The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has expressed deep concerns regarding the potential negative effects of the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) on Naga unity and indigenous rights. In a recent statement, the organization acknowledged the initiative’s intent to protect land and employment rights for indigenous inhabitants but warned that its implementation could cause long-term divisions within the Naga community.
The Global Naga Forum cautioned that the register could unintentionally lead to “irreparable divisions among the Nagas as a whole,” potentially creating a situation where “Nagas will be taking one small step forward and sliding several steps backward,” further complicating their struggle for unity and self-determination.
According to the Global Naga Forum, the RIIN might primarily serve the interests of a few Nagas, particularly those seeking government employment, while failing to address the broader issue of illegal immigration. The organization emphasized that, in the long run, the RIIN would create a scenario where indigenous resident cards are issued to more Nagas in Nagaland, allowing them to compete for an increasingly limited number of government jobs. Meanwhile, illegal immigration would continue unchecked.
“In this scenario, indigenous resident cards in the hands of Nagas would be about as useful as someone brandishing a certificate of birth in a house whose ownership has changed hands and is occupied by someone else,” the GNF warned. The organization believes this outcome would fail to protect the indigenous rights of the Naga people in their homeland.
A major concern raised by the Forum is that the RIIN could deepen divisions between Nagas from Nagaland and those from other regions. The statement cautions that this mechanism may drive a wedge between Nagas based on their state or region of residence, further fragmenting their ancestral homeland.
“With a mechanism like this in place, the Nagaland government would, in effect, be acting irresponsibly. It will be giving its official approval to the politically motivated divisions of the Nagas based on states and regions of residence, effectively making permanent the physical breakup of the Naga ancestral homeland into parts of competing Indian states,” the statement read.
The Global Naga Forum further highlighted a remark from a Naga elder, who voiced concerns about the risk of social stratification. “The RIIN will have the ludicrous effect of making the Nagas of Nagaland feel like indigenous Naga Brahmins among their own people,” the elder remarked.
Additionally, the GNF pointed out that the RIIN aligns with longstanding strategies aimed at weakening Naga unity. “It is easy to see how these unintended consequences of the RIIN would align with the long-running Indian strategy of fragmenting Naga solidarity,” the statement continued.
The Forum also criticized the current Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) for its handling of the RIIN and the broader Indo-Naga political issue. Despite six resolutions in favor of Naga integration, the GNF believes that recent political actions, including the exclusionary nature of a consultative meeting on the Indo-Naga political issue held on September 12, 2024, suggest a shift away from the inclusive approach needed for a lasting solution.
The GNF’s call to action is clear: Naga leaders, regardless of political or regional affiliations, must prioritize unity and the broader Naga cause over short-term political gains. “The current Naga leadership must set aside policies that exclude and divide Nagas and instead give a concerted final push to settle the nearly 80-year-old Indo-Naga political issue,” the statement urged.
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