There is enough anticipation in Assam’s Dimasa heartland about the outcome of the upcoming agreement between the Dimasa rebel groups and the Government of India. There is no euphoria though because the people in the Dima Hasao district are a conscious lot and know that New Delhi cannot sign two different agreements, one each with both factions of the Dima Halam Daogah---DHD (Nunisa) and DHD (Jewel). The State and the Centre are sitting pretty, happy that they are engaged in peace talks with both the DHD factions. But, for the record, the Government has been talking peace with the DHD (Nunisa) ever since the rebel group entered into a truce in 2003 with no breakthrough as yet. In the meantime, the breakaway DHD (Jewel) faction, that had turned the area into a killing field with its depredations, called a unilateral ceasefire in July 2009 and then came forward to surrender. The laying down of arms finally took place on October 2, 2009. Ever since, the DHD (Jewel) is also in talks with New Delhi.
As of now, the two DHD factions are in parallel talks with New Delhi’s interlocuters. The big question is whether they would be joint signatories to the forthcoming peace accord. One of the demands of the DHD (Jewel) has been the renaming of the district from North Cachar Hills to Dima Hasao (land of the Dimasas). The State Government conceded this demand, an act that had led to much resentment among other ethnic groups who co-habit with the majority Dimasas. In fact, there are suggestions that this resentment has led to the formation of a new militant group called the Hill Tiger Force (HTF), an outfit floated by non-Dimasas. Earlier this month, the HTF claimed responsibility for the assassination of James Dimasa, former DHD (Jewel) ‘home secretary’, near Haflong, the district headquarters. In the following days, HTF rebels are suspected of having targeted a few Dimasa villages in the area and in the ensuing raids, at least one person was killed and several injured. Dozens of hutments have also been torched.
The question being raised in the area is simple---who is the real or more acceptable leader of the Dimasas or the Dimasas and their co-habitants in the area. Is it Dilip Nunisa or Jewel Garlossa? The Government, currently engaged in negotiations with the two factions, must seriously try to get an objective answer to this question. Yes, there may be more than one representative of a community or a community and their co-habitants in an area. Or, for that matter, there may be more than one acceptable leader of a community. The Government’s real challenge at this juncture is how to reach a middle ground, taking into consideration the separate but nearly similar demands of the two factions. Or better still, can the Government make the two factions reach a consensus first on the formula for a solution to the Dimasas’ aspirations and then make them sign on the dotted lines of a single agreement?
Now, groups and organizations in the Dimasa heartland, representing both Dimasa and non-Dimasa communities, feel that the DHD had always been raising one core issue, full attention and measures to fulfill the aspirations of the Dimasas and their co-habitants. Some of these groups seemingly close to DHD (Nunisa) say Dilip Nunisa has been pushing for the interest of the Dimasas and other ethnic groups who have co-existed in harmony in the area and wants Dimasas living outside Dima Hasao district also to come under the new politico-administrative arrangement that is expected to come with the proposed agreement. They claim that the DHD (Jewel) on the other hand is only concerned with the Dima Hasao district. The picture is not very clear but it will be prudent on the part of the Government to go into all aspects in detail before signing any agreement.
What is clear is that the Government is against any redrawing of the map of Dima Hasao district. If that is the case how can Dimasas living outside the district be benefited from the proposed Dimasa accord? Several groups and organizations in the area feel that the Government could consider bringing in Dimasas living outside the district under ‘satellite’ arrangements so that they can get the benefits of the agreement in all spheres of life. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi do not appear to be against this idea although he said he would not comment on what could happen to the Dimasas living in Nagaland’s Dimapur area. Things are far more complex than what it appears on the surface. If anything, there are undercurrents of fear and anxiety in the area.