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SOVEREIGNTY While the discussion on the issue of sovereignty is going on, it seems things are happening. The two NSCN(I-M) leaders were welcomed by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and other high-ups in New Delhi. The ULFA âchairmanâ and perhaps others too are on the Government of Indiaâs list of invitees to hold parleys on peace. Does Government of Indiaâs invitation mean an universal amnesty? The leadership of all these insurgency outfits are linked with heinous crimes like murder, kidnapping, extortions etc. Of course a large number of rebels who surrendered have already been offered amnesty by rehabilitating them in the society in some way. The two elderly Naga leaders are obviously enjoying official protection from possible dangers. So far as the ULFA leaders are concerned, will they be accorded the same protection? By their own admission the leaders have committed crime; should they not be afraid lest they might be arrested and prosecuted at some stage? Perhaps knowledgeable netters would enlighten me in this respect. As I am brooding over this matter of insurgency, I cannot help thinking that so far the Government of Indiaâs handling of the insurgency issue has been largely successful. It is clear the Nagas or the ULFA rebels failed to get any help from foreign governments and they have been consistently driven out from their jungle hide-outs with or without outside collaboration except perhaps some connection with rebel groups of other foreign powers. . The Nagaland Council of Ministers are also leaders of the State of Nagaland. After so many years of peaceful and democratic government, it is not likely that they will hand over their power to the insurgent groups without struggle. Then there are the leaders of the remaining insurgency outfits to reckon with. In these circumstances Government of India might have decided that the original demand for cessation and sovereignty has lost momentum. They just wait and see while exerting every effort to aintain law and order. I have had no occasion to read ULFAâs manifesto. Normally it should have been in the hands of every Assamese wherever he or she happens to reside. For that matter at the moment I do not have a copy of even the Constitution of India; nor do I have a year book of India which are basic books of reference especially for an aged man like me whose memory for facts and figures is anything but reliable. Yet I want so much to share my ideas with netters. Iâm writing in the context of the piece which appeared in the Sentinel of 7 Decemberâ04 under two parallel headings: âColonial Indiansâ trying to get international publicity through paid agents, hencemen:Rajkhowa Yandaboo Treaty not a ground logic, yet has significnce:ULFA He aimed a fling at the historians and intellectuals for not supporting him adequately in black and white, and also for not voicing their protest at Nagalandâgreed for Assamâs territory. So far as the first contention is concerned, Rajkhowa himself admits that it was not a strong argument. As regards the second point, I agree that we should nip at the bud when such a proposal is moved i e grasping more Assam land. The Nagas have not behaved very wisely in relation to the State boundaries, especially in the treatment of their neighbours. But this issue requires separate treatment. Rajkhowa realizes that his movement- and the logic of it - is based on mass support than on anything else and what he has not realized is that the ULFA had lost it. He appears to be a forlorn man and the spectre of a paper tiger.
Bhuban Baruah Torreviaje, Spain |
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