(27. Apr .2011)
When even pain fails to move us
[ Tongam Rina ]
Apart from near misses mid air, India’s aviation history is filled with stories of tragedies that could have been avoided.
With liberalisation of economy, the aviation Industry in India took a major leap. Every year more than forty million Indians take the air route, aided by the low costs private airlines which accounts for 60 percent of total travelers. While the private airlines is going from strength to strength despite many hiccups including questionable recruitments, the government run Air India refuses to learn. The only thing that Air India has to its credit today is connecting smaller towns in its worn out planes. India has had major airline disasters and most of it involves Air India. The former subsidiary of Air India, Indian Airlines and Alliance Air, Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd. (PHHL) accounts for worst airline mishaps. More than thousand people have lost their lives involving Air India. This excludes the crashes like AI flight between Montreal-London-Delhi caused by terrorists which left more than 300 dead.
With such track records, there is bound to be questions at the safety measures. Why the national carrier has almost become a on air coffin?
Yet again, there was another tragedy involving the national helicopter company of India. This time it was at home.
The recent chopper crash in Tawang not only devastated the family members of those who died in the tragic mishap, it has made us question whether air travel is a safe bet in Arunachal. While we mourn the dead, the crash has raised numerous questions. We don’t have answers today but somewhere we have to figure out to ensure that such tragedy never happens again.
Today, air travel in many states in the North east is synonymous with Pawan Hans.
Jointly operated by the Government of India and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Pawan Hans mainly operates in Northeast regions and ONGC project areas.
Two crashes in Arunachal and one in Shillong involving Pawan Hans comes to mind. Accidents, they say are accidents but then some accidents can be avoided or impact minimized.
The impact of tragedy in Tawang, if one believes the eye witnesses could have been lesser if we had the right fire fighting equipments in place. It’s too painful a topic to even write about, but could the government make effort to ensure that safety measures are implemented.
Could we ground the planes that need to be grounded on time, take a relook at safety measures?
Instead of writing letters about safety, could we ensure that we don’t put lives of air travelers at risk. After every accident, a probe is set up. If we go by the record, these probes are usually reactive, never preempted or proactive. That’s also the time when blame game plays out like musical chairs.
Somewhere responsibilities need to be fixed. It is about time.
(13. Apr .2011)
Can we dare to dream?
[ Tongam Rina ]
There are two images that I will carry in my heart for a long time of the visit to Roing as part of the Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF) peace initiative. Two young men, one a mere school boy, sharing their stories of how they suffered during the recent communal clashes between their two communities. The stories were uncomfortably similar. One’s parents house was vandalized, their life uprooted and forced to shift away from a place where they hold deep memories. The other, shot in his shoulder and today, not certain if he will ever recover, not the least because his family does not have the finances to treat him at Vellore where he has been referred.
Young men who had dreams in their hearts – today caught in the middle of this communal turmoil. Yours truly still cannot decide if they are poster boys of their communities or victims of it.
One is shocked by the intolerance that has become a buzzword in the Arunachal that we live in – we can’t seem to tolerate anyone who is not in our circle. And it is not just about ethnic or tribal identities. Politicians cannot tolerate RTI activists, bureaucrats cannot tolerate inquisitive public, businessmen cannot tolerate unaccommodating officers and factions cannot tolerate another in the same union. As we have moved on in life, on this path of ‘development’, intolerance has crept into our lives almost unnoticed.
Community and individual aspiration have always been part of our society. We have heard stories of raids on each other, conflicts and even small scale wars. But there have always been traditional institutions that have shielded and helped in conflict resolution. But given new equations, they seem to have lost whatever teeth they have had and no one seems to care – until the next major crisis!
Today we reach a point when we must realize that without cooperation, things do not move. Whether it has been resolving incidences of kidnapping, border disputes or factional rows. Time and again, we have been made to see that we must stand with each other.
We must respect, understand and tolerate the other – if we ourselves are to survive.
The initiative of the AITF is a prime example. A conglomeration of community organizations, its intervention has shown that it is still possible to nourish our aspirations yet at the same time give space to others to nourish theirs. In fact, yours truly feels this is the only way.
What will happen in Roing next is only for the Adi and Idu communities there to decide. AITF has been a bridge, but to cross it is in their hands and minds. To their credit, both communities have shown exemplary understanding in the series of meetings that were held. But will this peace hold? The stories of the two young men point to only one thing- our young cannot be damned because of our lack of foresight. And this is not just for Roing but for our state as a whole.
