‘If they can have a blockade, so can we, no vehicle with Manipuri registration will enter Naga areas, none of the Naga areas.’
Before I embarked on the North East leg of my journey, Nagaland was in the news for all the wrong reasons. News channels gave us the ‘facts’,
Fact One: ‘The Naga’s have imposed a crippling economic blockade on Manipur’
Fact Two: ‘The blockade has been carried out by Mr. Muivah supporters, in response to him being denied entry into Manipur.’
Fact Three: ‘Manipur is suffering under the huge price rise caused by this Naga blockade.’
There is an undeniable truth to these ‘facts’, but as I have realised there are always multiple truths and co-existing facts. I sat in the Naga Student Federation’s (NSF) office in Kohima, armed with these ‘media facts’, as Mr. Mutsikhoyo Yhobo, president NSF, explained the Naga version of the Manipur blockade.
Pointing to the board of Presidents pre-dating 1947, Mutsikhoyo explained,
‘The Naga Students Federation is one of the oldest civil societies in Nagaland. It pre dates both the NNC and NSCN. The aim of NSF was to bring all the Nagas under one administrative group, irrespective of their state or country of residence. Our traditional jurisdiction covers all Naga areas within India (Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal) and Burma. Even today our mandate applies to these areas.’
You can imagine the ego clashes and turf wars created by Naga civil societies claiming their historical jurisdiction in Manipur. Technically between two states of one nation, a little jurisdictional spill over shouldn’t matter. If only it was that simple.
The Blockade
‘As I mentioned before, the jurisdiction of NSF stretches into the Naga Hills of Manipur. We have previously held many functions, meetings and forums in these Naga areas without incident. There has never been a problem in the past.’
I furiously scribbled into my notepad as Mr Yhobo, explained the events leading up to the ‘Naga Manipur Blockade.’
‘We wanted to hold our Third Federal Assembly in Senapati District of Manipur in early May. In April itself we informed our local leadership to organise the formalities and a month later, on May 3rd we set off towards Mao Gate.’
Mao Gate is the border crossing between Manipur and Nagaland on National Highway 39. It would play a central role in the Naga – Manipur stand off over the next two months.
Stopped by armed Manipuri security forces at Mao Gate, the NSF leaders questioned the IGP present.
‘We asked him why we were not allowed to enter Manipur. Without clarifying or offering us any real reason, all he said was “It is an order from higher up, Naga’s are not allowed.” To ensure we could not proceed, the security forces had blocked the highway with big boulders. They started the blockade, they blocked the highway first.’
Insulted and infuriated the NSF contingent headed back to Kohima headquarters to hold a meeting with higher leadership. This meeting resulted in an ultimatum served to the Manipur CM.
‘Withdraw Manipur Rifles and Commandos from all Naga areas within twenty four hours’, expiring, 4th May, 6 p.m.
Failing which,
‘If they can have a blockade, so can we, no vehicle with Manipuri registration will enter Naga areas, none of the Naga areas, but let me clarify. This blockade was not an economic blockade, but it was an agitation to show our resentment to the Manipur government.’
I threw in a question; The Delhi media has been reporting that the blockade was put in place by Mr Muivah’s supporters in response to him being denied entry into Manipur, is that so?
‘We launched our movement independently. At that time we were unaware of Mr. Muivah’s movements towards Somdal. In fact even before he reached Kohima on the 6th we had launched our agitation.’
But Mr. Mutsikhoyo, the media reports stated that the Manipuri forces opened fire on Muivah’s supports protesting at Mao Gate?
‘That’s not true, the local Mao community started a peaceful protest against the Manipuri Security Forces blockade of Highway 39. Without any provocation the security forces opened fire on the procession. Two students we killed, over a hundred were injured and the Mao community was displaced due to harassment by the security forces. This blockade was created by Manipur.’
I understand that your blockade was an agitation, a show of resentment, but what about the Manipuri people who suffered from the price rise?
‘The Meiti community is using the media against us. There is an influential Meiti women’s organisation, Meira Pabi, they forcibly closed down the grocery shops and petrol pumps. This led to the shortages, not the blockade. They used the media to put the blame on the Nagas.’
Seemingly relinquishing all blame, the NFS President continued.
‘The Meiti community had ordered a quit notice to the Hindi speaking population residing in Manipur. They had ordered these non – locals to move out by the 31st of May and then denied them transport to leave. If the Meiti community can not coexist with Hindu, Hindi speaking people, (since the Meiti’s are Hindu) how will they mix with Christian Naga tribals?’
He paused and looked at his ringing phone. I used the opportunity to ask a question. You recently visited Delhi, you held a press conference (the press conference was given 2 minutes of air time by main stream media) and spoke to central ministers, could you elaborate?
‘The Meiti’s had been using the main stream media to their advantage, we were being made into villains. We wanted to get our voice heard.’
‘We first met the Home Minister, he told us’
“I been aware of the of the Naga issue since my school days, today I am a national leader and the issue continues unresolved. I do not want to pass it on to another political generation. The UPA and I are sincere in our efforts.”
The Home Minister continued.
“To block a national highway for a day or two, to make a point, is understandable. But for months, that’s not correct. The highway does not belong to anyone, even if it passes through your state you do not have the right to block it. You should feel happy that you have a national highway connecting your state, other states do not have this privilege. You must end your blockade.”
‘We told the Home Minister, that we could only call off the blockade once we returned to Nagaland. We told him, the sooner we meet the Prime Minister and other leaders, the sooner we can go back and decided on the blockade. Though not officially, it was the Home Minister who expedited our meeting with the Prime Minster.’
‘The Prime Minster told us, the Government is like a parent,
“We do not want our children to fight, even if one child wants to leave the family. The Naga issue is very sensitive, we can’t solve it immediately. We need to make your neighbours understand the situation, until they understand, the problem will continue.”
‘Even the PM said he wished to find a solution during this UPA term. He wanted to work closely with Naga student and youth leaders to find an honourable solution.
What issues did you put forward to the Government?
‘There were three main issues that we discussed with the Government.
- Until the Indo – Naga political issue is resolved, the crisis will continue and things will remain on edge. If it is solved, 70% of the North East issues will be resolved (It is well known that majority of the secessionist movements in the North East receive material, training and ideological support from the Naga underground).
- We discussed our goal of bring all Nagas under one administrative group.
- We discussed the Autonomous District Council Act had how it would lead to the oppression of Nagas and Naga culture in Manipur. We stressed that decisions should be taken with the consent of the people.’
Having interacted with the central government, what do you think the future holds for Nagaland?
‘From my interaction with national leaders, the leader of opposition and youth leaders like Rahul Gandhi, I have seen the government’s attitude and sincerity. I’m hopeful that some positive changes will come through this UPA government.
What about independence?
‘Independence’ he smiles ‘we are not part of the peace talks and it is not in the NSF jurisdiction to discuss or voice demands for Independence’, he leaves it at that.
It seems that only drastic measures like a blockade will make ‘main land’ India take notice of the North East. I’m not trying to point a finger at the centre, which is fighting to integrate the North East. The blame lies on millions of ignorant Indians.
Development, jobs and peace are the need of the hour, but voiced or held in silence, independence, is close to Naga hearts.
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