Tribuneindia... Interview

Interview

Sunday, June 27, 1999

We carry two interviews this week. Both of them focus on Nagaland.

"I want to see the Nagas happy, prosperous" says Nagaland's Governor O P . Sharma, a note which finds an echo in what the two most powerful legendary leaders of the underground Naga movement, Theuengaling Muivah, general secretary, and Isak Chishi Swu, chairman of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), say: "Now is the time for peace, not war"

"I want to see the Nagas happy, prosperous"

NAGALAND'S Governor Om Parkash Sharma is new to this rugged north-eastern state. Before assuming this constitutional assignment which is more than figurehead position, he had held a senior assignment in the Intelligence Bureau and knows the rough and tough terrain quite well. Sharma has scaled most of the north-east peaks, being an enthusiastic mountaineer and a photographer. His personal rapport and concern for peace with most tribal leaders has earned him good respect, which could be useful in any serious future parleys with Naga rebels.

Sharma was in the thick of the battle in Punjab for nine long years — 1988 to 1996 — both as intelligence chief and a senior police officer responsible for many a daring operation. When he came to Punjab in 1988, terrorism was at its peak. He had a crucial role to play in combating it. After he retired from Punjab as Director-General of Police, he was appointed as Governor, Nagaland, in November, 1996, when that north-eastern state was in the grip of insurgency. Sharma shared some of his perceptions on certain issues relating to the Nagaland situation with The Tribune in an interview. Excerpts:

How do you see the situation in Nagaland?

The strongest desire of the people of Nagaland has been for peace. Quite a few right-minded organisations have been working for it. People are very happy to experience the spell of peace since the ceasefire agreement was arrived at between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) in August, 1997. They are keen to make it permanent. They have been urging all the three factions of Nagas to sink their differences and unite in the interest of peace.

Are extortions and tax collections by Naga rebels not rampant?

People are quite concerned about this unfortunate aspect. A lot of criminals have also joined the fray. This affects the general sentiment and discourages investment and commercial activity. This is violative of the norms of a civilised society. All sections of society have condemned it and even organised public demonstrations against it. Tribal organisations and even underground organisations have helped in solving major crimes, including cases of bank dacoity, fraud and robbery. The police and security forces have taken initiatives to tackle the menace.

Do you see an end to the Naga problem?

I am quite optimistic about it. People are quite optimistic about it and working for stable peace. This is our major strength. Never before were people as united as they are now to end confrontation in the interest of Nagaland and the future generation. All major tribes have, in recent times, adopted formal resolutions urging all factions underground to shun violence and crime, and unite to work for a political settlement with the Government of India.

Are the underground factions working as a parallel government?

There is only one government. The one that was formed after the elections of February, 1998.

What objectives do you have before you as a Governor of one of the most sensitive states?

I am committed to the wellbeing of the people. Under the Constitution, maintenance of law and order in the state is my special concern. It is our endeavour to move on the path of economic self-sufficiency. The state has to generate internal resources and create job opportunities for the youth. Unless this happens, restoration of normalcy in the state is going to be an illusionary pursuit. We find a lot of unemployed youth taking to deviant behaviour and adding to social disharmony and problems of law and order. Environmental degradation over the years has led to depletion of natural resources of the state. I am quite keen to restore and preserve the rich biodiversity of the state. Massive illegal influx of foreigners, mainly Bangladeshis, has placed a huge burden on the limited resources of the state. This is going to pose a serious problem in not so distant a future. We have to meet this challenge before it is too late.

How did you find your experience in Nagaland after your eventful stay in Punjab?

I am not a novice as far as the North-East is concerned. My contacts with the people of this region are spread over three decades. I consider it my great fortune and a blessing to have the opportunity of serving the people, whom I admire and love so much, in my present capacity. A lot is to be done for the people of the state in terms of improving their living conditions, health, education and general economic well-being. I have toured extensively to the remotest areas and tried to understand their problems and help them out. The Nagas as a group are a sensitive and sensible people. They have deep social commitments. It has been a very rich and rewarding experience for me to work among them. It is my sincere wish to see the people prosperous and happy. I fervently hope that they would soon witness the fulfilment of their dream of the return of peace and harmony to Nagaland.

