A confusing time

Morung Express Editorial

 

Is it a time to rejoice or fear? The signing of the ‘framework agreement’ between the NSCN-IM and Government of India, even before the content is made public, seems to have a polarizing effect. It resulted in a thanksgiving candlelight program in the southern Naga areas, scratching of heads in the north, a lot of speculations in between, and flexing of arms in the neighboring States. But, it sure is amusing that there should be a thanksgiving program before the content of the ‘agreement’ is even made public. It speaks of the general sentiment of the people in those areas. Meanwhile, in Nagaland, there were ‘no celebration or bursting of crackers, no banners or festoons to mark the occasion’, as reported by the Indian Express.

A lot of speculations are doing the rounds meanwhile as to the content of the agreement. Some speak of extension of Article 371A, forming Pan-Naga Council, while some talk of armed battalions for surrendered IM cadres, and so on and so forth. But it might be the case that the signatories themselves are not so sure how the agreement will be worked out it detail because it was perhaps just an agreement on some broad principles. NSCN-IM is said to have roped in Professors from Golden Gate University, San Francisco and Australian National University, and a Kenyan Academician to work the details with Government of India. But keeping the agreement a secret will only make it harder for the public to accept any ‘accord’ or solution arrived at. 

Do the negotiators have the people’s mandate? Speculations and rumors are not the way to go for bringing peace. The belligerent parties should be made to understand what is being reconciled. But the agreement was shrouded in secrecy and it caught both the Home Ministry of the government of India and the Nagas by surprise. The government of India’s willingness to talk only to those groups who are willing to talk makes it a poor peacemaker. The civil society doesn’t only means the few individuals who are holding the so-called apex bodies. The public should have been consulted. But if the leaders of the apex organizations are also expressing shock and surprise at the agreement, having the mandate of the people is out of the question.

 A coincidence which can fuel speculations is that the NLF consultative meeting at Jotsoma with various apex organizations was soon followed by the agreement signing in Delhi, then swiftly by the Chief Minister giving a clarion call to Nagas to not harbor negative feelings against Modi or Muivah. Is the State government playing the role of ‘John the Baptist’ paving the way for the ‘good news’ (framework agreement) and the role of the Apostle Paul in appealing to the Nagas to accept the agreement? But the difference here is that the ‘missionary’ does not know the content of the good news, and he asks the people to blindly believe. Or is it the case that some of the public leaders who expressed shock and surprise but are appealing to the public to accept the agreement knew all along the content of the agreement? Again, this is in the domain of speculation. The various tribal organizations’ agreement to the five points resolution of the NLF at Jotsoma cannot be taken as having the people’s mandate for what is being negotiated in Delhi. As the Sumi Hohos said, in a couple of hours they cannot decide and they should go back to the people.

Dr. Sao Tunyi works as an Epidemiologist at Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Kohima. Feedback can be sent to saotunni@yahoo.co.in, or visit his blog www.thatchhouse.blogspot.in