On the way home from the helipad, I saw a girl pillion riding on a bike with a t – shirt which proudly said “Dare to Dream”. I smiled and yet had to wonder, are we giving our youth that opportunity?
One last thing, the person whose parent’s house was vandalized is today at the forefront of the peace efforts. Are we with the likes of him?
(06. Apr .2011)
This coin has three sides
[ Tongam Rina ]
Regional parties foraying into Arunachal territory is not new. More recently, we have five MLAs representing Trinamool Congress, which is basically a Bengal based party. Politicians in the state have not really cared much about parties as long as it gave them a platform to represent themselves and perhaps the people as well. Them representing the people is contentious though!
We are a state, where party affiliation or loyalty is least of concerns as long as we get to hobnob with those in “power”. Our loyalty lies in switching loyalties!
However, the formation of Arunachal branch of Naga People’s Front, the main ruling regional political party in Nagaland was rather ill-timed, given the social and political mindset of most people of Arunachal.
With trouble brewing in Tirap due to factional fights among the NSCN, one would have expected some amount of sensitivity from the NPF, no matter how thin veiled.
NPF had earlier attempted to field candidates during the last assembly elections in Arunachal. Later, the plan was unceremoniously dropped.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is reported to have said that the main intention to expand the party beyond his state was for the interest of the Naga political issue and to create harmony with other regional political parties.
One is not sure whether harmony has been strengthened with the formations of Arunachal and Manipur branch of NPF but it sure has become an issue to talk about.
With peculiar social and political settings in the state, questions are bound to be asked at the formation. For long, people of Arunachal have been struggling to deal with the complicated Naga identity issue. The problems have been compounded by the aggressive presence of the factions of confused NSCN in Tirap and Changlang, who have been using guns to do their talking.
As usual, most of us, who are in a position to have a say have decided to maintain silence at the development apart from All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union. For whatever they are worth, the students have at least asked some valid questions. With time, we will have to deal with the decision of NPF, not because of anything but for the fact that we are still battling our own issues. Do we really have space to accommodate all? More importantly, are we ready to give space to others issues?
The region long troubled by militarization, separatist movements, corruption and identity issues, the last thing we need is any party trying to make inroads in the name of a “political issue”.
We don’t have to wait for time to tell us how politicised the move is!
(30. Mar .2011)
Who Will Guard The Guards Themselves…?
[ Tongam Rina ]
The recent Daporijo MMS scandal, involving the debasement of two young people by representatives of the so called upholders of justice and security is another reminder that we have come a long way, discarding all moral ethos, which until recently formed a part and parcel of the tribal way of life. Today we don’t have any qualms about anything. There is absolutely no fear- not of god, of society or even of authorities. We live in a sense of false confidence that we can get away with everything and anything. Aided by the powerful, our moral corruption has reached such a level that we don’t think twice to rape, murder, indulge in corruption of every hue, colour and weight, which even includes usurping and selling off rice meant for poorest of the poor.
It is impossible to even think about what the young people in the video must have gone through and will continue to go through all their life. Similar inhumane atrocities were committed by the prison keepers of Abu Ghraib, which we well know of. Difference is that in Daporijo the perpetrators were our own.
Apart from those policemen involved, even officers who booked them under easy-to-manipulate sections should also be taken to task for negligence and professional misconduct. At least, they could have worked hard and booked those criminals under the strictest sections within the relevant provisions of law. The lapses are so obvious that it is apparent to all that the police seems to find its strength from the moral breakdown that has engulfed the department in recent times.
Why is that almost everywhere, police seems to be running into problems with citizens, incident after incident? Department might brush it aside as isolated. But if the department cared at all to cross-check, these ‘isolated’ cases have become too regular a feature to dismiss it.
Is the unbecoming behavior of Police personnel any reflection on the society that we live in today?
There was a time, when people in khaki commanded a lot more respect compared to those without it. But with time, the equations have changed. These days most police personnel manage to evoke in us utter disdain, which perhaps is a reflection of society we live in. Earlier, we could do without police. But today citizens are demanding that police be deployed even in the villages. This is a departure from what it was during even the 90’s.
The video clip has travelled far and wide. Now, as citizens really concerned about these two young people, the first thing we should have done was delete the movie. But then, on one hand, we condemn the act and demand punishment for the culprits, and on the other, we continue to circulate the videos.
