Naga Peace Accord | Latest Burning Issue

Table of Contents

THE PROBLEM

A little over three years ago, on August 3, 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the signing of a historic framework agreement to end the decades-old Naga insurgency. However, the peace accord is yet to be finalised — even though all stakeholders other than the government appear keen on a conclusion.

WHAT IS THE NAGA PEACE ACCORD?

In August 2015, Government of India signed a Framework Agreement with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) – IM to resolve the long-standing Naga issue in a peaceful manner.

HOW OLD IS THE NAGA POLITICAL ISSUE?

The British annexed Assam in 1826, and in 1881, the Naga Hills too became part of British India. The first sign of Naga resistance was seen in the formation of the Naga Club in 1918, which told the Simon Commission in 1929 “to leave us alone to determine for ourselves as in ancient times”. In 1946 came the Naga National Council (NNC), which, under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo, declared Nagaland an independent state on August 14, 1947.

WHEN DID THE ARMED MOVEMENT BEGIN?

On March 22, 1952, Phizo formed the underground Naga Federal Government (NFG) and the Naga Federal Army (NFA). The Government of India sent in the Army to crush the insurgency and, in 1958, enacted the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

WHEN DID THE NSCN COME INTO BEING?

On November 11, 1975, the government got a section of NNC leaders to sign the Shillong Accord, under which this section of NNC and NFG agreed to give up arms. A group of about 140 members led by Thuingaleng Muivah, who were at that time in China, refused to accept the Shillong Accord, and formed the National Socialist Council of Nagaland in 1980. Muivah also had Isak Chisi Swu and S S Khaplang with him. In 1988, the NSCN split into NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) after a violent clash. While the NNC began to fade away, and Phizo died in London in 1991, the NSCN (IM) came to be seen as the “mother of all insurgencies” in the region.

WHEN DID NSCN (IM) JOIN PEACE TALKS?

• Muivah, Swu and other top NSCN (IM) leaders escaped to Thailand in the early 1990s. While Nagaland Governor M MThomas, a Church leader from Kerala, extracted the first positive response from the NSCN(IM), Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao met Muivah, Swu and others in Paris on June 15, 1995.

• In November 1995, then MoS (Home) Rajesh Pilot met them in Bangkok. Subsequently, Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda met them in Zurich on February 3, 1997, which was followed by meetings with officers in Geneva and Bangkok.

• Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee met them in Paris on September 30, 1998. The Government of India signed a ceasefire agreement with NSCN (IM) on July 25, 1997, which came into effect on August 1, 1997. Over 80 rounds of talks between the two sides were held subsequently.

HOW ATAL WON NAGA HEARTS

• “Ami laga bhai aru boyni-khan. Aami Nagaland-te matiye karone besi khusi paise dei. (My dear brothers and sisters. I am very happy to be amid you on the soil of Nagaland.)”

• This was Atal Bihari Vajpayee, opening his speech at a public reception in Kohima on October 28, 2003. He went on to speak about the “unique history” of the Nagas — the sentence that Nagas, and especially the NSCN (IM), have always remembered.

WHAT IS THE 2015 AGREEMENT?

• The Framework Agreement was a culmination of so many rounds of negotiations over the years.

• It was signed by the Centre’s interlocutor for Naga peace talks, RN Ravi and leader of the NSCN (I-M).

• It aimed at facilitating stronger ties among Nagas across the region.

• However, it does not change substantially the jurisdictional and administrative authority of neighbouring states.

• The framework agreement did accept special status for the Nagas.

• This gave due regard to the uniqueness of Naga history.

NOTES

• A non-territorial resolution framework also favours the Nagas as their core demands such as recognition of their unique history and culture, Naga leverage over deciding the development path for the Naga-inhabited areas, etc. – are met through the grant of greater autonomy.

HOW HAS THE PROGRESS BEEN?

• The Centre’s interlocutor recently made a submission before a Parliamentary Standing Committee.

• He noted that it was implied in the agreement that “some special arrangement” would be made for the Nagas.

• With respect to Nagaland there is already a special arrangement.

• Article 371A of the Constitution makes this very clear and a special status has been accorded to them.

• The Nagas initially insisted on the unification of Naga inhabited areas – “no integration, no solution”.

• But they have now reached an understanding with the government.

• Accordingly, the current boundaries of Northeastern states will not be touched

WHY IS THE DELAY IN FINALISING THE ACCORD?

• All stakeholders other than the government appear keen on a conclusion.

• Many details of the 2015 agreement are concealed in mystery.

• The Naga groups have given up the demand for sovereignty and redrawing of boundaries.

• But the issues like a separate passport, flag and armed Naga battallions are still unresolved.

GAME OF WORDS

One of the hurdles is the word “constitution”. While the Naga leaders and the Centre seem to have agreed on a separate constitution for the Nagas, the Centre is not keen on using the word ‘constitution’. While a consensus is yet to be developed, the word ‘izabo’ is likely to be adopted instead.