NISHIT DHOLABHAI
New Delhi, Jan 20 : A recalcitrant NSCN (Isak-Muivah) and a Centre wanting to call the shots in the Northeast are in a face-off that has threatened to disturb a hard-won peace process in Nagaland.
The trigger was an incident on January 10 when two foreign religious workers involved in the reconciliation process between warring Naga rebel groups were sent back from the Indira Gandhi International Airport here.
The Centre feels the reconciliation exercise could mean the groups may unite and hard-bargain with the government.
Andrew Clarke, a Quaker encouraging the reconciliation process, was sent back from the airport. His associate, Jan Arreins, a former Dutch diplomat, also had to go back after landing on a London-New Delhi flight.
Quakers are a Christian religious group popularly known “Friends” with a sizeable number in Britain. Their Peace and Social Witness Naga Conciliation Group regularly visits Nagaland to participate in work of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation to reconcile the NSCN (I-M) and the NSCN (Khaplang) groups.
The Forum for Naga Reconciliation is essentially an initiative of religious leaders and civil society groups to end conflict among the militant groups. The government does not trust the exercises, suspecting the developments to be manipulated by the NSCN.
Therefore, while foreign missionaries and NGO workers may call themselves peacemakers, the government sees in them troublemakers.
Naga Hoho leader Neingulo Krome felt the Centre talked peace but when peacemakers came, they were sent back.
Last week, NSCN leaders Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chishi Swu obstinately waited for eight hours on the roadside, waiting for the Centre to let them visit Zunheboto.
Personnel of the Assam Rifles, CRPF and the army’s 3 Corps are spread out across the state that day and local sources said the picketing continues in Ura village near Dimapur. The government argued since the district is also a battle theatre between NSCN (Khaplang) and NSCN (Khole-Kitovi), there was danger to Muivah and Swu.
They were not allowed to visit the district, triggering a successful bandh call by the outfit last Tuesday.
The Centre’s idea is clear.
“There are ground rules to be followed and if you are claiming political rights then act politically, not on basis of threat,” said a senior government official. Whatever be the reason, the incidents showed the eroding trust on both sides.