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The
yearning for peace has been a distinguishing
characteristic of the human race since the
beginning of recorded history. And yet the
vestige of man’s other nature, that of
conflict and struggle, remain strong. We
have learned a great deal about life, but
pitifully little about how to live with each
other. We continue to hate and fear and
fight with one another. Thus, even as we
stand on the verge of a brave integrated
land for all people of Manipur, we are also
standing on the principle of a tumultuous
day for us all. We have seen and experienced
past incidents which are always fresh in
minds and yet to be settled for all of us,
good coupled with peaceful living in the
spirit of co-existence.
The valley and hill peoples have much in
common. The values of humanity in Manipur
have been sailing rough and smooth
throughout its history. The valley people
have always been in the saddle and are in
the same seat till this day. Today, we glare
at each other with an intensity of suspicion
that must be understood if we are to join
hands with mankind in an earnest search for
peace.
For the sake of that understanding it is
vital to address the fundamental differences
between Nagas and other communities: but
with determination that the differences
should be hammered out by effective
application of ideas and not by guns or
soldiers or violent means.
Democracy, with its spiritual roots in the
religious principles of human brotherhood,
is based on the importance of the
individual. On this principle other
communities have got no right to exercise
hegemony over the Nagas and vice versa. We
have seen the big global changes in the
past.
To mention an aspect, the system of the
Meiteis, with its belief in Brahmanism,
Sanamahi etc. are based on orthodox values
and with their views and concepts on history
justifying the subordination of the hill
people should be done away with. Meiteis
have advanced much in almost all fields
beyond the pursuit of the hill people. It is
a strong and contentious issue of the Nagas
of Manipur. We cannot remain dormant and
become silent spectators while others are
progressing fast and well at their own sweet
will. This is the crux of the problem for
the people.
These differences are fundamental. But they
do not justify war or fighting and any
violent activities. We must find a
satisfactory way of living with one another
in peace. Peace is priceless and the wise
bought it with sanity.
Pointing accusing finger at each other will
bring us no good. Nagas understood that the
welfare of all of us depends upon our
striving for ‘one world order' even though
ours is a speckle in global context.
Affirming the 'right of all peoples to
choose the form of Government under which
they will live', Nagas have the right to
form a Government in 'one order'. There are
forces trying to shatter the hopes of the
Nagas in finding a peaceful solution that
will usher in harmony for all of us in the
North-East and
India
as well. Peace has no boundary and peace
talks are not off-limits to anyone. We need
truth and the truth shall make us free.
Stalin once wrote that "good words are
a mask for the concealment of bad
deeds". Will anyone condemn me if this
writer mention and quote the words 'Subject
to...' in framing rules/laws for the hill
people by Manipur Administration? Are we to
live forever in Manipur, ' Subject to...'?
God forbids. About 0.05% Nagas lives in
Imphal. They are not pawns.
The slogan of the Meiteis, "Chingtam
amatani, Apunbana Pangganni, Manipur Kaiba
Yaroi" etc., all under the aegis of
territorial integrity of Manipur seem to be
a sham since we (Nagas) do not see nor
perceive any tangible attitude of changes in
the administration as the mentality and
ideology of the valley people remains
stagnant. Till today, we see no light at the
end of the tunnel. Our oneness, unity and
united we stand all seem to have the color
of chameleon. The glory of Imphal is Manipur
and thus the slogans.
Within this context, the Nagas have
witnessed many events and are observing the
call by valley organisations for
conferences, protests, agitations in various
forms for the integrity of Manipur. All this
forms of actions are directed against the
peace-talks and trying to convince
New
Delhi
to exclude Naga areas in Manipur, but it is
unacceptable to the Nagas. At this juncture,
peace process is a complicated idea. It is
the supreme purpose of statesmanship. In our
limited sense it is the absence of fighting
and that in itself is a cherished goal. To
use the rhetoric of peace, harmonious living
of all communities is good words and they
are to be translated into good deeds. We
wait for the deeds not the words.
Nagas look at the Center realistically. We
do not work to undermine the security and
welfare of any community. We wish to join
all communities as partners in a genuine and
joint effort to achieve security and
co-operation among us all. But one cannot
permit anyone to propagate its faith by
violent means and methods.
No State has special rights. All States, big
or small have special responsibilities
contributing its share toward the common
pool for good of all which is possible and
necessary for peace. No State lives alone.
If the valley people will only ponder and
act upon the interest of its people, the
genuine effort for harmony and peace in the
State will lead to suicidal effort and peace
would be further away. We all have the
responsibility to create confidence.
