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06/30/2006: "India’s confusion a problem:"

India’s confusion a problem: NSCN (IM) The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, JUNE 29 (MExN): Breaking its silence on the integration issue after the latest whirlwind of reports that the NSCN (IM) has toned down on its demands to accede to some form of ‘autonomy’, the organization today said “there is a problem if India remains confused” over the identity of “Naga ancestral land.” Speaking over phone, V Horam, Deputy Kilonser of the group headed by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah reiterated: “A solution confined to Nagaland state is not acceptable. Unification is part and parcel of solution.”
Lambasting the usage of the term ‘autonomy’ as stated in earlier news reports he said the usage of the word “is very irritating.” Even the concept of a ‘federation’ is wrong, he said. “There can only be a relationship between two sovereign entities,” Horam advocated. “The question of autonomy does not arise at all.”
“This relationship,” he said, “between two separate nations will be inseparable.” Delhi has to take into consideration the geographical aspect and also the history and culture of the people living in Naga inhabited areas, he said. Frequent talks between the two negotiating parties is the tool towards a solution to this effect, the Deputy Kilonser said.
Be hospitable, moderate, Rio tells Angamis The Morung Express
KOHIMA, JUNE 29 (DIPR): The ‘Foundation Stone’ of the Angami Public Organisation (APO) building at Kohima was laid by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today. Rio, after laying the ‘Foundation Stone’, addressed a gathering of Angami area public leaders from different areas and expressed that the ‘building’ should become the ‘tower of unity’. He recalled to that today is the age of cosmo polity and that Kohima is indeed the ‘Mirror of Nagaland’.
He called upon the Angamis to show hospitality to all tribes residing in Kohima. Rio lamented over the recent unhappy incidents that occurred, involving Angamis in the death of brethrens from other tribes at Kohima, and urged the APO to inculcate the feelings of hospitality and moderateness. He felt that the Angamis should show exemplary large-heartedness as the host of the capital. Rio dissuaded the Angami public from the practices of land grabbing and land encroachments on the Government lands and public roads.
The Chief Minister divulged that expansion of the capital under the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM) programme is in the offing and land would be required, for which people’s awareness and broad-minded attitude are called for.
He also called upon the Angami community for co-operation in alleviating the water problem of the capital-city, by way of permitting water from their village to be supplied to the city.
The APO is now thirty-four years old and is fortunate to begin construction of its five- storey building, in the heart of the capital city. It is also to the credit of Rio that the site was allotted to APO when as Minister for Works & Housing, he took personal initiative and befittingly today, he as Chief Minister of Nagaland laid the ‘Foundation Stone’. He advised the APO to execute the construction by setting a time-frame for completion to avoid cost escalation and also to keep a rigid quality control to ensure durability of the building.
Prisoners of Uncertainty? Editorial The Morung Express
Growing restlessness and lingering lethargy enveloping the Naga skyline is causing an uneasy sense of acute cynicism and unfocused anger, just churning restlessly for its release. The internal and external conditions that has a cause-effect relationship with this contradicting restless lethargic cynicism has potential to do more harm than good, unless constructive and positive interventions with painstakingly thought out strategic processes are made. Knee-jerk reactions to the problem would only prove counter-productive.
Unmet needs to satisfy the human yearning for some semblance of a dignified life and the human desire to have some basic knowledge of where their future is headed towards, has created an air of uncertainty. The acute sense of uncertainty has resulted in an indulging rush for the exclusive survival of the fittest. The questions around uncertainty has in part been responsible for a climate of fear; a climate that is being manipulated by the ‘powers that be’ with detrimental effectiveness.
The viscous cycle of the fear of uncertainty has the knack of causing and conditioning insular thinking and attitude. It makes a society stagnant, dogmatic and virtual prisoners of their past. The society ceases to be open towards new ideas and becomes resistant to any forms of change and is guided by emotions and subjective feelings. In essence, the ownership to determine its own future is usurped by the powers that be. Hence, the society draws more inward and exclusive. Insecurity compels it to rally around families, clans, villages, tribes and any other forms of human association where there is a perceived sense of security.
As uncertainty grows and vulnerability sets in, fear is expressed in different forms. For instance, differences between individuals suddenly take the form of clan or village differences and issues are personalized; the social safety net weakens; growing tendency to exert more power and control rather than seeking the path of dialogue and understanding; historical and social narratives are distorted and there is an acute lack of space to deliberate about the future and to imagine a better world. All discourses begin and end with the past. With no room for imagination, hope is missing. Hence, the past is relived over and over again; the future is held a prisoner of the past.
