the struggle and therefore, any Settlement with the GOI must encompass all the Naga People within the Indian State.
After all, what is the asking price for a fallen martyr? Or an orphan or a widow? What is the going rate for a village burnt or a Naga tortured and raped? While economic development is desirable, let us not be absurd as to actually think that it is the cure-all to all aspirations and desires. The Decades-long struggle of the Naga People for self-determination cannot be quantified in monetary terms nor relegated to mere economic package, rehabilitation program and influential-positions for leaders post-settlement. Just as there were demands of NSCN (I-M) for transparency in their negotiations, we are duty-bound as Nagas to demand of the NNPGs to make public their charter of demand.
To the GOI, we caution not to impose another 16 point Agreement or Shillong Accord upon the Nagas by signing an Agreement with the group that is more pliable or acquiescent with the wishes of GOI. It would only serve to further prolong the protracted issue and result in more killings and hatred between the GOI and Nagas as well as internecine conflict among the Naga People. We re-iterate the absolute importance of universal and democratic representation of all stakeholders in the consultation process without being selective or limiting the exercise by regional, tribal and political considerations.
For any settlement to be final and sustained there has to be some form of restoration of honour and dignity. To this end, we urge the GOI that given the unique history and situation of the Nagas, we be allowed to adopt our own flag and constitution as tangible symbols of Naga People and that a mutually agreed upon arrangement towards the demand for integration of Naga people be arrived at. This is a splendid time to bring a long-awaited closure to the Indo-Naga conflict and we must not let this providential opportunity slip us by with some stop-gap arrangement for short-term respite.
