Guwahati, Jan. 7: When a KLM flight from Amsterdam carrying Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah — the two leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) — touches down at the Indira Gandhi international airport in New Delhi tomorrow, it will be the cynosure of all eyes in Nagaland. The reason for this is the belief that the negotiations will be a “giant leap forward for the talks but a small step towards the Naga cause”.
The meeting between the NSCN (I-M) leaders and the Prime Minister would set the tone for future parleys, but it would be too early to assume that a final solution of the over-50-year-old problem will be found immediately, cautioned observers in the state and outside.
Nagaland chief minister S.C. Jamir has asked the people not to expect that an “instant solution” to the Naga political problem would emerge from the proposed talks.
The caution is understandable, given the complexity of the problem. The divisions among the Naga militants and the contentious issue of integrating contiguous Naga areas remain the two most difficult hurdles to overcome.
“The single largest dilemma before the present negotiating parties, and any future ones, will revolve round the issue of Naga integration,” said Charles Chasie, author of the book Naga Imbroglio.
Given the mood in neighbouring states, particularly Manipur, it would not be easy for the Centre to give any commitment without evolving a consensus on the issue. It would be equally difficult for the NSCN (I-M) to give up the demand for the integration of all the Naga-inhabited areas. The NSCN (I-M)’s official stand on the matter was that “we are not asking for anyone’s land; it is our land and we are asking that it should be returned to us.”
The fissures among the Naga militant groups have only added to the note of caution. The revenue “minister” of the Khaplang faction of the NSCN, Zueluolie Angami, in a statement yesterday warned any attempt to reach a solution to the Naga problem without unifying the warring militants would be futile.
Jamir also admitted there could be no permanent solution to the problem unless all sections of the Nagas are directly involved in the peace process.
But then, as a spokesman of the Nagaland unit of the BJP, Ato Yepthomi, who has rushed to New Delhi to meet the NSCN (I-M) leaders, pointed out: “If there was no hurdle, then there would have been no need for any attempt to find a solution.”
Yepthomi’s contention was echoed by a senior Naga Hoho leader, Hekhevi Achumi. “Yes, we are not expecting miracles to happen. We do not expect that a few rounds of talks inside air-conditioned rooms in New Delhi will settle the long-drawn problem. But we do hope that the warmth inside the room would be reflected in the ground situation,” he told The Telegraph from Dimapur.