When faced with the questions of uncertainty and insecurity, it becomes quite convenient to seek a paranoid strategy which involves denial of internal destruction, while simultaneously projecting it on others. It involves engaging in depressive self-blame and the society becomes unforgiving and punitive, with a sense of hopelessness and passivity. Furthermore, while feeling vulnerable, it also shows signs of being accustomed to being in control while also believing that its ownership is being usurped by others. It has a perceived sense of dichotomized emotion of feeling power and yet, powerless.
In this defining moment in history, Nagas need to muster moral courage and political will to decisively refuse to be paralyzed by fear and despair. Nagas must face up to reality, acknowledge one’s own self-destructiveness and proactively act to contain its consequences, guided by a vision for the future. Through political action, Nagas have to begin the difficult process of transforming negative energy into a constructive force that builds bridges within and without, by creating value-based alternatives.
In perilous times such as these, Nagas have no other option but to transcend the past and the present and to confront with the realities of the future to create a society that is truly worth living in. History will judge whether the Nagas of today are willing to cast aside their fears and insecurity and to decisively live in a world of reality, of ambiguity and turmoil, but also a world of hope and life. Perhaps it could begin by setting free the prophetic imagination!
Naga talks inch towards final deal Nagaland Post
NEW DELHI, JUNE 29: In the words of the Prime Minister's Principal Interlocutor "From first gear it has now moved into fourth gear". And unlike the politician's hyperbole it is a cautious bureaucrat, Mr K. Padmanabhiah, describing it as the first breakthrough in the five-year Naga peace process. It is now official.
As reported earlier by The Tribune, the contours of the Naga peace settlement will resemble that of a special Kashmir-type status within the Indian union.
From a demand of absolute sovereignty to the current "open mind'' of the NSCN (IM) which involves a "special federal relationship with India where Nagaland and India will be inseparably bound together'' is indeed a long walk together for peace.
Sources say the accord with the Nagas will entail changes in Article 7 of the Constitution which deals with relations with the states. At present, this does not apply to Jammu & Kashmir. Articles 151 to 237, a total of 88 articles, are however, reflected in the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly while the NSCN wants a separate constitution the government wants to settle for providing a special chapter in the Indian Constitution.
Part six of the Constitution deals with the role and powers of the Governor, the state legislature, the state judiciary and the Advocate-General of India. These provisions do not apply in Jammu and Kashmir and have been incorporated in the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. Constitutional experts are of the view that a similar arrangement can be made with the Nagas incorporating their unique tribal culture into account either in the shape of a separate constitution like Jammu and Kashmir or as a special chapter in the Constitution.
While, the fine print of the deal will be thrashed out over the next meeting to be held in Bangkok all the midnight oil that Mr Padmanabhiah has been burning studying the constitution of India and Jammu and Kashmir has obviously borne fruit. He and the political team have obviously been able to find a "marketable solution''.
For the NSCN to accept anything short of complete independence is in the words of one of the ministers involved in the negotiations, "a remarkable breakthrough''.
Clearly all the prayers led by Isaac Chisi Swu, a devout Christian, before the start of the meetings have paid off. Sources say the settlement will involve giving Nagaland a special status within the Indian Union. It will be largely ceremonial in nature.
Speaking exclusively to the Tribune, Mr Padmanabhiah stuck a note of cautious optimism. "The talks are on track; Let us hope for the best. We have all worked hard for five years to bring about this situation,'' he said.
The flurry of meetings after the negotiations in The Hague is a pointer that the next meeting could be the clincher. Analysts point out the magnitude of concession "from a demand of complete independence to an inseparable union with India it is a huge breakthrough.''
According to senior officials, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's brief to the negotiators was that "the Constitution is flexible, it can accommodate them. As long as they are part of India....''
The Naga blueprint may well provide a pointer to other separatist problems.
(Courtesy The Tribune)
Counter-insurgency an uphill task in NE Nagaland Post
SHILLONG, JUNE 29 (AGENCIES): Security forces have a 'more difficult' task in fighting insurgency in the North East than in Jammu and Kashmir, Director-General of Assam Rifles Lt General Bhopinder Singh said here today. Among the Northeastern States, Manipur posed the toughest challenge when it came to fighting the militants, Lt Gen Singh told reporters on the eve of his retirement after a two-year stint as the DG of the oldest paramilitary force in the country.
