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1964 NAGA PEACE MISSION REVISITED _
BENCHMARK FOR THE PRE-TALK KICK OFF
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Every one in the country had been waiting for a peaceful and successful negotiated settlement of the Indo-Naga conflict, during the last twelve years.Of the two major issues, one remains invariably,predominantly central since 1947, and another appears to be a bit complicated in diplomatic linguistics, since three Indian states and a foreign state which are not invited to the ongoing talks by the union government of India, are inextricably involved in any proposed meaningful process.
The central issue of 'Nagaland independence 'remains the top agenda since 1964 peace mission efforts.The philosophical validity is simple: when the one- time oppressed people becomes the oppressor,oppression has been as good as vindicated and justified till it has been qualified or, terminated for good by transcendental civilizational valuesor, super-eminent principles.The same may be applicable to Nagaland imbroglio.
Without any prejudice to the possible political outcome whatsoever on the topic, four broad parameters had been nearly settled by the 1964 peace mission comprising JP.Narain, Assam chief minister B.P.Chaliha,reverend Michael Scott of the holy church and one more member who skipped off due to illness.The framework for talks had been laid down in 1964. The 1964 peace parameters are revisited for historicity and contemporary relevance in the process of a successful settlement.
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# JP.Narain officially addressed the peace mission forum:"Mr.Speaker Sir,we regard the Nagas particularly those connected with NFG as Naga patriots and not as outlaws.They are not breaking laws,but fighting for freedom".[25-3-1965].However,dominant Indian view,particularly of leaders in politics,universities,media ,among others, is that they are terrorists to be erased out from human history.JP could have prevailed upon the latter.
Reverend Michael Scott :"What you are asserting is independence.It is not rebellion or secession."[25.3.1965].A large number of Indians had been led by the powerful overarching- manna from the heaven like- mass multi- media to assume that they want to break up India.History would give testimony though.He further noted," And the kind of relationship between Nagaland and India may be negotiated." Negotiation had not been ruled out in 1965.
The peace mission made certain positive observation in their efforts for hammering out a settlement,like the one that had been reached at on good Friday at Belfast in 1998.In their official statement, the mission observed, "The Peace Mission believes that there is no human problem that cannot be solved by peaceful means. ...
..12.The peace Mission,in the circumstances,appreciates and understands the desire of the Nagas for self-determination.."[20.12.1964]
Mo Mowlam wrote in 1949,"You can't switch on peace like a light".
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## Withdrawl of forces of both the parties engaged in hostilities for whatever justification that had been made by the political leadership has been perceived as the beginning of any substantive peace process the world over,let alone the Indo-Naga conflict.
JP. Narain was a different Indian,known for his total revolution, struggle against unwarranted emergency,violation of human rights and also a wonderful man who turned down the post of president fo India during the Janata regime.His ideas took ahead of progressive generation of his time.On forces withdrawal,JP spoke:
" We, the three Peace Mission members, would like to see the Security Forces of India withdrawn from Nagaland tommorrow.--- We are anxious to see
Indian Security Forces withdrawn." [27 March,1965]
Peace mission proposal was seminal and significant in order to give a chance to peace to break out.Peace did not break out.A party waited for zero-sum game and, another for non-zero-sum game.The Zapatismo might have anticipated a velvet revolution in awrong time in history.Nimbyism had taken over the political space.
The peace mission proposal was simple without any embedded hidden agenda.It noted,"The Peace Mission's proposal, following this bilateral declaration of renunciation of war,to deposit all underground arms in the safe custody and to withdraw all Indian forces from law and order duties could not be unfortunately implemented." [20.12.1964]
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### People around the world including Indian patriots and academic, historian,political scientists in India are confused if the Nagalanders are _ a] a people,b] if so, entitled to the exercise of the universal right of the people to self-determination, c]if so, when,d] if so, have they ever exercised that universal right,e] then, how did they exercise and above all, f] did the government of India obstruct them to attain their legitimate political and soci-economic status.
The author wishes that PM,PMO's office,Padmanabhaiah et.al. might have fully understood these basic parameters, and benchmarks, and turned around the negotiation process,directly in the last twelve years of 50 rounds of active negotiation on the central issue of the Naga imbroglio, without making strategically- worked out,premeditated distractions from the central issue.
All the actors in the UK that reached out the Good Friday Belfast agreement 10 April, 1998 did work on 20 month-long non-stop negotiation with the USA as the guaranter that prevented the talk from sliding down on unchartered ground, as it happened to the Norway-facilitated Srilankan talks that irretrievably failed.
The confusion about the RSD of the Naga people had been removed by the great peace mission.
"5] ...Nevertheless the Right of self-determination,the claim, belonged to them separately as a people from the sovereign ,independent state of India,.." [20.12.1964]
Chief minister B.P. Chaliha did concur on the entitlement of the Naga people to that right,yet he pressurized on moral grounds, the liberation group-NFG to exercise that inalienable right of the Nagas towards making Indian union stronger.In his words,
"First thing is that Peace mission proposal recognises the right of self-determination,but at the same time urges NFG to exercise that right in favour of India because we want a settlement." [24 March,1965] .
The second part bears a pursuasive,emotional note unlike the first part of Chaliha's official and categoriacl statement about the entitlement of Nagas to the universally approved right to self-determination.The first part,hence,had been negotiable.
At the end of the day, the peace mission kept every one in good humour when, it proclaimed,"The Peace Mission believes that there is no human problem that cannot be solved by peaceful means." [20 December,1964].
Remarkably, the mission knew- possible informed by their sixth sense- that no human history and no geography including that of the Ottoman,or the Soviet empire could claim immutability.In its words, " We do not say that this should necessarily be a permanent settlement because nothing in this world is permanent."
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