Click to play video"I, me and mine and my tribe before yours." For years, it's this placard of a Naga and his tribal identity that has been exploited both internally and from outside. Not just in the power play of peace talks with the militant groups, but also in the everyday existence of people.
Young Nagas continue to be recruited in large numbers by the insurgent groups, often tapping in on age-old tribal rivalries. In fact, Naga nationalism has lost credibility because of tribal disunity.
The latest face of tribal factionalism is Azheto Chophy, former home minister of the NSCN (IM). Chophy and his Sema tribal loyalists left the NSCN (IM) recently to join the rival NSCN (Khaplang) group.
The breakaway faction of the NSCN-IM is now housed in a Niuland camp. CNN-IBN got exclusive access to the NSCN (U) camp at Niuland. Several senior leaders of the Khaplang faction of NSCN were present at the camp.
In fact, Kughalu Mulatonu, the chief of the NSCN (K)'s Ceasefire Supervisory Board, did all the talking. He insisted that the NSCN(U) was the beginning of real unity between Naga insurgent groups.
"We want to convey to the Government of India that there has been bargaining for 10 years, asking the Nagas to unite. The Nagas have united. We want the international community to understand that they asked us to unite and we have united," Mulatonu declares.
Singson, the external affairs minister of NSCN (K) faction, and Azheto Chophy, former home minister of the NSCN (IM) faction today sit side by side. They came together on November 23 to sign a 'unification agreement'. They claim they represent the real voice of the Nagas.
At its headquarters in Camp Hebron, the NSCN (IM) has declared an Emergency. The revolt by the cadres of the Sema tribe led by Azheto Chophy has been a big jolt to the outfit.
The NSCN (IM) says unification and reconciliation of all Naga underground factions is their stated goal, but it must happen in an organised manner.
"One of our leaders, who has been there with us, Azheto, he would not have to actually sneak away at night and suddenly say we are for unification. NSCN (IM) has been vocal for many years about unification or reconciliation among all Naga people and we are fighting for that only," Brig Phunthing, convenor of NSCN (IM)'s Ceasefire Monitoring Cell, says.
The apex body of all Naga tribes, the Naga HoHo, is also unwilling to recognise ad-hoc unity moves like the formation of the NSCN(U).
"How could we say it is the unification group? If we are to look at the unification it has to be endorsed officially by NSCN (IM), NSCN (K), NNC and by the federal government," Naga HoHo Vice-President Keviletuo Kiewhuo argues.
The NSCN (IM) alleges that the Indian Government has engineered the split in their ranks in a bid to weaken it.
"So long as there is no solution, the movement will go on. Agencies of the Government of India might think that by splitting certain sections of people, they would like to break it," Phunthing alleges.
On a recent visit to Nagaland to review the security scenario ahead of the March 5 Assembly elections, National Security Advisor MK Narayanan declared that a new arrangement for the Nagas is possible under the Constitution.
"We can work out a new arrangement for the Naga people with maximum autonomy and freedom, but this must be under the Indian Union," he announced.
The Naga insurgent groups have, however, rejected the condition. "We do not endorse the Indian Constitution in the first place," Phunthing points out. "The right to self-rule is what we call sovereignty," Mulatonu argues.
"We are saying that if there is going to be a political solution, then the Naga identity has to be recognised and preserved. India should give status to Naga people where it is honourable to both Nagas and Government of India," Naga Hoho Vice-President Keviletuo Kiewhuo demands.
But the divisions between the armed Naga groups has undermined their ability to represent the Naga aspirations and negotiate with Delhi.
And as the youth start tapping into the new economy, the underground groups are losing their hold over the Next Generation Nagas.
Yet, NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) do continue to influence the state elections. Open secrets are a dime a dozen in Nagaland and one such open secret in this election is that NSCNK and the newly formed NSCN Unification are supporting the Congress and the NSCN(IM) is for the Nagaland People's Front.
"Well, all the underground factions had come out with press statement that they will not be involved in the elections. But I see some hands against my party. Some of the leaders, who had brought down my government, are in close touch with them. So I hope they don't misuse their power," Nagaland People's Front leader Neiphiu Rio claims.
Congress leader KL Chishi, however, denies any involvement of the Naga outfits in the elections. "I don't think the underground (elements) will participate in the election. As citizens if they want, they can participate in voting," he says.
(With Mukut Medhi and Arijit Sen)
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