It is easier for the North East militants to move to the neighbouring countries than for those in Jammu and Kashmir, as the valley is 'well guarded', he says. Lt Gen Singh had participated in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir as a mountain brigade commander and had been awarded the `Ati Vishist Seva Medal' for his outstanding work there. An ex-officio security advisor to the Northeastern Council, Lt Gen Singh said he had advised the NEC about the 'threats' of 'religious fundamentalist forces' and 'spillover' to the region from the neighbouring countries.
"We must take cognizance of these two factors and the NEC was sensitised about them", he said. Lt Gen Singh, who will retire tomorrow, said the last 26 months of his 41-year-long career, when he served as the DGAR was his "most glorious innings".
Singh also said the passing of the Assam Rifles Bill, to make the force a full-fledged Army unit, in the Lok Sabha was the "most satisfying achievement" of his career. The Bill to be placed in the Rajya Sabha in the monsoon session of Parliament would vest certain 'powers' to the AR authorities and empower the jawans with some 'privileges', the DGAR said. "Soldiers will be able to seek justice from their higher- ups on promotion, posting and emoluments instead of going to the Central Administrative Tribunal where cases linger for years," he said.
Cataloguing his 'achievements' during his tenure, the Lt General said modernisation and equipping the force, border management and surveillance were some of them. He said with the Union Home Ministry providing Rs 484 crore for modernisation of the force, 50 per cent job was completed and latest night vision devices, signal communication, interception gadgets, bomb disposal squads and bullet proof jackets were procured that "transformed the Assam Rifles from a 'day' force to a 'night' force".
Because of his constant persuasion, a change in the AR recruitment policy was effected with 55 per cent of its strength to be drawn from the hill area and the northeast. As a result, of the 12,000 personnel recruited in the force last year, about 7000 hailed from the region, he said.
UNLF demands clarification By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Jun 29 : The proscribed UNLF has deman- ded clarification from all concerned involved in the slaying of its sergeant major Haobijam Areiba alias Inaocha (MPA No 250) whose body was recovered on June 23 morning.
A statement issued by the outfit’s senior publicity officer, claimed that Inaocha of Karang maning Leikai was abducted by unidentified tribal dialect speaking group from a residence in Tronglaobi Maning leikai the previous night and his bullet riddled body was found abandoned near the Gelnom Kuki village high canal.
Divulging more details, the statement informed that Inaocha was married to a Gangte girl from Ghalon village of Vangai Range and was on leave since January month to shift his wife to a safer place after the Indian Army offensive at MPA base camp areas.
Even as the organisation was trying to contact Inaocha regarding the lapse of his leave period the unfortunate incident took place, it said while taking grim note of the mute silence of those involved in the killing.
Taking note of the fact that even the Indian Army had not claimed the killing, UNLF opined that such eerie silence of those behind the murder will only provide fodder to security force personnel in carrying out their clandestine activities.
Any organisation with a political objective should justify the action of killing Inaocha failing which the situation would be grabbed by adversary forces with both hands to confuse the general public apart from misleading diffe-rent armed groups to train their guns at each other, cautioned the senior publicity officer.

Assam Rifles blamed for victimising people By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Jun 29: Following enhanced activities of Assam Rifles like arrest, torture and intimidation of in- no cent civilians at Itham, Moirangpurel and Tumu-khong area of Imphal East district, people of these areas are so terrified that they cannot sleep peacefully during night time, said the Meira Paibis of the villages.
During a press meet today at Manipur Press Club, representatives of Poirei Leimarol Apunba Meira Paibi, Imphal East, Itham Meira Paibi, Tumukhong Meira Paibi and Moirang-purel Meira Paibi while questioning the conduct of 19 AR posted at Maphou Dam site to guard the dam site, has condemned the excesses committed by the AR personnel.
They disclosed that AR personnel have been indulging in arrest and physical torture of innocent civilians time and again in Moirangpurel area. They mentioned that two persons were recently apprehended by AR and later handed over to police with the allegation that they were cadres of different UG outfits after giving them some bullets.
While taking the two persons into their custody, the family members and parents were beaten and forced to sign on blank papers, they asserted.
Unable to bear with such torture and violation of human rights by AR, a public meeting was organised under the aegis of the four Meira Paibi organisations on June 25 during which it was resolved to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister to effect the removal of AR from Maphou Dam and to ensure normal and peaceful lives in these villages.
