So near, yet so far
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: October 27, 2012 -

After a week of their arrival and cooling their heels at the Camp Hebron, NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Thuingalang Muivah have finally set the ball rolling for what is being described as their 'home consultations' ahead of inking an ultimate agreement with the Government of India towards bringing about an honourable, acceptable and workable solution to the decades old vexed Naga issue.

The first consultative meeting which was held at Camp Hebron yesterday (October 25) was said to have been only for the outfit and participated by its top leaders who endorse the August 14 stand of the outfit which says that before signing any agreement with New Delhi, the leaders of the outfit would come back to the Naga people for consultation.

In his speech on the occasion of 66th Naga Independence Day celebration on August 14, 2012, 'Yaruiwo' Isak Chishi Swu had categorically assured the Naga people that 'in the event of an impending final negotiated political solution between the Government of India and the NSCN, we will come to you'.

So, the landing of chairman Swu and general secretary Muivah at Camp Hebron on October 18 from New Delhi after months of camping at the national capital and the recent comment of Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on settlement of the issue ahead of the Assembly election in Nagaland due in March next year, is indeed pregnant with meaning.

With the ball already set rolling, the 'home consultations' with other Naga frontal organizations are expected to pick up speed within the next few days.

However, along with rising speculation over the possible settlement of the vexed Naga issue, new complexities in the form of other remaining Naga outfits asserting their respective stands have come to raise some serious posers on the so-called Naga political solution.

While the NSCN faction led by Khole and Kitovi had already alerted the Government of India that signing of agreement with only one Naga outfit would create further problem, other NSCN faction led by SS Khaplang has consistently stated that it could never a part of the NSCN (IM) solution.

In its latest tirade against NSCN (IM), Wangtin Naga, who is the kilonser (minister) in-charge of public relations and NGOs of NSCN (K) is quoted to have said, "We are hell-bent against the NSCN-IM solution" and "there can never be a meeting point between NSCN (IM) and NSCN-K".

Understandably, such contrasting stand-points must have been causing jitters among the Naga frontal organizations that have been working hard to bring together all the Naga outfits to a meeting point before the would-be Naga settlement is inked.

Compounding to the problem is the intermittent gun fights among the Naga outfits, especially between NSCN (IM) on one side and the combined force of NSCN (K) and ZUF on the other side.

So, contrary to the allegation of meddling in Naga issue by some organizations from 'outside', any possible derailment to Naga peace process in likely to come from within and not outside.

Let that be clear to all whom it may concern. Period.