Close on the heels of the vehement opposition expressed by the NSCN (I-M) against implementation of the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), the Global Naga Forum (GNF) has also raised its own concerns, cautioning that RIIN could lead to deep divisions within the Naga community.
In a statement issued through its media cell, the GNF acknowledged the state government’s intention behind introducing RIIN—aimed at protecting land and employment rights of indigenous Nagas from illegal immigration and unregulated influx of non-Nagas. However, the forum expressed doubts about the unintended consequences of the initiative, warning that it might serve the interests of only a select few Nagas seeking government employment.
While the GNF recognized that RIIN could benefit certain groups, it emphasized that the register would not address the core issue of illegal immigration and unchecked influx.
Instead, it predicted that RIIN could create a scenario where more Nagas are issued indigenous resident cards, yet continue to compete for a shrinking number of government jobs. It said that illegal immigration might still remain unchecked, undermining the very purpose of the initiative.
The forum likened this situation to “brandishing a certificate of birth in a house whose ownership had changed hands and is now occupied by someone else,” suggesting that RIIN would do little to protect Naga rights in the long term.
A significant concern raised by the GNF was the potential for RIIN to create divisions among Nagas. The forum argued that the register could lead to a scenario where Nagas from different regions and states are excluded from one another’s lands, driving a wedge between Nagas of Nagaland and those from other regions.
According to GNF, the implementation of RIIN could formalize these divisions, further fragmenting the Naga homeland into competing parts across different Indian states. Such a mechanism, it warned, would be irresponsible on the part of the state government, giving official sanction to politically motivated divisions that could permanently break apart the Naga ancestral homeland.
The forum also predicted that RIIN would intensify ideological divisions and create psychological barriers among the Nagas. It cited a comment from an unnamed Naga elder who jested that RIIN could make Nagas of Nagaland feel like “indigenous Naga Brahmins” among their own people, highlighting the risk of further alienation within the community.
The GNF expressed fears that RIIN would align with longstanding strategies aimed at fragmenting Naga solidarity. The forum emphasized that at a time when the Nagaland government should be uniting Nagas from different regions for an inclusive and lasting political settlement with the central government, RIIN could have the opposite effect.
Recalling past efforts toward Naga integration, GNF pointed to six resolutions passed by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) in favor of consolidating contiguous Naga areas, as outlined in Point 13 of the 16-Point Agreement. It said the provision allows Naga tribes from neighboring regions to join Nagaland if they desire, underscoring the importance of unity among Naga tribes.
The forum questioned whether the current government and NLA were in conflict with these past resolutions or with the broader Naga cause, which seeks to bring together Naga tribes across state boundaries.
GNF also criticized the recent Naga Consultative Meeting on the Indo-Naga political issue, held by the Political Affairs Committee on September 12, 2024. The forum argued that the meeting was not inclusive, as it excluded key stakeholders. It warned that with the introduction of RIIN, the very fabric of Naga peoplehood was now at risk, and urged the government to engage in deeper reflection and consultation.
GNF reiterated its appeal to Naga leaders to focus on the broader Naga cause, rather than short-term political or personal gains. It called for unity among Nagas across political, regional, and tribal divides, urging them to prioritize the resolution of the nearly 80-year-old Indo-Naga political issue.
It also stressed that Naga leaders should set aside divisive policies, like RIIN, and instead work toward an inclusive solution that promotes the common good of the Naga people. It maintained that such a solution would bring peace and mutual benefits to both the Nagas and India.
GNF emphasized that while governments and political parties may come and go, the rights and aspirations of the Naga people endure. It urged the current generation of Naga leaders, starting with the state government, to reflect on the legacy they will leave behind and to act in the best interests of the Naga people for generations to come.