In the aftermath of the meeting, personnel of 19 AR led by its CO along with 27 AR of Chingarel post and Yaingangpokpi post came to these villages on June 27 and threatened the villagers not to organise such mee-tings in future asking them whether there was any instance of torture or harassment of people in the area by AR. While asking the villagers to identify the organisers of the meeting, AR personnel further warned them that if any more public meeting is organised in the area, any person arrested henceforth would not be released alive, the Meira paibis conveyed.
Drawing immediate attention of the State Govt to the predicament of the villa-gers, they also sought coop -eration from all civil socie-ties and social organisa- tions in checking the excesses of Assam Rifles.
The Meira Paibi representatives further cautio- ned that if anything unto-ward happens to the villagers, the Chief Minister would be held accountable.
They further reiterated their demand to remove all security force posts from the area including the AR post of Maphou Dam and to repeal AFSPA 1958 from the whole of Manipur so as to enable the innocent civilians lead normal and pea- ceful lives. They added that a memorandum highlighting their demands would be submitted to the CM soon.
Meanwhile, the president of the Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur declared during the press meet that it would extend all possible cooperation to the people to fight injustice and violation of human rights.

Stray thoughts on the 'Steel' (Fifth) Anniversary of 18th June By P Gangte Sangai Express
The Fifth Anniversary of the June 18th Uprising of 2001 has come and gone, yet one cannot help pondering over the Indo-Naga Peace Talk which has been dubbed as the 'Mother of all Controversies' emanating from the soil of Manipur for all Manipuris and others as well! As we cast a quick look at the whole spectrum, a self introspection may help us to tread on a less travelled road to peace which will be more humane, justifiable and democratic way of life, and living a corporate living in a cosmopolitan society under the confluence of socio-religious and cultural affinity. As the tug of war between the Government of India and the NSCN continues, renewed tension, giving rise to off-shoot problems, this 'Home of the Braves' i.e. Manipur continues to be the battlefield for the radar-less-policy that veered round only on the Naga Appeasement Policy, and validation of some questionable Act by enforcing its provisions without time limit that had shooked the North Eastern States in some form or the other.
Road-map and milestones along the Indo-Naga Peace talk:
Along the march of the Indian democracy vis-à-vis its road-map to peace talk, one cannot but ask one pertinent question: Has any milestone been achieved? Briefly – when the revered AZ Phizo, the Father of Naga Independent Movement led out the movement in early 1946, it was purely political with an overdose of social prejudices backdrop. It will be of interest to recall the account given by one of the delegates that had gone to meet the then Indian Prime Minister, Pt Nehru led by Phizo sometime in March, 1952: “Nehru, while hammering his table with his clenched fist said, ‘Whe-ther heaven falls, or India goes into pieces, and blood runs red in the country, whether I am here or anyone else comes; Naga will not be allowed to be independent.”
(N.B. It does not seem characteristics of Nehru ‘with clenched fist’, yet there can be no doubt about the veracity of this first hand account; and the fact that Nehru held the North East and the Jammu and Kashmir close to his heart will not be questioned!)
Be that as it may, Nehru informed Parliament in July 1952 declaring that the subject of Naga Independent would not be reopened! And in the same year, he ventured to visit Kohima, in the company of U Nu, the Burmese Prime Minister, and Smt Indira Gandhi. The Nagas, true to their traditional hallmark of hospitality, came out in their thousands responded and thronged the Kohima ground; and when the Prime Minister was about to address the gathering, the Nagas, in unison, left the ground enmass! That is most interestingly demo-cratic so far on record.
The milestones
Then came, the First December, 1963, when the Nagaland Statehood was inaugurated that which the Government of India had already conferred in Jan 1961 i.e. 15 years after the movement took off. Naga-land was curved out of the former Naga Hills from Assam, and the former Tuen-sang Frontier Division of NEFA (North East Frontier Agency) now Arunachal Pradesh, and became the sweet Sixteenth state of Indian Union.
Soon after, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura became full fledged states with effect from 21.1.1972, and were followed suit by Sikkim on 26.4.75, and then Mizoram and Aruna-chal on 20.2.1987. Re-organization of the North East can be said more or less complete except that one major tribe called Kukis had been left out in the cold! Nagaland for the Nagas, Mizoram for the Mizos, Meghalaya for the Khasis and Jaintias, Tripura for the Tripuris, Manipur for the Meiteis, Pangals, Kukis and Nagas who all are Manipuris.
The shake-up in the Naga movement
Then, the coup, led by Th Muivah & Co, intervened soon after the signing of Shillong Accord, and brought about complete change in the Naga Movement, and the name itself had to undergo a change by rechristening it as the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NS-CN); and the reins of leadership changed hands fro-m the mainland Nagas to that of the Manipuri Nag-as, even of its main cadre.