Not long ago, there was clip of a young girl being mercilessly afflicted with violence by group of women, allegedly for having an extra martial affair. The video found its way to the internet, which was promptly shared by many on social networking sites.
No doubt, police needs disciplining. They need to be told that they are not above law and that law is equal for all. There should be no leniency at all. Those heading the department should ensure that whatever little credibility it has today is saved before society itself turns away in disgust from its protectors. Black sheep in the department who seem to have outnumbered the rest, need to be reined in before the department’s reputation is. One thing that will reassure citizens of the department’s integrity is immediate arrest and persecution of those involved. But we have seen before that this is more a wish than a reality.
But also important is to think-have we looked at ourselves? As long as we willingly share such images with no thought of its impact on real people and real families-nothing will change. Cases will be registered, bails will be given, stories will be forgotten.
The guards will guard us, but who will guard the guards? Surely not the insensitive government or its equally insensitive people that we have become. Like yours truly’s grandfather said long back-it is difficult to figure out who is pointing a finger at whom because there are just too many hands to count!
(23. Mar .2011)
Amidst troubled times
[ Tongam Rina ]
Amidst chaos, violence and unrest in Tirap and communal tension between the Idus and Adis in Roing, the tabling of gender budget in Arunachal Legislative Assembly came as a welcome relief.
Even though gender budgeting is not an end in itself; it is a powerful tool to achieve gender equality and empowerment of women.
For those of us who are new to the term Gender budgeting, there is no need to panic! The Gender Budget is not about dividing the budget – 50% for women and 50% for men. Roughly, it involves analysis of actual expenditure on women and girls as compared to on men and boys.
The state government and Finance Minister and all those officers and officials deserves praises for the path breaking decision, even though only 12 departments have been included in the gender budget.
The inclusion of gender budget in the state budget is a noteworthy achievement for the women’s movement in Arunachal. Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society, the premier organization has been appealing for the gender budget for years.
Despite changes world over, it was in 2006-2007 that government of India actually woke up to the need of Gender budget and showed some basic improvement in the presentation of gendered expenditure. It is only now that the Gender Budgeting is carried out department wise in the country which traditional put all the schemes for women and children under the Department of Women and Child Development.
A start has been made and yours truly hope that more efforts would be put in place by the government to ensure that planning process includes all sections of society.
While hope runs high, one is let down by the communal clashes in Roing. It could have been avoided had the leaders from both communities and administration acted on time. Roing always had history of deep mistrust and intolerance between the two communities. No matter, what the bodies representing the two communities say regarding the present ongoing clashes, the ongoing conflict is a result of intolerance. One feels sorry for the two communities who have lived together for ages, yet do not miss a chance to indulge in activities which is destructive not only for themselves but for the whole state. The blame game has deepened further. It is not going to help anyone, more so the common people caught in the middle of it. Media will find a new fodder soon to fill the pages and communal clashes will be just another story. It is the communities who will have to learn to live with differences. They know what is best for them and it is about time, efforts are put in. Trust once broken is difficult to mend. But there is always a way out, more so when there is involvement of two communities. They have to figure out what suits them the best and move forward. Rest of Arunachal can only hope that peace is restored.
(16. Mar .2011)
The divine intervention
[ Tongam Rina ]
The letter by NSCN (K) to this daily and Assam based media houses calling for withdrawal of support to Congress led government by legislators from Tirap and Changlang did not come as a surprise to many of us. Though we may have never talked about it openly, Naga insurgency groups do have a say in every sphere of life. So much so that one of the faction had the courage to dictate terms to the elected representatives.
But the core issue has been sidelined by our leaders and organisations. More than the issue, the authenticity of the letter is in question. Who are we trying to fool here?
Government has said that it would investigate into the authenticity of the letter. We are all looking forward to the outcome of the investigation since the outfit itself has not come forward with anything about the mail.
While Tirap continue to burn, all dramas are being played out in the media, more so in this daily. The NSCN (K) and (IM) are still battling it out for supremacy and number of Indian Army has been raised. Don’t be surprised if there are more fresh turf wars in Tirap in sometime.
Citizens continue to bear it all while those sitting in the comfort of Itanagar are waging a war through the media.
One would wish that instead of all these well orchestrated dramas in media, thereby killing the core issue itself, some concrete actions were taken.
What exactly is the government stand? Apart from the letter, that has created ripples in the political circle, one is left with no choice but wonder whether our elected government is serious about the problems in the two districts, more so in Tirap.
