[dropcap]V[/dropcap]ery soon the formal talks with the Government of India will begin at the highest level and we are hopeful of the outcome of the talks. “
A well placed source from the NSCN-IM is on record stating this to a news agency. The same source also attributed that the last bit of substantial development on the Naga peace process occurred with the NDA government under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee .
Preparations and consultations among the NSCN-IM leaders are also apparently underway in New Delhi for the ‘formal and crucial talks’ which are expected to be conducted soon. News that the NSCN-IM leaders namely, V.S Atem, AK Lungalang, TT Among, Victor Angami, Imcha Longkumer and Qhevihe Chisi Swu are already in Delhi to join Isak Swu and Th Muivah for the meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home minister Rajnath Singh and other central leaders, have been doing the rounds as well.
In fact NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chisi Swu and the outfit’s general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah left Dimapur for New Delhi on May 13 for the peace talks, after camping in Nagaland since March 9, 2014.Perhaps one of the reasons why Nagas are pregnant with hope of some positive development is because talks on the Naga political issue follow the signing of the Lenten Agreement. The formation of the Naga National Government also features prominently in the “Lenten Agreement”. In fact the NNG is the ‘ Naga Concordant’ signed a few years ago and in the March 28th meeting, the Naga underground groups FGN/NNC and NSCN- KK agreed in principle to the formation of the NNG.
The Forum for Naga Reconciliation who brokered this peace document between the NSCN (IM) with the FGN/NNC and NSCN-Khole/Kitovi group, even likened it to the Magna Carta. The Lenten Agreement was developed and arrived at during the two months that the collective leadership was camped in Nagaland before their departure for New Delhi in May.
What is inexplicable is that along with the sense of hope that the Naga issue will finally receive and the the attention that it deserves there is also a heavy air of cynicism, especially amongst the youth.
This particularly amongst those in the age group of 20’s and in their early 30’s. This is the section of the population with high ambitions and driven with the desire to change their circumstances.
Cynicism also stems from the complete void in the public space of what is in store for the public and the Gen Next group in the event of a “change of guard (for lack of a better word) What does the Naga National Government have in store for the future Naga, is a common refrain. The argument being that all that the Naga struggle achieved and gave also to the world is deep divisive factional politics and tribalism. Can such a divided body give birth to an entity that demands liberty, freedom and democracy for all under its wing? Forming a government and governing are opposite ends of a pole as any politician will tell you.
In the case of the NSCN (IM) leadership, one of the challenges and surviving criticism is that in its talks with the government of India it has been not successfully accommodated the concerns and issues of other factions. This has not changed.
Another area of concern is how will leaders who have annihilated those who have opposed their ideologies now transform themselves to embrace democracy? At the same time, neither have the NPG’s kept themselves away from politicians who seek their assistance in electoral fortunes that are gambled every five years.
Therefore while the palpable mood in Nagaland is one of high expectancy it is at the same time tinged with cautious optimism and the knowledge that “haste makes waste”.
All the more reason why the BJP led NDA government must also take into account the views of civil society and organizations which have been shepherding the peace process in the state. When the time comes to address how best Nagas can emerge to be their true selves and finally break free from the shadows of a bloody past, will there be any Nagas left standing?
