GoI needs to come clean
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: November 22 2011 -

The map of Nagalim says it all and demand for Naga integration :: Pix - TSE

The reported offer of 'Supra State Body' to the NSCN-IM as a Christmas gift to the Nagas from the central government as the second best option as against the proposal of integration of Naga inhabited areas under one administrative body as a final solution to the ongoing peace talk between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India, expectedly generated much heat in this region.

The three states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur which would be affected by such an arrangement immediately lodged their opposition.

The Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi reaffirmed his government's stand not to accept any proposal which would be inimical to the state's interest including its territorial integrity and for good measure he also added that creating special bodies like the 'Supra State' would rather than solving the problem only accentuate it.

Other political parties based in Assam, the AGP, BJP and organizations like the ASSU and the Asom Jatiyabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad made clear their intent to resist the move tooth and nail.

Likewise in Arunachal Pradesh senior minister and representative of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union voiced their strong opposition. Clearly there is a lot of opposition to the idea of a 'Supra State'.

Here in Manipur, the state government came under the great pressure from practically all the parties active in the state, various civil society organizations to seek clarification from the centre.

Consequently, the Chief Minster rushed to Delhi met the Home Minister P Chidambaram and briefed about the 'Seven Sisters Post' report and sought a clarification. It is reported that when the Home Minister saw the press clippings, he expressed his surprise.

We are at a loss as to how the Home Minister of the country can be taken by surprise about the whole affair. How can it escape the notice of various agencies operating in the region under the Home Ministry and in case it hasn't how come the minister in charge was not briefed about it as also about its impact on the region.

And if the news story had been brought to the notice of the Home Minister, why wasn't a clarification forthcoming either from him directly or one of the officials of his ministry.

The whole episode raises quite a few questions.

There is a distinct sense here of the centre trying to downplay the move for a 'Supra State body' gauging the resistance in the three affected state. Subsequent developments strengthen such a reading. The Home Minister denied offering 'Supra State Body' to the Nagas in his meeting with the Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi.

The Seven Sisters Post rejected this denial outright; charging the Home minister of not telling the truth and in support of this assertion put part of the documents in its possession in public domain.

The Documents clearly show that Government of India putting up a counter proposal of a 'Supra State Body' for the Nagas for their cultural, social and customary practices against the NSCN-IM of integration of parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur to form a Greater Nagaland or 'Nagalim' which according to the report, the Government of India explained may not be feasible given the lack of political consensus among the states concerned.

Though technically, it can be said that the two sides have not inked an agreement on this offer to make it official and also that we have no knowledge of the NSCN-IM view on such a proposal, but there is no denying that such an offer is indeed on the table.

But why is the government of India fighting shy of admitting that such an offer has been made now that it has come out in the open.

While accepting the fact that the negotiations on between the two parties are of a very delicate nature and needs to be conducted away from the prying eyes and ears to shield the parties from unavoidable distraction, it is also to be accepted that any solutions arrived at, if it is going to have an impact on other parties not directly involved in the talks, they too need to be taken into confidence.