On the other hand, the collective leadership of NSCN, currently in talks with government of India is too confused to put forward their demands and ideas since they cannot stop fighting for supremacy. But then it has not stopped them from making Arunachal their battleground, where they dance to their chosen tunes and makes us dance as well.
Sadly, our state has ended up as the favorite battleground for insurgents without a cause and Indian Army.
Citizens will continue to pay the price because of wrong decision taken by self serving and myopic politicians. Tirap is just an example today.
While we continue to debate and discuss, this office was not surprised to read the letter threatening a legal action from Chief Minister’s secretariat. Thankfully, we have been warned in advance that legal action will be taken against us, unlike the other time by our one time favorite politician Kiren Rijiju.
We are not sure whether he has actually decided to sue us but we did get a notice from his lawyers informing us that he plans to sue us if information required was not given to him. All we did was make space for a letter calling him the Rasputin of Arunachal for his role in getting power projects in Arunachal. We are not very sure what happened to the MOUs, though govt documents do say almost all the politicians, irrespective of their political affiliation did write to the Chief Minister recommending projects.
While we discuss the problem confronting the state in leisure, one of the ministers in the present government has blamed all the wrongs in the state to bad omens, while addressing the media some weeks back.
Maybe, we all actually join in him doing the necessary Puja to ward off the bad omens. We do need some divine intervention!
(02. Mar .2011)
Deafening silence and Tirap
[ Tongam Rina ]
After a report was published in this daily about citizens caught in the ugly turf war between two factions of NSCN, there was an expected phone call, accusing yours truly of being a no good arm chair journalist.
Good or no good, as a journalist, who makes a living reporting, yours truly better write! Tirap, laden with problems which was rather invited from outside, is today in a precarious situation. Respective State governments have been silent after the creation of Department of Tirap and Changlang by fluke. Citizens have no idea what this department is doing or whether funding, if any, is being used at all.
Why are people’s representatives so reluctant to come out in public with problems confronting the district and the solutions taken? We would want to be reassured.
Tirap’s problem is not hers alone. It is the problem of the whole state.
It’s not that Tirap is deprived of any good leaders today. In the forefront is the powerful Speaker of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Wanglin Lowangdong, one of the few well-informed politicians, the entire North east region has today.
While we wait for the leaders to reassure us, one is left flabbergasted at the ways of both factions of NSCN. They have no business to take the whole district to ransom because their greed has crossed all possible limits. Just because they have the gun, they have a say. But more than these bunches of people, who have no ideologies whatsoever, what is frightening is the way centre and state government’s handling of the whole issue.
What is the exact stand of state govt on Tirap problem? If the govt does not accept Greater Nagalim theory, it is surprising that the ceasefire is being allowed in district.
Caught in the entire jam are the citizens. Its not only the salaried people, even the villagers are extorted. Imagine a situation where your pigs are taken away just to feed a bunch of brainwashed criminals, in the garb of freedom fighters. It’s sickening to even start thinking what they do in the name of a separate country. All for their cause, we sacrifice our pigs!
The Arms Forces Special Power’s Act is in place in the district. But if we go back in time, the Act is applicable on the people, not the happy gun triggering militants.
Security forces are mute witness to torture and killings.
At the most, they are happy organizing surrender ceremonies. Who are these people who surrender?
Apart from the villagers, government officials too are caught in the entire situation. Even though the government has surrendered to the designs of the militants, it is the government employees who are working against all odds. They not only face constant threat and abuse, but they part away with 2 % of their salaries. To make up for the loss, they either indulge in unfair means or don’t remain in station. We can’t force or expect them to be fair, when life itself is at stake.
As one of the friends, posted in Tirap suggested if the govt has indeed surrendered, let the lives of the employees be insured or pay them life risk allowances. Apart from that government should reimburse the employees the 2 % annual tax they pay to ultras.
All said and done, the question remains why ultras have been allowed to regroup, strengthen and embolden over the years. We are told that numbers of security forces have been increased. But for what and who?
(02.Feb.2011)
The long wait
[ Tongam Rina ]
When formal announcement of Pasighat Centennial celebration was made, not only the people of the beautiful town but almost whole of the state endorsed and welcomed it. Little did we realized that celebration would soon run into controversy over the repeated postponements and worse still the renaming of the bridge over Siang. But the best was yet to come! Apparently, the celebration has been postponed over and over again because invited central leaders have not been able to find out free time from their busy schedules!. In such a situation, yours truly wish these chief guests were as considerate as us. But priorities are clearly very different.
