Nagaland Peace Accord

In 2015, an agreement was signed between the Centre and the Naga groups led by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) after the latter agreed to give up its long-standing demand for sovereignty.

There was a broad understanding on a settlement within the Indian constitutional framework, with due regard to the uniqueness of Naga history and tradition.

The Naga Movement is the oldest movement for self-determination in India and is also the longest surviving insurgency. The presence of multiple factions representing the Naga interests makes the process of self-determination complicated.

The distribution of Naga population in various states of the North-East such as Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Assam, and Nagaland, as well as in adjoining Myanmar further trivializes the issue of carving the ‘Greater Nagalim’ or a separate state for all the Nagas in the region.

Why in news?

Four years after the government inked the Naga peace accord in 2015, the Centre has now said that the process had almost concluded, despite the fact that the talks had hit a roadblock in its final stages.

It is mainly because of unrealistic demands. NSCN (IM) has issued statements in the past claiming that it wanted a separate Constitution, flag and integration of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas under Nagalim (Greater Nagaland).

Nagaland Peace Accord – Background:

  • In 1826, British annexed Assam and in 1881 Naga Hills too became part of British India. The Naga resistance started way back in 1918 when Naga club was formed. Since then Nagas have been asserting their distinct ethnic identity and demanding an independent homeland to preserve their culture.
  • In 1946 the Naga National Council (NNC) was formed, which declared Nagaland an independent state on August 14, 1947. The NNC resolved to establish a sovereign Naga state and conducted a referendum in 1951, in which 99% of people supported an independent Nagaland.
  • In March 1952, the underground Naga Federal Government (NFG) and the Naga Federal Army (NFA) was formed. The Government of India sent in the Army to crush the insurgency and, in 1958, enacted the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
  • In November 1975, the government got a section of NNC leaders to sign the Shillong Accord, under which the section of NNC and NFG agreed to give up arms.
  • A group of NNC members led by Thuingaleng Muivah refused to accept the agreement and formed National Socialist Council of Nagaland in 1980 with S. S. Khaplang.
  • In 1988, the NSCN split into NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) after a violent clash.
  • NSCN (IM) emerged as a major insurgent group often termed as the “mother of all insurgencies in the region”.
  • NSCN (IM) agreed to a ceasefire in 1997 and peace talks were held leading eventually to Naga Peace Accord in 2015.

Issues faced by people of Nagaland due to insurgency:

  • Extortion by insurgent groups has been a way of life for people living in India’s north-eastern states, particularly in Nagaland.
  • It is an open secret that all separatist outfits run their own parallel governments and collect extortion money (sometimes more than 20 per cent of the annual income) from individuals, businesses, government departments and employees.
  • While non-Nagas are heavily taxed, the Nagas themselves are not spared.
  • Payment of this so-called “tax” to armed Naga groups is the only way to ensure safety.

What makes the issue complex?

  • NSCN (IM) demands a “Greater Nagalim”- that also includes parts of bordering states.
  • The other states are wary of this and this makes the situation sensitive.
  • There are groups within Nagaland that have demanded a state separate from that of NSCN (IM).

Way forward:

  • Unification of Naga-inhabited areas without disturbing the existing boundaries of the northeastern states (Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh) is viewed as a viable option.
  • Maximum autonomy may be accorded in ethnic, cultural and developmental realms to autonomous councils for all Naga areas in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and even Assam, through a suitable amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
  • Reckoning the unique history and legacy of the Nagas, a tribal cultural collective body could be constituted under an act of parliament.
  • The government of Myanmar will have to be on board the Naga settlement, at least tacitly.

Conclusion:

  • There can be no solution without the integration of Nagas. But it would have to be achieved through a democratic process.
  • It is imperative that prior to finalisation of any ‘framework agreement’, care is taken to see that there is an across the board acceptance of ‘fundamental principles’ and ‘objective necessities’.

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