The change also necessitated in ushering in changes in their policies, strategies that affect their tactics to ruthlessly tide over certain hurdles towards achieving their objectives. From a purely political and secular outlook, it had assumed a non-secular and ethnic-bias movement. From what has been seen and experienced in actual field, following objectives were discernible and the pursuit of which had been indeed very vigorous:
(1) An all-out-attempt to evict and exterminate the Kukis from the Kuki inhabited areas which are conterminous with that of the Naga inhabited areas. And a blended propaganda strategies based on distorted historical facts and video offensive to be unleashed in the wings of their “Hate and Kill” offensive.
(2) While mounting the above offensive, all of their socio-political, religious, youth and students organizations to lend their active support to the cou-rse of action undertaken;
(3) A motto, “Nagaland/Nagalim for Christ” was adopted in the face of influential, yet minority think-tank who were inclined to go the communistic way but had to retreat in the face of an overwhelming majority against the pro-communistic approach and thus shed its secular character, and subsequently adopted the emblazoned motto as already mentioned above.
To achieve objective No.1, under a covert and overt understanding with the NSCN (IM), the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of the Nagas, issued Quit Notices to the Kukis living in the so-called Naga inhabited areas of Manipur before end of December, 1992 by stirring up hatred against the Kukis distorting that –
(1) Kuki Rebellion, 1917-19 was against the Kabuis (Rongmeis) and the Tangkhuls ignoring the historical fact that the Kuki and Naga leaders had had a feast together at Huining that they should fight together; but the Nagas were persuaded by the British administration and deserted their friends. The Kuki chiefs, despite this turn of event decided to go ahead with their declared intention. Hence it has become to be known as the Kuki Punitive Expedition (Kuki Rebellion).
(2) The Kuki National Army (KNA) was formed by the Indian Govt to fight against the Nagas, and the highest NSCN(IM) leadership justified the massacre of the Tamei mistakenly known as Zoupi Massacre alleging that the Indian Army and the KNA were massing around there though not a single element of the KNA was present except in Moreh area which was more than 150 air-miles away. The incident at Tamei only proved that leave alone Indian Army and KNA, not even police were available to prevent the incident!
(N.B. All these insertions are based on the published news prints of the Freedom, English daily (now defunct).
(3) A video film depicting that the Kukis earlier killed Nagas in hundreds, but now the Nagas killed the Kukis in their thousands. The video was sc-reened in collusion with the cable operators at Chi-ngmeirong, Imphal during the height of the onslau-ght of the cleansing war against the Kukis, 1993.
(N.B. Needless to retell the barbaric, inhuman and unchristian episode of killing spree let loose by the Nagas. Wherever it is pertinent only, the horrifying details are given briefly.).
To achieve Objective No. 2, after having enticed the UNC to do its unbecoming and heinous work for an apex body, a frontline organization cal-led NLG (Naga Lim Guards) was born to lead out the whole offensive and enjoined by another new organization called ANSVF (All Naga Students Volunteer Force) the same and the letter head of the ANSAM (All Naga Students Assn, Manipur) had been used extensively while serving Quit Notices to the Kukis.
Concerning the ferocity of the manner of killings and other relevant information, one Radheka Jha, a correspondent for the Times of India, wrote for the National daily dated 12.5.94 and states that:
“The reality of what is happening in Manipur is slaughter of an unprecedented scale, because unlike Punjab and Kashmir where targets are carefully selected, in Manipur, the NSCN do not mind who they killed as long as it is a Kuki. “The NSCN has made killing into a fine art. When they catch their victims, NSCN (Muivah faction) terrorists often cut off their hands, break their ankles and knee caps so that he or she is completely helpless. Only then they killed them. For variation, they slash the faces of the victims so that even their relatives cannot recognize them.
“A special death is reserved for the infants. They are thrown up in the air and sliced into half. ‘The sky is for the Kukis, and the earth is for us’ NSCN guerrillas shout. And it is this statement that is at the heart of the conflict. “The Kuki-Naga conflict is about land…’”
(N.B. Do such actions on the part of the Nagas manifest the qualification that would merit being fighters for “Nagaland for Christ”? Will Christ indeed approve of these?)
