AA : A case of 'Tails I Win, Heads You Lose' :: Secrecy not confidentiality
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: February 12, 2013 -

Secrecy or confidentiality ? The need to differentiate between these two terms is important in the backdrop of the series of talks that have been proceeding.

Fifth round of talk, involving the Centre, the State Government and the United Naga Council on the demand for an Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur, outside the Government of Manipur and pending a settlement to the Indo-NSCN (IM) talks, and yet no one seems to know what this Alternative Arrangement is all about.

It certainly cannot be about confidentiality, the unspoken and unwritten code but which nevertheless is the basis for any interactions or talks or negotiations held between two or three parties.

Confidentiality is about the trust and confidence between two or three separate entities in their ongoing collaboration of quest for anything. Ethics bound this confidentiality.

Nothing to suggest that it is confidentiality which has kept the people under a state of concern and uncertainty over the talks held on the premise of the said Alternative Arrangement.

Of the three parties involved, only the United Naga Council has been succinct in its stand.

An alternative administrative arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur by severing all ties or relationship with the State Government, pending a final settlement to the peace talks between the Centre and the NSCN (IM).

Characteristically Delhi has been maintaining a stoic silence, perhaps adopting the line, 'Silence is Golden.'

On the other hand, the State Government has been taking cover under lines such as 'We are just facilitators' and the talk is to be held 'At the official level' and not at the 'Political level'.

The State Government has never fallen short of 'cleverly' juggling with words.

Perhaps the most significant statement or stand that has come from the State Government is the announcement by Chief Minister O Ibobi that his Government cannot accept the demand for an Alternative Arrangement.

Sounds good, especially when he is playing to the gallery. It would however have carried much substance and made much better sense if the Chief Minister had the political conviction to spell out what exactly the demand for an Alternative Arrangement is and then stated his stand.

How are the people supposed to take to his 'No AA' pronouncement when it has not been spelt out in clear cut terms.

The UNC may say that the demand has been put before Delhi and not Imphal, but the stakeholders here are the people of Manipur and not only the Centre or Imphal.

It is against this backdrop that the fifth round of talks will be held at Senapati today.

Under an air of uncertainty, created by the veil of secrecy and such an approach to an issue which involves the interest of everyone is not what any politically conscious leader or people would advocate.

With the Kuki State Demand Committee and by extension, the Kuki armed groups, which are signatories to the Suspension of Operation pact, marking their own territory, how can an Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur be chalked out ?

How about the Meiteis, who constitute the majority population but cannot settle in the hills, which constitute about 90 pc of the total territory of Manipur.

The demand for AA falls somewhere in the realm of 'Tails I win, Heads You Lose.'