It is typical Arunachal syndrome to depend on others for every little need, but it has crossed all possible limits. Even to celebrate something as important as the hundredth year of a historic town, we have to wait for their presence and endorsement. The citizens, their preparations and expectations have all been tossed aside.
Yours truly, as amnesic as any other journalist worth his or her salt had actually forgotten about the celebration.
It took a very engaging desktop calendar, brought out by the Department of Tourism to mark the event to remind her about the celebrations! If calendar is any indication, the celebration should be a grand success. But after having waited for so long, the interests and excitement have dwindled. Now it almost borders on anger and frustration. She would not dare mark the dates of celebration on the calendar and dirty it good looks.
Why can’t the citizens be given the chance and freedom to celebrate something as momentous as hundredth years of a town. As someone said, why do we have to stick to tried and tested phenomenon of pleasing others? In our effort to continue the policy of appeasement, innovation has died an unnatural death. We even did not bother to give it a decent burial.
The efforts of a simple villager who prepared the apong, gathered the ekkam, and celebration committee members, whose daily routine has gone haywire, does not matter to us. What matters to us is the presence of someone big and important as Chief Guest. One could easily conclude that it’s almost obsessive. Going by the practiced norm, it’s not about the event we celebrate, its rather the presence of the chief guest who takes the centre stage of any celebration. It’s the felicitation of a chief guest that matters, not the importance of the event or the mass participation.
Yours truly would wish that celebration actually happens before the next batch of apong is wasted, ekkam dries, and the potholes adorned the roads once again.
It is for the government to ensure that dates are announced and celebration goes ahead with or without the hallowed chief guest.
Blatant hijacking of landmark event is not something we would like to associate centennial celebration of Pasighat. Citizens would rather celebrate her courage; recall her contribution to the state and her never ending resilience. That would be the ultimate tribute to the place which ushered in a whole new era in all spheres to the state.
(19.Jan.2011)
A Chinese new year gift
[ Tongam Rina ]
Issuance of stapled visa to weightlifter Yukar Sibi and Indian weightlifting Federation official Abraham Techi came as huge surprise, given the fact that China considers Arunachal as its own. Even as China maintains there is no change in its stand towards Arunachal, it is a clear policy shift if we go by precedence. The latest move should come as a relief to the country and jingoistic Arunachalees. If it is anything to go by, atleast we have been upgraded from being “theirs’ to “disputed”.
Until now, China has issued stapled visa to people from Jammu and Kashmir which it considers a disputed territory.
Notwithstanding the fact that we have a democratically elected government under the Indian Union, Arunachal is considered a province of China!!
On the other hand, China does not have a consistent visa policy for Arunchalees. There have been contradictions as it refused to issue visa to IAS officer Gonesh Koyu, which prompted pulling out an entire high profile Indian delegation while a delegation of women leaders including Jarjum Ete, Komoli Mossang and Dipti Bengia visited the country on normal visas. There are other examples too where its lack of policy stand exposed.
These instances clearly show lack of clear cut policy. But whether China has a policy or not, it has always managed to upset Arunachalees more than the Indians!
In one instance, All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union courted arrest in Delhi upset at the claim while the Indian leaders busy with their usual jobs had no time to meet the students.
In this case too, its been the Arunachalees who have gone overboard including burning of effigy of Chinese premier, upset at the Chinese move.
The Indian media made a brief mention of it while Ministry of External Affairs issued a meek statement.
Like it or not, every time China says something, it irritates Arunachal more than rest of India. Maybe it’s a case of wearing our patriotism on our sleeves, but do we really have to? Maybe a meek statement would more than suffice.
China will not stop being an irritant. But India has to look for options to tackle this issue.
On November 12, 2009, the Ministry issued a travel advisory, cautioning Indian citizens that Chinese visas issued on separate papers stapled to passports would not be considered valid for travel out of the country. It basically means that people of Arunachal and Jammu Kashmir will not be allowed to visit China. We can do without visiting that country, but will India react more strongly than just stopping its citizens from travelling to China. With increase in trade relations and opening of traditional trade routes with Tibet, India needs to come up with a pragmatic approach.
A tit for tat is not going to work as it will not help thaw the volatile relations the two countries share. But we sure would not want a situation where we have to be embarrassed by China’s treatment of us and India’s complacent stand. Arunachal would be watching the next move of Indian government.