Disagreements and suspicion do not produce
peace. I suggest those who resort to force
portray their lack of confidence in the
merit as well as the historic inevitability
of their cause. Let our societies and all
organisations serve as models to test which
of our systems best meet the needs of the
people. That kind of competition can help us
all. The competition for majority, stronger
force and the use of coercion and
intimidation has the potential of destroying
us all. A spark neglected burns the house.
If the critics of the Nagas wish to condemn
us for our Nagalim, fine. It may help us to
perform better in meeting the needs of our
people. If they wish to condemn us for the
vestige of racism that may/will remain in
our society, good. Racism is incompatible
with our values; our ultimate task for peace
is to find unity within our diversity. And
the human ingredient is common to us all. We
must recognize that just as the left and
right sides of our brain are united in one
fragile human mind, so are the Eastern
Nagaland, Northern Nagaland and Southern
Nagaland, left and right, united in one
Nagalim.
This is simple, but far from being a simple
task. We (Nagas) want a joint effort for
peace and understanding. But we do not know
whether other communities share that
objective with us inspite of the rhetoric.
The notion that a just peace 'can be assured
only after just fights' joins the 'violent
doctrine' as challenges to any peace process
and as threats to community peace.
Let us be patient and thereby heroic. Let us
not lower our standards. Let us not mistake
the silence of intimidation for peace. Our
human values and our aspiration for peace
are universal.
Bangkok
,
Amsterdam
and
Washington
are simple and clear evidences. With
determination, unity and consistency of
purpose with patience, we will prevail.
A political scientist, Max Kampelman wrote
about fear that said, "Rulers who fear
the people they govern end up fearing one
another, fearing their nightmare, fearing
the unknown, fearing the future, fearing for
themselves and they then try to install fear
in others. But fear does not produce
loyalty. Affection and pride in one's system
of Government must be earned by respect and
not by fear. Fear, furthermore, is an enemy
of peace'.
A tale of two young shepherds, Peter and
Ivan, who grazed their flocks side by side,
goes alongside with Manipur today. One day
Peter said, 'Ivan, my friend we work with
each other and are good friends, but do you
love me as a brother?'
'Of course I do', said Ivan. Peter went on,
'tell me Ivan, do you know what causes me
pain'?
'How can I know what gives you pain' replied
Ivan.
Peter sighed, 'If you do not know what gives
me pain, how can you say that you are my
brother'. In our search for peace, we must
come to understand what causes one another
pain and tension. The Naga community is
charged with seeking 'division and
separation' when we state what causes us
pain and concern. The valley people and
other communities seem to have fear
psychosis that Nagas will backlash others
when Nagalim is established. The answer is a
big no and never. We are born to serve one
another as humankind and the future of
Manipur and Nagalim will be determined by
technology, by creative
social-economic-political systems, not by
paper currency holdings. We will be
interdependent. I prefer a moderate, less
emotional, more neutral word - Linkage.
The linkage will translate into
interdependence between other States and
Nagalim benefiting one another. In this
context, Manipur imports everything that
sell in bazaars and shops except a few
agricultural products which are in
shortages. It will be relevant to question,
'What other communities have to loss from
the Nagas when separated? And the second
question, what packages you have for the
Nagas?" These questions carry the whole
meaning of 'Integrity of Manipur'.
On the question of security and maintaining
law and order of the States, it is the
outlook of the nation. For example, foreign
people come to work for betterment of
Nagalim and its people; will it be a loss or
harm to neighboring States? No. Foreigners
have nothing to covet of Manipur except
admiring and enjoying Polo, its dances and
handloom (it may get direct export
facility). Manipur will surely get benefits
in many ways instead. Foreigners are big
hearted and always ready to extend help
whenever and wherever doors are open with
open heart. Accusing the
USA
with fear in mind that Nagalim becoming as
US base is shallow and a sham. It is
New
Delhi
's
prerogative. Thus such a notion is a form of
hatred and jealousy. We are not in a
position to enter into international
political arena. No country will invade us
nor will snatch our land.
We invite Itaos, Ibemas, Ima-Ibels to come
to the hills and join us and also visit
churches and experience a new life. He or
she who have n ever seen hills will not know
the meaning of life. You have only seen rice
fields, bamboo grooves and Kabala at
scattered places. Moreover, you only hear
the voice of dissention against Nagas day in
and day out. Come free of mind, enjoy the
freedom of nature, feel the pulse of the
hill people. Seeing and knowing all the
aspects of life we need not go into conflict
but establish understanding and come to the
call of Abraham Lincoln: "Let us have
faith that right makes might and in that
faith let us to the end do our duty as we
understand it.' Let us pursue peace and not
seek self-aggrandizement. May God lead us to
peaceful living.
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