By Oken Jeet Sandham
The upcoming talks between Center’s interlocutor RS Pandey and NSCN (IM) General Secretary Th Muivah at nation’s capital will not be that “feverish”.The euphoria of the Center-NSCN (IM) talks is fast shrinking without fresh ideas coming up. Although the outfit’s so-called 31-Point Proposal submitted to the Government of India is not yet officially made public, the Naga people are aware of many contents in it.
However, Convener of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell of the outfit, Maj Gen Phungthing Shimrang on Friday, while talking to media, disclosed some of the contents of the “Proposal.” He said a separate constitution, federal leadership, separate flag, army, exclusive access to mineral resources of the land were among others of the “Proposal.”
But the envoy of the collective leadership of the NSCN (K), Kughalu Mulatonu, claimed to have had a copy of the NSCN (IM)’s “Proposal” to India.
He, however, made it interesting revelation, which would rather have far-reaching consequences as the crucial Center-NSCN (IM) talk progresses.
According to him, Muivah had submitted a 32-Point Proposal to Government of India in 2003. The first 29 points were computer prints while the last three points were handwritten.
He further disclosed that the first of the three additional points indicated the Nagas in Myanmar would not be included in the ongoing talks while the next point was proposal for an International airport in Nagaland and the last one for a railway line from Dimapur to Tizit (Tizit is in Nagaland’s Mon district).
If the first of the three additional handwritten points is true, it will give a serious jolt to State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. Because he was generally seen by the general publics as propped up by NSCN (IM) and at the same time, he has been seen as a messiah for the wellbeing of the Naga brethren living in Myanmar. He had even met Myanmar Ambassador to India and planning to visit Yangon to exhibit his concern for their brethren living in Myanmar. Many political pundits take it as political, though sensitive.
Although the constitution of the Joint Parliamentary Working Group (JPWG) comprising of all members of 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly is remarkable, they are yet to come out with what type of role they would play in this crucial juncture, except resolving to strengthen the peace process by expending support to political negotiations; welcoming the renewed initiative of the Government of India in resuming talks at the highest level as well as appointing appropriate person as Interlocutor; urging the negotiating parties, as usual, to listen to the voice of the people and expedite the talks taking all factions into confidence in order to bring a negotiated settlement which is honorable and acceptable to the people; appreciating the selfless sacrifices of national workers, while urging all sections to refrain from fratricidal killings to work towards a common understanding and forge unity to bring about a common Naga voice; and mentioning they would continue working towards forging unity, understanding, oneness among Nagas and to carry the voice of the negotiating parties of the ongoing Indo-Naga political dialogue.
If one looks at the above points made by JPWC, it looks like a statement made by any Naga civil society. It appears that there is a confusion among the legislators as the Center-NSCN (IM) is expediting their negotiated talks.
Former Nagaland Chief Minister Dr SC Jamir’s remark on the current political confusion could be a pointer as he clearly stated that Nagas were standing on the shadowy borderland of “political confusion.” He said the Naga people were caught in between yester-year politics and the contemporary politics.
Dr Jamir pointed out that while the Government of India had made it amply clear that “sovereignty and integration is not possible,” the parliamentarians have to analyze the contents of these two statements made by the Center. This veteran Naga politician, who was one of the signatories of the famous 16-Point Agreement of 1960, asserted that the Naga people had to be political realistic, broad minded, so that they could help find an honorable settlement. “Whether an honorable settlement will be better governance or bed of thorns…it will entirely depend on the political wisdom of the Naga people,” he said.
And it will be a political chaos, if the Center suddenly turns its table to the Naga parliamentarians for their opinion before inking any political agreement with the parties concerned. As of now, the present Naga parliamentarians in Nagaland cannot spell out their clear-cut agenda.
via - Asian Tribune -