"Now is the time for peace, not war"

NEULAND, 32 km from Nagaland’s commercial but corrupted hub, Dimapur, is a village with just a few loghuts and one community centre. It was once situated among thick sal forests, but the area is no more lush green, thanks to massive deforestation. Due to the dense foliage some years ago, Dimapur has been a witness to guerrilla warfare that has plagued the land for the last five decades. While there is not much let-up in the fight and this area is practically controlled by the Naga army of rebels, there are no forests of the old times. The Indian security forces also exercise their kind of control. It is here that the two most powerful legendary leaders of the underground Naga movement — Isak and Muivah — who have brokered a ceasefire with the government, met Gobind Thukral recently and talked to him in an exclusive interview.

Theuengaling Muivah, general secretary, and Isak Chishi Swu, chairman of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), have been in the thick of the fight for 40 long years. It was their first open meeting, courtesy the government. Some say that they have come to Nagaland after 33 long years. But the fact is that they have quietly been around a number of times, crossing either from Bangladesh or Myanmar from Bangkok, their temporary headquarters. Their philosophy is a strange mix of Marxism and Christianity. Over 80 per cent of the people in Nagaland are Christians. Muivah, once the right hand man of the famous Naga leader Zapu Phizo, has travelled wide for the last 30 years and is a perfect organiser. The China front was opened by him in the mid sixties. He walked over 1,000 km for three months to meet the Chinese leadership in January, 1967, and reached Yunan along with Keyho, the Naga army commander at that time. And since then the Chinese have remained their mentors. However, following improvement in Sino-Indo ties, they don’t expect much help or sympathy from the Chinese. Excerpts.

How do you read the situation?

Now is the time to rise from the cocoon of tribalism and march forward. Now is the time to lift the nation from the pit of shame and humiliation to freedom and righteousness. Now is the time for negotiations and not confrontation, for peace and not of war.

What is the purpose of your visit to Nagaland?

We are here amongst our own people for whose freedom we have been fighting. We want all Nagas to unite and collectively struggle. And we want each Naga in the ongoing dialogue with the Government of India. We want to convince the people about a negotiated settlement of the Naga political problem. We have to take forward the Indo-Naga peace process. We have to make concerted efforts through open discussions on the ongoing peace process. We have turned the guerrilla warfare into a mass movement. This is now a crucial phase.

What is your position now on the question of sovereignty ?

Sovereignty is non-negotiable. We are talking to the Government of India at the highest level and on all issues involved.

The Government of India and its negotiators have clearly stated that Nagaland would remain a part of India, and there was no question of a sovereign Naga country separate from India. All talk has to be within the framework of the Constitution.

The talks are going on and there are no pre-conditions except that these would be held outside India and at the highest level. We have met four prime ministers in five years and now, due to the uncertain political situation in Delhi and quick change of guard, there is some delay. But we are positive about the talks.

There is large-scale extortion going on in Nagaland. Fratricidal killings are common. Besides, various Naga tribes are not united. How would you solve these problems?

We are concerned about extortions and have issued strict instructions. But we need funds to run the movement. The tax collection cannot be stopped. We condemn fratricidal killings. We want all Nagas to be at peace with each other.

But many other Naga organisations like the NSCN (Kahplang), Naga Hoho and several federal government groups are all opposed to your group. Naga society is deeply divided. Your comments?

These leaders are spent forces and do not count now. They are reactionaries and traitors and stand condemned before the people. All Naga people are with us.

You have granted some kind of amnesty to the Nagas opposed to you. What is the purpose?

We want these people to realise that unity is must and we are prepared to accommodate these people. This general amnesty is for those who are in different camps and now wish to unite. We want to give everyone a chance. The Nagas are their own masters. If they want freedom, no one can deny them, neither Government of India, nor the United Nations. We believe in people. We believe in democracy. We do not want to impose any decision. Let the people decide about the content of the dialogue.