Author:
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: October 7, 2002
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=10807
As Brigadier T. Sailo looks back
on his two consecutive careers, he could well be rewinding to his native
Mizoram's turbulent passage since India's independence. He joined the army
in 1943, and upon retirement in 1974 immersed himself in Mizoram's politics
as it went through a difficult phase of insurgency. He went on to become
chief minister. Now in reflective retirement, he spoke to Mini Kapoor.
Excerpts from an interview:
Q.: How did you get into politics?
A.: On my retirement from the army
in 1974, I went to Mizoram where the security forces had been operating
to fight MNF (Mizo National Front) insurgency since 1966. In the course
of that operation there had been a lot of misunderstanding between the
security forces and the civil population-there were reports of harassment
and things like that. I saw the people were really alienated. As a soldier
from the army I thought it was my duty to try and bring about reconciliation
between the public and the security forces. So I started a human rights
committee in June ' 74.
Our work was appreciated from both
sides. Friends who had been helping suggested that we should form a political
party, and one of the platforms would be to continue to establish reconciliation.
So they formed the Mizo People's Conference in 1975 and asked me to be
the president.
Q.: More than a decade after the
1986 Peace Accord, would you say the reconciliation is complete?
A.: Insurgency in Mizoram is over,
but a new situation can arise. Our economic condition is very bad. There
are a lot of unemployed, educated young people. There can again be disgruntlement
among them. But politically I don't think it (insurgency) will happen.
Q.: Why did it happen then?
A.: In the early '60s there was
a severe famine in mizoram, and the people thought the government then
did not attend to their problems. So there was discontentment. At that
time, Laldenga left the army and formed what he called the Famine Front,
which became quite popular. Later when the famine was over he turned it
into the Mizo National Front. Actually at that time he said he would fight
for independence; I' m not very sure how serious he was.
Over the years, the people got so
fed up with the troubles in Mizoram, and as early as 1976, Laldenga signed
a paper with Indira Gandhi accepting that Mizoram was a part of India.
The troubles never stopped, but the people desired normalcy. Finally in
1986 Laldenga singed the peace accord. The main feature of that memorandum
of understanding was that the remaining MNF people in uniform-who were
no longer fighting for independence but were creating trouble -would come
out with their arms.
Q.: But it's said you had your problems
with Laldenga.
A.: I had no problems at all. I
was chief minister until 1984. I was running a government as a part of
India while he was trying to fight for a political advantage for himself.
Q.: Would you say the Northeast
has fully joined the mainstream?
A.: I would say Mizoram is in the
mainstream now; I cannot speak for Nagaland or Assam. A large number of
people now join the army, and Mizoram is very peaceful.
Q.: Any special memories of army
life?
A.: I fought in Burma from 1943
to 1946; then in Kashmir against Pakistan after independence; then the
Chinese in 1962 when I was commanding a battalion of the Assam Regiment.
I think a lot of people in Mizoram would still say that I have not adjusted
to public life; they all say, Brigadier Sailo is an old soldier. He's very
strict, disciplined, blunt.
Q.: Is there adequate cooperation
among the Seven Sisters on economic development?
A.: The question is this: In the
last many years, whatever the central government has been giving in the
annual budget or the five-year plan to every one of the northeastern states,
I'm afraid that money has been very badly managed and misused. In particular,
I can say in Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland, money from Delhi is totally
misused. The money that is allocated is adequate, but hardly a part of
it is used for the purpose for which it is sanctioned. I feel bad about
this.
Q.: Whose fault would you say that
is?
A.: Of the state governments. But
some months ago I met the prime minister and asked why is it that you people
in Delhi-and your representatives in the states, the governors-close your
eyes? During the time of the Congress rule once I accused a big leader
here in Delhi: are you doing this deliberately, are you trying to corrupt
the tribal people? By diluting our moral fibre, is this your way of preventing
the resurgence of insurgency?
Q.: Are young, able people leaving
Mizoram for jobs?
A.: No, they are not. Actually,
that is my problem. Young educated people must come out of Mizoram to the
rest of the country, or even go abroad, for employment. Like people from
Kerala and the Sikhs. Young people in the rest of the country should emulate
the Punjabis. They are enterprising, they'll work in India, they'll work
anywhere in the world. Young, educated people will work as farmers in Punjab.
