Naga Peace Talks

What is the issue?

• As the deadline set by the Centre for wrapping up the Naga peace talks is on October 31, 2019, it intends to meet the deadline soon.
• But some key issues remain unresolved with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), or NSCN (I-M).

What are the Naga Peace Talks?

• The talks seek to settle disputes that date back to colonial rule.
• The Nagas are an ethnic community that comprises several tribes who live in the state of Nagaland and its neighbourhood.
• One key demand of Naga groups has been a Greater Nagalim that would cover the state of Nagaland, parts of neighbouring states and Myanmar.
• The British had annexed Assam in 1826, in which they subsequently created the Naga Hills district and went on to extend its boundaries.
• The assertion of Naga nationalism, which began during British rule, has continued after Independence, and even after Nagaland became a state.
• Along the way, the unresolved issues gave rise to decades of insurgency that claimed thousands of lives, including of civilians.

How has the Naga assertion played out historically?

• The earliest sign of Naga resistance dates back to 1918, with the formation of the Naga Club.
• In 1929, the Club told the Simon Commission to leave them alone to determine for themselves as in ancient times.
• In 1946, A Z Phizo formed the Naga National Council (NNC), which declared Naga independence on August 14, 1947.
• In 1951, it claimed to have conducted a referendum in which an overwhelming majority supported an independent Naga state.
• By the early 1950s, the NNC had taken up arms and gone underground.

How has the peace talks played out in recent years?

• Before the ongoing talks, which followed a framework agreement in 2015, there were two other agreements between Naga groups and the Centre.
• 1975 - A peace accord was signed in Shillong in which the NNC leadership agreed to give up arms.
• Several NNC leaders including Isak, Muivah and Khaplang refused to accept the agreement and broke away to form the NSCN.
• 1988 - Khaplang broke away to form the NSCN (K) while Isak and Muivah headed the NSCN (I-M).
• 1997 - Preceded by rounds of talks since 1995, NSCN (I-M) signed a ceasefire agreement with the government.
• The key agreement was that there would be no counter-insurgency offensive against the NSCN (I-M), who in turn would not attack Indian forces.
• 2015 - The Centre signed a framework agreement with the NSCN (I-M) which set the stage for the ongoing peace talks.
• 2017 - Six other Naga armed outfits under the banner of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) joined the talks.

What was in the framework agreement?

• The Government of India has not yet spelt out the details in public.
• Following the agreement, the government recognised the unique history, culture and position of the Nagas and their sentiments and aspirations.
• The NSCN understood and appreciated the Indian political system and governance.
• In 2019, the NSCN (I-M) issued a statement that said Nagaland State does not and will not represent the national decision of the Naga people.
• The statement was in opposition the proposal for a Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) in the state of Nagaland.

Where does the territorial demand currently stand?

• In 2018, the official sources had said that the accord being finalised,
  1. Does not change the boundary of states;
  2. Provides autonomous Naga territorial councils for Arunachal and Manipur;
  3. A common cultural body for Nagas across states;
  4. Specific institutions for state’s development, integration and rehabilitation of non-state Naga militia
  5. The removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
• The map of Greater Nagalim in the NSCN (IM) vision covers a 1,20,000 sq km sprawl across the Northeast and Myanmar - the area of Nagaland state itself is only 16,527 sq km, a fraction of this vision.
• Amid the anxiety this has caused among citizens in neighbouring states, state governments have assured them that their respective states’ territorial integrity would not be compromised.
• Before the framework agreement, the Nagaland Assembly had endorsed the demand for “integration of all Naga-inhabited areas” as many as five times - in 1964, 1970, 1994, 2003 and 2015.

What are the other issues?

• The government and the NSCN (I-M) have failed to agree on issues relating to a separate Naga flag and a constitution.
• The NSCN (I-M) is not willing to budge from this demand and is looking for a lasting solution.
• But, they are fully aware of the Government of India’s position with this.
• A recent statement from Governor’s office said the government is determined to “honourably conclude” the peace talks and it is reaching a conclusion stage.
• They have mischievously dragged in the Framework Agreement and began imputing imaginary contents to it.

Where could the disagreement lead to?

• The statement from the Governor’s office has given rise to speculation that the government is ready to sign a final peace agreement with other groups without the NSCN (I-M).
• Civil society groups in Nagaland are divided in their opinion.
• Some have said the talks should be wrapped up with whatever is offered now and keep other issues open for later negotiations.
• Others believe all issues should be settled and the NSCN (I-M) should be on board, even if it takes longer than the deadline.

Source: The Indian Express