Kohima, July 6: Former Nagaland chief minister S.C. Jamir gave ?one last tip? on how to go about ending the Naga impasse before leaving the state for his new assignment as Governor of Goa. Continuing his refrain about the futility of demanding sovereignty, the Congress leader told The Telegraph that pragmatism, not idealism, was the most essential ingredient in his recipe for success.
?Today, people are afraid of speaking out the truth because they fear the gun. But they know that the solution they desire has to be acceptable to the government of India, too,? he said.
On integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas of the Northeast, Jamir said he was all for making ?all the divided families a harmonious whole?, but differed from the NSCN (Isak-Muivah)?s view on how to accomplish the task.
He suggested a convention, led by the Church and various NGOs, to form a composite opinion on the subject.
?A convention should be organised, involving community and political leaders. The convention can then gauge what the people actually want. Fear of the rebels is preventing the people from airing their views.?
The veteran politician said organising such a convention could be the turning point in the Naga movement. ?We have not given them (the people) the chance to speak out. If we do so, that may throw up a practical solution to the problem.?
Jamir said he did not expect the Naga problem to be solved easily, given its complexity. As he had done before, he made a case for involving all Naga militant factions in the peace process.
The Congress leader is accused of being biased towards the NSCN (Khaplang) and he, in turn, has been criticising chief minister Neiphiu Rio for his alleged pro-NSCN (I-M) stand.
Taking a dig at the NSCN (I-M), which describes him as a ?hurdle? in the way of the peace process, Jamir said the militant group would ?miss their object of criticism? now that he was headed for Goa.
He ruled out retirement from politics because of his new assignment, saying it was something he had not even contemplated.