If attack is wrong, so is counter-attack: Zeliang - Nagaland CM fears hindrance in peace process

TT, 14 June, 2015: Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang is unhappy at the June 4 militant attack on soldiers in Manipur as well as the army retaliation against the rebels inside Myanmar, fearing that the spiral of violence will jeopardise the ongoing Naga peace process.

The Centre has been talking with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) while observing a truce with its rival, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), which watched from the sidelines.

According to government sources, Khaplang "unilaterally" ended the ceasefire in March and his cadres took part in the June 4 ambush that inflicted the worst loss of lives on the army in two decades.

Zeliang believes that the Centre should have consulted his Naga People's Front-led government before "accepting" the end of the ceasefire so that "the people" had a chance to speak to the group. Excerpts from an interview that Zeliang - who runs an "Opposition-less" government because all the groups in the 60-member Assembly have joined the ruling establishment - gave to The Telegraph's Umanand Jaiswal in Kohima:

Q: There has been no statement from you on the June 4 ambush and the subsequent attacks by India's army inside Myanmar....

A: Whether it's in Manipur or Assam or Nagaland, such an attack (by militants) is not welcomed by the people. Our fear is that any situation leading to fights between the underground (militants) and the army will sabotage the peace talks. We condemn such action. As for the army attack in Myanmar, it's between the Myanmarese and Indian governments. We are in the dark about it. But if the first attack is wrong, so is the counter-attack.

Q: Why do you think the NSCN(K) walked out of the ceasefire? Is it because the peace process, which began in 1997 with the NSCN (I-M) (the NSCN-K truce was signed in 2001), has turned out to be unending without any final outcome?

A: Before the government of India accepted the abrogation of the ceasefire, the Nagaland government should have been consulted. The people should have been given a chance to talk to the NSCN(K) on why it went for the abrogation.

We have told the Prime Minister and the (Union) home minister about this. All these unwanted situations have taken place because of the abrogation. The talks should also come to a conclusion.

Q: How long will the talks continue?

A: The state government's stand is that it should be resolved as soon as possible. To put pressure on the government of India, we have formed the Nagaland Legislators' Forum comprising 60 members of the Assembly. A committee will soon meet the Prime Minister. People want permanent peace, not only a ceasefire.

Q: Where has the Centre been lacking?

A: The role of the interlocutors is very important. They should closely work with the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) and work out a formula. It (the government) should not be talking indefinitely with the outfit.

To work out a formula, the interlocutor has to know the mind of the government of India --- that is, the PMO, the ministry of home affairs and even the President.

Q: Given the opportunity, how would you resolve the Naga problem?

A: The way ahead should be worked out even if it is outside the Constitution - the Constitution can be amended. When Nagaland was created, the Constitution was amended to provide special rights.

What is possible or not possible has to be discussed, which interlocutors in the past apparently did not do. But today, Ravi (former Intelligence Bureau special director R.N. Ravi, present interlocutor) has close links with the PMO. So we have high hopes that he will be able to come up with a formula.

Q: Don't you feel interlocutors from the Northeast would be better suited to the task?

A: There were suggestions in the past to nominate (former Lok Sabha Speaker) P.A. Sangma, but whosoever is appointed they should be positive because this freedom movement (in Nagaland) has been going on for more than 60 years now. It is one of the longest struggles for freedom in the world.

Q: Several militant outfits from the Northeast have joined hands to form the United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia, which is demanding sovereignty for the region.

A: If they are talking about the entire Northeast, why does the NSCN(I-M) not know about this? It is not all underground groups - it is some groups.

Q: What are your views on Nagalim (made up of Nagaland and parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, as demanded by the Isak-Muivah group)?

A: The demand of the Naga people is that they want sovereignty and total integration (of all Naga areas). If sovereignty is not possible, if total integration is not possible, what is possible? The government of India should come out with an offer so that the Naga people can decide whether the offer is acceptable.

When the inter-state boundaries were demarcated, people's consent was not taken. Demanding integration is a constitutional right of the Nagas. They became man-made minorities in these states....

Q: The Centre deals directly with insurgent groups, not the state...

A: The state is only a facilitator. It's okay. But once a formula is in place the state will get involved. If the formula is acceptable but the underground refuses what civil society thinks is a reasonable offer, their support base will start thinning....

Q: You are leading an Opposition-less government in Nagaland....

A: Yes. At this juncture, it is suitable to have a government without an Opposition. When (all) 60 members (of the Assembly) pass a resolution for an early solution, it reflects the 100 per cent desire of the people.

Q: Whenever there is talk about insurgency, people talk about the lack of development. And yet all we get to hear in Nagaland is about the "Naga political problem"....

A: The political problem and development are inter-linked. It is because of the freedom movement that Naga people could not progress. A solution is one thing but development should continue side by side.

See, the Chinese have border disputes with eight countries but they have well- developed borders. Their border is protected. But that is not the case with India. When there is a problem, we will drop people by choppers. Once the operation ends, our people cannot go near the border.

We have told the DoNER (Development of the Northeast Region) minister to build roads to the border and to ask Myanmar to develop (roads in) their part (of the border region). When the two countries are properly connected, where will there be room for insurgents to hide in border areas?

Q: The NSCN(I-M) runs a parallel government in Nagaland and they also collect "tax"....

A: We are asking the people to pay tax to the government, not illegal tax. But when the undergrounds are in a ceasefire with the government of India, they have designated camps. And the government of Nagaland is not paying a single paisa, the government of India is not paying anything - they are bound to collect tax from the people for their survival.

They don't want any rehabilitation package as they feel it will compromise their situation. People pay out of fear. That is why an early solution is a must.

Q: Your take on a "Nagaland for Christ", as propagated by the NSCN(I-M)?

A: Almost 95 per cent of the population in the state is Christian. It's a Christian state. From Christian state, it has come to be "Nagaland for Christ". So Nagaland is for Christ. In Christian spirit we should stop killing. If you commit murder, your sins will not be forgiven.