Gen (Retd) T.M. Keyho
Human history comprises of conflicts, factionalism and finding solutions to the conflicts. Any nation which finds solution to their conflicts advances more rapidly than the others. The Nagas are no different from other nations of the world in its struggle to preserve and maintain its unique nationhood. However, in our struggle to keep our nation as ours with all its uniqueness intact, the movement presently is bogged down with misunderstanding and factionalism among our national workers.
Therefore, we have to understand what are the causes of ‘factionalism’ in our context.
There is a saying that “if you know the causes, you will also know the solution”. So, if we want to bring unity among the present Naga National Workers, we must first study and know what are the causes of ‘factionalism’.
While there may be some other causes, the main cause of the present factionalism among the Naga National Workers is because of the controversial Shillong Accord of 1975, signed between the representatives of the Government of India and “Underground Organisation”.
The Accord should not have been taken as an issue because there are many loopholes and the people have the liberty to reject it. But the unfortunate part is the leaders failed to take timely remedial measures. This has caused division among the undivided NNC and FGN in two groups: viz, pro and anti – Shillong Accord of NNC and FGN. These two pro and anti Accord groups started to condemn each other and ultimately led to coup and counter coup.
The first coup was launched by the pro Accord group against the anti Accord group and arrested the leaders of the latter into their custody and seized the authority of NNC & FGN into their own hands. However, this was a bloodless coup.
Later on, the anti-Accord group launched another counter coup, killed the previous leaders and seized the authority of NNC & FGN into their hands again. But this turned out to be a bloody coup.
However this anti Shillong Accord group of NNC & FGN defected from the parent body of NNC and FGN, leaving the NNC and FGN into the hands of whom they called “Traitors” and formed a parallel organisation of NSCN and GPRN in 1980.
Again, this NSCN and GPRN were split into two groups: viz, NSCN- Isak & Muivah or NSCN IM and NSCN Khaplang or NSCN K in 1988 for reasons best known to them only.
The detail analysis of the conflicts which arises after signing of the Shillong Accord in 1975 is in its interpretation between the pro and anti Shillong Accord groups.
The Accordists interprets that since the Accord was not signed in the name of NNC or FGN, but under the name and style of “Underground Organisation”, they claimed that NNC and FGN had not committed to the Shillong Accord but remains intact as before.
The anti Accord group interprets that though the Shillong Accord was not actually signed in the name of NNC and FGN, they alleged that NNC and FGN had signed the Accord in the name of “Underground Organisation” and therefore, is a complete “sell out”.
In view of the above conflicting interpretations, the burden is cast upon the Nagas to find out;
(1) Who were the “Underground Organisation”?
(2) Whether, Shillong Accord has any legal binding on the Nagas?
(3) Whether it was right on the part of NSCN to defect from the parent body and formed a parallel organisation of NSCN and GPRN?
The above issues and other relating issues, if any, must be clarified and the solution to the conflict must be found, otherwise the fate of the Nagas will be doomed.
It may also be pointed out that;
(1) Cease-fire is a must, but it is just a temporary truce to facilitate a peaceful solution. But when the cease-fire loses its purpose it can be terminated at any time. There is never permanent peace during cease fire period. It will come and go till a final solution is reached. Cease-Fire is never “a hard won peace”. Let us not fool ourselves. If one misread this, it may become a deadly trap.
(2) The basis of reconciliation initiated by the FNR is correct. But it must be inclusive of all “factions”. It must firstly be thoroughly discussed, analysed or reasoned out together. If need be, we can discuss and debated in seminars etc. There can be no partial or dictated reconciliation.
(3) Unless all the “factions” are united, a faction alone however strong and powerful it may be does not represent the other.
(4) Unless all the “factional governments” are united and form a National Government, no parallel “factional government” can exist for long. Either they come together or in the end one will have to finish the other and the last remaining “faction” will also come to nothing. The sooner this is realised, the better.
(5) Unless the factions reconciled, all their sufferings and sacrifices will come to nothing.
(6) Unless they restrain themselves and behave well, sooner or later, the law will take hold of them.
