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06/03/2008: "REFLECTION ON KHAPLANG'S INTERVIEW"

REFLECTION ON KHAPLANG'S INTERVIEW
The exclusive interview of Mr.SS. Khaplang by Mr. Bijoy Kakchingtham, the associate editor of an Imphal based Manipuri daily newspaper Poknabham is agonizingly ambiguous giving enough room for doubt that the statement is concocted and facts distorted. From the Nagas perspective it is contemptuous too.
Astonishingly Khaplang not knowing the merger of Azheto's gang with his group is unwarranted. Either he is taken for granted or is simply used by his trusted men like Mr. Kitovi and Mulatonu for vested interest. But in the process, he is undermining his own image in the gang.
Like Pilate he claims innocent of any crime his government has committed. But such ablution is an abominable crime. There is no use making a scapegoat for the crime he has committed. A leader can never shirk his responsibilities towards the people. Therefore, Khaplangs' act of blindness of the obnoxious happenings in Dimapur stands rejected.
Nagas are passing through a critical period in the matter of unity and therefore one should be extremely cautious of the language employed. Pointless criticism, condemnation and mudslinging do not augur well at this particular juncture. Khaplang should avoid commenting on the issue he does not know. How dare he say that Isak and Muivah have accepted an autonomous state? This is a nauseating intrusion into what NSCN is negotiating for the good of the Naga people on the basis of an honorable solution. It is a risky affair when somebody tried to run his government on the strength of unfounded and misleading information. This is unbecoming of a leader. At any stage of the Indo-Naga political talks Isak and Muivah have never given their commitment to accept statehood within the parameter of Indian constitution.
At time like this hurling wild allegation on each other will not serve the purpose of Naga national interest. This is against the spirit of reconciliation. Admitting each others mistakes is a prerequisite sign of honesty towards reconciliation. Khaplang must tread very carefully lest his name is misused by the Meitei and others against his own people. For too long he has been held captive by the Meitei's UNLF.
On the issue of Sovereignty, it is to be pointed out that there is no Naga dispute. The only moot point is how it is to be concretized. Nags have their stand on sovereignty and there is no question of parroting on the issue and others as well.
Historically, culturally and geographically speaking there is only one Nagalim. But the reality is that Nagalim is divided politically by the colonial powers. Therefore, unification of the divided Nagalim will have to be dealt with politically on the basis of phase-wise formula and Problems with India to be dealt with bilaterally to be followed by Burman-Naga problem. And that there arise no question of abandoning any part of Naga territory.
Mr. Khaplang's claim of 70% support from the Tamenglong and Chandel Districts is just a wishful thinking. The ground reality will ultimately prove him wrong. It is wise on his part to exercise restraint when very little knowledge is at his disposal on the issue he claimed to lead. He must know that Nagas today are no longer in the cave. He must therefore, expose himself to the changing world and learn to speak on the Naga issue from the realistic point of view.
ISSUED BY MIP/GPRN