Will Not the Final Political Settlement Under Framework be a Blunder?

Prior to the advent of the British expedition to part of the Naga hills, the Nagas had a life of independence in their respective villages though disorganised. The Nagas were therefore not the subjects to any known sovereign nation till those villages were brought under the administrative control of the British, headquartered at Kohima. Having associated with the British and through the exposures to outside world in due course of time, the first enlightened Naga leaders realized the historical rights of the Nagas to be sovereign. The awareness of Naga sovereignty was intensified and Naga unity was solidified under the leadership of AZ Phizo on his becoming the President of NNC.

Had the Naga political destiny being the Statehood, the Naga National Movement under NNC would have been nabbed in the bud in early 60s when Nagaland was created as a State out of 16-Points Memorandum. Yet, Nagas are destined by God to be a sovereign nation and thus the political movement survived even under the onslaught of the Indian army during the long drawn conflict.

A social activist once told me that a popular anthropologist told him that the Nagas are the linkman, and this has logic. The Mongoloid stock Nagas were placed in a strategic location between the great India and the north and south-east Asia nations. The Nagas, by race, are not Indians from every aspect of life and yet the majority Nagas are Indians by nationhood, so also the relationship. Whereas, by race we are closer to people in south-east Asia nations. During winter last year, a Japanese preacher came to preach to fellow Naga Christians at Kohima. He drew the comparison of similarities between Nagas and Japanese on two aspects. He said any Naga or Japanese child when born will have greenish patch at the lower back or buttock. Secondly, both Nagas and Japanese carry their child on the back unlike others carry so in the front like kangaroos do. Perhaps, for a good purpose God has chosen Nagas to be His witnesses in the midst of Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims. To be the linkage and to spread the gospel amongst the complex and heterogeneous races in this part of the world. I believe Nagas were chosen by God some 144 years ago through American Baptist missionary E.W. Clark, his wife and the evangelist Godhula.

I personally do not believe that Naga sovereignty can be achieved out of war. What I believe is that Nagas do not need Naga army with destructive weapons for conflict or for defence. What I also believe is that Nagas are required to do two things: one is to have unity and the other is to send not only 10000 missionaries but much more. And we leave the issue of Naga sovereignty to God like Joshua who depended on God for conquering Jericho, and when we humble ourselves before God what is not possible with Him.

Nevertheless, Nagas are tired of housing, feeding and tolerating unpatriotic activities of groups of fighters for Naga Independence. The Nagas are totally fed up with divisions and we are overburdened. At this rate, there will be no respite to the woes of common man. Neither will there be any group bring Independence despite of the immense sacrifices made by the Nagas for it. The Nagas therefore need recess. The Nagas are desperate to have quiet time without being pestered by parasites. The answer to this may be the interim arrangement approved by all stakeholders and without closing the self determination chapter.

So far Naga Integration is concerned, it is permissible under Art 3 & 4 of the Constitution of India. For instance, Nagaland was created under this provision out of Assam and so also Chhattisgarh, Uttar Khan and Jharkhand and all were created out of its parent States under the clauses (b) & (d) of Art 3.

Reiterating what was written earlier, NSCN(IM) cannot be blamed for not achieving Naga Independence. Not only this group but any other NNPG cannot do it in isolation because a faction cannot win sovereignty. Any group claiming to fight for Naga independence is indeed futile, because if NSCN(IM) fails to get it, the other group will also face the same fate. There is no option except that Nagas come together as one.

In view of just the above, I would not have been critical with NSCN(IM), had this group been frank with the Nagas as for the ongoing negotiation. Had the group been honest with the Nagas that Sovereignty and Integration are not grantable by India, who is there to accuse, to undermine, to misunderstand and to force them to do what is not practical. Magnanimity and admission of ground realities would have been the panacea. Open heartedness would have united the Nagas without special mediation. Unfortunately, NSCN(IM) is hell bend to have solo solution with articulated misinterpretations on what is sovereignty. Such interpretation is acceptable to NSCN(IM) and its supporters but not to the rest for the fact that that kind of sovereignty will not be recognized by other nations.

Coming to my headline, whatever is the status of agreement under the 3rd August 2015 Framework, it will be under the Constitution of India. The agreement will therefore be inconclusive as it cannot become conclusive without Naga sovereignty. It will therefore be interim in nature and not final. In September 2015, a Naga scholar in a small gathering, advised that the word ‘Final’ should not be used in the agreement of NSCN(IM) and GOI. This has logic. I, as an individual, support this that so much of Naga lives and properties have been sacrificed not for a settlement under the Constitution of India. Not getting the desired target can be understandable but to nail the political issue in the coffin of Indian Constitution will be considered as national crime and betrayal. Therefore, if at all the proposed settlement of NSCN(IM) with GOI under the prevailing trend of Framework is to be concluded as ‘Final’ to the political aspiration of the Nagas, it will be a blunder.

Z. Lohe