Disgusted with extortion, Dimapur shows the way
UNDERGROUND outfits in Nagaland had better watch out and mend their ways because once a final settlement of their demands is arrived at their leaders will be expected to fulfill the political, social and cultural aspirations of those they are supposed to serve. They must be made to realise that their so-called “dictats”, if not checked, might well jeopardise the very cause they are fighting for.
The Nagaland ceasefire has been in force since 1 August 1997 and this may have helped silence the guns, but over the years reports have also spoken of a widespread sense of insecurity among peace-loving citizens as a result of largescale extortion. The business community, the rich and even the commoner have not been spared. Not only are militant groups having a field day, even anti-social elements, in the guise of extremism, are indulging in collecting “taxes” and those at the receiving end dare not challenge their activities for fear of retribution. Sadly enough, the Neiphiu Rio government&’s thinking is that what is happening today is beyond its jurisdiction. But this comes as no surprise because Rio owes his present position to the NSCN(IM).
In this backdrop, on 18 June Dimapur observed a 12-hour bandh in protest against the undergrounds’ unabated taxation on goods and the consequent rise in prices of essential commodities. Called by the Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation under the aegis of the Naga Council, Dimapur, the bandh was an instant success. It evoked an overwhelming response from different district centres, though they did not participate. The Kohima Chambers of Commerce reportedly supported the bandh by hoisting black flags.
The Acaut has objected to the imposition of “back-breaking” multiple taxes on the business community, particularly the dealership syndicate, and wants this replaced by a single tax regime payable to each militant outfit. It wants an end to the dealership and syndicate systems. It is reported that there is just a single poultry dealer supplier in the whole of Dimapur district who dictates what can and cannot be sold in the open market.
It is understandable that underground organisations in truce mode need a constant flow of money for the upkeep of their designated camps but what they have been doing is forcibly collecting “taxes” from different sources. Just a few months before the NDA regime folded up in 2004, BJP Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee offered monetary assistance to both factions of the NSCN to run their camps. Later, even Rio raised the issue with Vajpayee but the NSCN(IM) leadership ended the matter, commenting that “this has to be seen from the right perspective of the people”. It is still not too late to take a fresh look and end this extortion or tax regime.
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LAST week, the Guwahati-based Assam Tribune carried a report on state additional director general of police BJ Mahanta, who heads the Task Force, suggesting that the commando battalions of the Assam Police be converted  into a well-knit offensive team called the Assam Police Commando Organisation to meet the challenge posed by Maoists in Assam. This is not  a bad idea if only it helps ward off the involvement of the Army in civilian duty.
It has been noticed that at every chief ministers’ conference fresh suggestions are put forward, only to be forgotten soon enough. For instance, four years ago the Meghalaya government demanded the creation of two more armed police battalions to check cross-border infiltration, a special commando unit to fight militancy in the Garo Hills, a counter-insurgency warfare institution for training police personnel and modernisation of the police force. Had the Centre acted upon this, perhaps the Garo Hills today would not have turned into one of the most disturbed places in the entire North-east. It has been noticed that additional Central forces are no panacea for regional ills. Individual states must raise their own forces, manned by home stock. Perhaps that could be the emphatic “No” to the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.