(012.Jan.2011)
PDS and non-delivery system
[ Tongam Rina ]
For an average citizen dependent on Public Distribution System (PDS), it does not matter whether the quintals of food items are transported through motor bikes or head loads as long food reach them on time.
A hungry citizen would not be bothered whether Food Security Bill actually takes shape. We would not want to know whether Special Investigation Cell looking into anomalies in PDS has any plans to wake up from its deep slumber. We don’t even care whether the state government is still in the process of streamlining PDS delivery system as promised some five years back. Citizens won’t even question the quality of rice as long as it fills the stomach. With such backdrops, it is unsettling that food depots in many places in Arunachal are empty.
For a state hugely dependant on Public Distribution System, it is a rather uncanny that people of the state has to wait for their monthly quota of food grains. It’s even more incredible that after we made it to the national headlines because of the notorious PDS scam, Food Corporation of India, state government and the contractors seems not too bothered whether essential items actually reach us. To make the matter worse, everyone seems to be blaming everyone else for such utter incompetence and laxity.
What stops FCI and the state government from giving us something that has been kindly allotted to us by the centre?
Is another scam waiting to be unearthed? What could be the possible explanation for empty food depots? We come across as a society that’s not bothered about others as long as we are stuffed.
If the people’s first government really cares, it is about time FCI is made to explain to the people of this state the reason for empty depots. It would be a welcome change if the FCI makes news, for once, for good reasons rather than constantly being in news for corruption and inefficiency.
FCI and state government must ensure that responsibilities are discharged on time so that people get to eat on time. Blame game does not fill a hungry stomach.
(05.Jan.2011)
Time for a reality check
[ Tongam Rina ]
As we were getting ready to welcome the New Year, there was a heart breaking appeal from Sanjay Kumar’ family for his release.
A supervisor with APMDPCL Coal Mine, Kharsang, Changlang, Kumar was kidnapped on November 24 while he was on his way to the coal fields. There is no news whatsoever from any corner apart from assurances that efforts are being put to secure his safe release.
On May 13 last year, an Indian Forest Service Officer Vilas Bardekar was kidnapped in Arunachal Pradesh by the suspected National Democratic Front of Bodolannd. He was released on August 1 after centre and state government of Assam and Arunachal threw its force to secure his release.
Unlike Bardekar’s case, where the agencies had clue right from the beginning, in Kumar’s case, the scenario is different. No one seems to have any idea who kidnapped and why.
Is it one of the factions of NSCN, active in Changlang district who picked up the Supervisor or is it some individuals who have a stake in mining sector in Arunachal? There seems to be too many contradictions and possibilities as well.
The people of the state are patient but it would soon want to know why someone should be kidnapped while he is in Arunachal and why there is total silent from the investigating agencies. We would want to see that kidnapped official is safely released and reunited with his family members.
Kumar and Bardekar’s abduction are indication that all is not well despite tall claims by the govt. Though the state might not have to deal with home grown armed rebels, there is no denying the fact that Arunachal continues to be used as a hideout by militants from outside the state. Not only these rebels use this state as hideout, they operate with impunity.
NDFB has a clout in at least four districts bordering Assam while ULFA, despite Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa’s arrest and subsequent release has its presence in Lohit and Changlang.
On the other hand, Changlang and Tirap continue to be the favorite playground of both factions of NSCN.
Its not very clear why NSCN has come all the way to Tirap and Changlang, which is home to the Tangsas, Tutsas, Noctes and Wanchoos, who share the same ancestry as some tribes of Nagaland and Burma. NSCN was formed with an aim to secure a separate Naga nation. It’s a different issue that with time the whole greater Nagalim issue seems lost in some quagmire as both the factions can’t seem to decide what it really wants for itself and for the people who it claims to fight for. On the other hand, Indian government is having the last laugh while the factions fight among themselves and the Indian Army. Ceasefire has a completely new meaning here.
However, Tirap and Changlang continue to suffer. In the name of Naga nation, it’s the people of these districts who are the worst sufferers. Apart from living in utter confusion and fear, dealing with massive unemployment, drug addiction, the whole process of development has been derailed. A huge chunk of fund is taken away by these organizations and government employees part away with at least 2 percent of their salary every month. The problem does not end here. There is utter lack of accountability which has lead to widespread corruption in all institutions. Its time, we and they do a reality check.
