All Nagas expressed a sigh of Relief at the Resolution the Changs and the Yimchungrüs arrived at in the Tripartite Meeting with the Commissioner Nagaland on April 8 at Kohima, for the settlement of the long standing Land dispute at “Yakur and Chendang Village Areas.
They made 5 Resolutions but practically all the Issues are covered in 2 Ideas. They are:
1. There will be Regular Communication between CKS and YTC.
2. The Government will initiate Modalities for Settlement of the Land Dispute within 30 days.
A landmark decision has been reached; that is that, the Parties have agreed to meet face to face across the Table and find out a solution to the long standing land dispute.
This decision to meet face to face across the Table is the Key to the solution of the Dispute. It is a very difficult decision, and that this has been possible in the heat of the Trouble is a mark of the magnanimity in Nagas. The Nagas hunt Heads but they can also decide Head hunting Cases.
It is a precious character of the Nagas that they like candid solution after which there is no acrimony. The Naga usually has an amiable side in his character and they like others favor straightforward magnanimous dealing. It is necessary that Nagas do not lose this mark of candidness in their nature.
The Chang-Yimchungrü Meeting decided they would have “Regular Joint Meeting”.
It is not mentioned:
i. who will Convene the “Regular Joint Meeting” and
ii. who will Co-Ordinate the “Joint verification Team” .
These are however Issues that can easily be sorted out.
It is in the Interest of the Solution that a non-Chang and non-Yimchungrü Deputy Commissioner Tuensang functions as the Co-Coordinator of the Regular Joint Meeting; similarly a Superintendent of Police may be the Convener of the Joint verification Team.
The 30 days time given to the Government for working out the modalities for the Solution of the Land dispute in Question is too short. A long standing age old Case cannot be solved in just 30 days.
The Government may have to appoint a Reputable Commission headed preferably by a Retired Supreme Court Justice assisted by the Commissioner Nagaland. The preparation of the Government Modalities Commission, if constituted, will itself take some 30 days at the earliest. They must have time to go into all the details of the history of the Land and the Dispute. The Commissioner would have to attend to his normal day to day numerous duties also.
Therefore the time of 30 days given may have to be extended to at least some 14 to 18 months if not 24 Months in the next Regular Joint Meeting (RJM).
One thing is very clear and that is that the Government will never have any intension to take a partisan Stand. The Parties need never fear the Government would take one side.
My view is that the Government will not decide on the terms of the Changs nor on the terms of the Yimchungrüs, I hope the Government will make a brave decision for a lasting solution without fear or favor:
i. on the basis Give and Take,
ii. on the basis of the Ground Realities.
Every dispute must have an attitude of Give & Take for the solution. It is the Prayer of all Nagas that the Changs and the Yimchungrüs prove equal to the occasion.
