“We have a heart but we also have a
brain”- Zoran Milanovic, Croatian Prime Minister.
The ongoing Migrant crisis in the European
Union has triggered a worldwide attention and has also drawn flak from among
the member states over the policies adopted by the Union with policy makers
trying to make a constant change to
contain the influx of migrants with time. The discovery of the dead body of a 5-year-old Syrian boy washed ashore sent a
shock wave to everyone including the international community. This was the talk
of the virtual world for quite some time pouring in sympathies from all over
the world. The influx of migrants flocking to the European Union seems to be
never ending and till date, tens of
thousands of migrants are flocking to the European Union with little or no hope
at all for survival.
While taking a look at the migrant crisis from the humanitarian
perspective, the migrants have literally no option but to flock elsewhere for
survival. The entire Middle East with the exception of some few countries is in a sorry state of affairs. The war-torn area has left people with no access to
food, security let alone survival in those areas. This has forced them to move
out of their homeland to search for new habitation and eventually the European
countries seemed to be a much better place to fit in despite Iraq, Saudi Arabia
in its close proximity(as in the case of Syria). Very few survive the arduous
attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea by boat but nevertheless, this seems to be the only option for the migrants.
While there are asylum applicants from the
Balkan Countries, East Asia, North Africa, Eritrea the largest applicants are
from Syria. Germany continues to be by far the most favored destination with intake of over 500,000 migrants.
It would be irrelevant and futile to
deliberate on the internal politics orchestrated by the United States (US) and
its allies in the Middle East region as this very hour so let’s leave that for
some other day. However, one important
aspect that needs a more considerate discourse is the intervention of US-backed NATO in the Middle East region and
the adverse effect it has on the European Union. While Oil is an important
asset for the intervention of the Hawks in the Middle-east region. Considering
the fact that EU is an emerging economy in the international politics with
potentials of surpassing the US economy and that the US had received only 1200+
refugees, it raises a rather intriguing question to ponder upon.
The Schengen agreement allows freedom of
movement among the member states of the European Union. However, the recent
situation has forced member states to shut down railways, fence its borders and
beef up its security in the adjoining border areas. The influx of migrants in
terms of millions has caused total havoc and hullaballoo in the European Union.
Already, the blame game has started among
the member states with some refusing to accommodate even a single migrant in
their country despite proposition by the European Union directing all its
members to accommodate the migrants. The European Union had to feel the pinch
for the actions perpetrated by the US.
While making a compare and contrast with
the situation of the European Union and
our very own state ‘Nagaland’. The case seems to be quite similar. The only
difference being that in the EU there are legal formalities carried out before
accommodating the immigrants although it is utterly impossible to bring all the
immigrants under the scanner and some
eventually sneak into the territories
without approval whereas in our case the immigrants are warmly welcomed into
our land without any restrictions. The Inner Line Permit is only for formality
existing only in papers. In such given situation, the statement of Croatian
Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic “We have a heart but we also have a
brain” should
throw some light on all of us. This is something which we can emulate. We have
taken many a decision with our heart and perhaps it is time we utilize our brain and
take a resilient decision. The Inner Line Permit has been a blessing in
disguise to our people and while other states long for the ILP some of our own
grasping people have taken undue advantage of it. Those responsible for the
implementation of ILP have failed to live up to the aspirations of the people.
It is quite unbecoming and unethical on the part of some of our officers to
issue permits and allow access to the
illegal immigrants right under their nose. Today there are thousands of illegal
immigrants in our land swarming every nook and corner especially in Dimapur and
its adjoining areas. The State Government need to seriously rethink on this
matter and come up with some credible policy making. The existing ILP needs to
be reviewed headed by a strong committee with no strings attached to any
political echelons. Erring officers should be put behind bars and seriously
dealt with. Verification and identification of all the outsiders should be
initiated and those found without proper documents should be deported back-
wherever they go, it doesn’t matter. In this regard, the Students’ Union and
Youth Organizations can aid the law enforcing agencies. The District
Administration can do the curtsey of booking the train tickets with the
Immigrants money. The Village and Colony councils should stop issuing permanent
residential certificates to outsiders without proper verification. Discrepancy
found in the electoral rolls should be rectified with immediate effect and
those responsible for preparing the electoral rolls should be vigilant while
undertaking this task. The Naga Political Groups should stop aiding these
people with their Kalashnikovs procured from our money. The general Naga public
should also stop harboring these group of people to do all the not so important
household chores. Work culture should be encouraged amongst us and young
entrepreneurs should be motivated and given due opportunity.
For some few thousand rupees in order to
satiate the never ending avarice of some people, the entire future Naga
generation cannot be put at stake. Already the whole of European Union is in
crisis and it would not be long for us to face the same situation if we do not
act now. No doubt, the catastrophe is imminent unless we make a move now we
would eventually become slaves in our own land.
KUKNALIM
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