Some of the astounding and outstanding facts for followers of Christ, fighting for “Nagaland for Christ” indulged in – (1) Killing of human lives and burning of living houses were carried out with equal ferocity even on Sunday, the day on which they worship Christ. There had been 290 attacks on the Kukis – of these 26 were carried out on Sundays – 21 times in Manipur, 4 times in Nagaland and 1 in Assam. (2) 15 people including 6 minors were killed inside the church of Saipimol, Tamenglong on a Sunday.
(3) 15 male children of Taloulong, Tamenglong were killed on a Sunday in pure Mongol style by throwing them up in the sky and as they were about to land, they made their target practice with the bodies.
(4) Leave alone the severed heads, maimed parts of bodies; they did not even spare the private part of some women and faces of babies! The Paraolen, Chandel incident in which a mother and a child were also included in the killing spree. The mother’s private part was poked with a stick and the carcass was made to stand with a stick and the baby’s halved face was bound to her mother’s breast as if she was feeding her!
(5) Well educated Naga-Christians of today were involved in the vengeance killing spree for a revenge killings done by the Non-Christian Kukis of 1917-19 and no mainland Nagas were involved in such killings! (Indeed, such kind of crusade-like enthusiasm in killings is outside the purview of the Holy Bible, the religious book of the Christians and one shudders at the thou-ght that such practice would be an accepted norm in the land where Christ’s name is being made an intrinsic part of it!) The climb down from sovereignty to ‘within the Indian constitution’
Indeed, in a major shift to a climb down from sovereignty to within the Indian Constitution is the hall-mark of realism and sagacity, and the most important milestone; and the so-called “misguided youth”- Th Muivah of one time, has grown “old” with wisdom and experiences, and had worn the auras of a ‘Gue Chevre’ of the Cuban revolution, and earn the respect of all concern, and locally the accolade “Awo Kahar” with a touch of reverence and respect has been given him.
To achieve their objective No. 3, the religious leaders took the cudgel up and did their work and even today they continue to harp on the self aggrandizing spirit and policy of the “Nagas and the Nagas alone” as may be borne out by the letter addressed to the editor, Sangai Express dated 15.6.06 by one Pastor C.M.Joy who wrote:
“Nagas will get what they want: it is just a question of time. We have faith in the living God and He will not disappoint us. He has never.” His unabashed and feeble attempt to monopolize the ‘living God’ only for the Nagas by itself speaks volume for his abject ignorance of how the living God works or functions. Having killed more than 824 Kuki innocent lives, burning down of more than 350 villages obliterated and bringing woes to their fellow human beings, will their prayers be answered by the living God, who is just, righteous and impartial? Let the Bible answer: “When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.” (Isaiah 1:15) “One who turns away his ears from hearing the Law, even his prayer shall be an abo-mination.” (Proverbs 28:9)
Overwhelmed by their selfish ends, their religious teachers were preaching their sermons by reading out aloud from the Book of Numbers, in the Old Testament, Chapter 33 and verses 51 to 53, that read as below: “Speak to the children of Israel (Nagas) and say to them: ‘When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan (Kukis), then you shall drive out all the inhabitants (Kukis) of the land before you, destroy all their engrave stones, destroy all their muffled images, and demolish all their high places, you shall dispossess the inhabitants of their land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess.’ ”
(N.B. Italics supplied.)
They also have conveniently forgotten tenets of Christian principles as below for the sake of “Nagaland for Christ ” such as – Jesus said,
(1) “You heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbour and hate your enemies. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43, 44). Read v 45 if you care to.
(2) “Therefore whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
An interlude
The Nagas, fighting for a Greater Nagaland, besides committing a genocide under the instruction of the NSCN (IM), has converted it as a ‘Greedier Nagaland’. The Kukis have become not only the scapegoat but also a foil to the growth of the Naga psyche polity. Firstly, they had succeeded in enticing some of the tribes of the old Kukis viz, Anal, Maring, Lamkang, Mayon etc whom Prof Gangmumei Kamei described them as “politically Nagas but culturally Kukis.”
Secondly, they were turned into fanatic zealots for their new status to prove to the world that fact that they could imitate them, given the intensive to! What they conveniently forgot is that God of creation is a particular God for the blood relation. DNA is the only and sole source for proving one’s blood relationship.
The writer is the President, Kuki Inpi Manipur
(N.B. Warning : some parts of this article may not be very pleasant reading though I have taken great care not to exaggerate the incidents, and I do not want to remember them either but on an anniversary day, a day to remember, some pleasant and some not so pleasant will have to be gone through And this is not meant to incite people but to inform all concerned about facts of the incidents.)