The harm that the inordinate delay to work out peace and solution has inflicted upon Nagaland and Naga life cannot be undone quickly.
However, an atmosphere of optimism prevails across Nagaland and for those working for 'peace' in Delhi as well. Of course the NNPG, the umbrella organisation of seven militant groups, has won a small war. It was a critical one.
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| NNPG leader: A cool operator |
In the national capital, key players were keeping eyes on things unfolding at Kohima on July 16.
Some were delighted as expected as the resolution from the key parliamentary panel of Naga legislators and two MPs sent in 'positive vibes'. There were a few exchanges of congratulatory messages also.
But in the debate that we have about the pros and cons of this latest statement and that has generated hopes about peace in Nagaland and parts of northeast, certain other factors ought to be understood as well.
This brings us to the Point 3 of the statement of July 16.
"The Parliamentary Committee appeals to the negotiating parties to refer to the competencies as reflected in the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 signed between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM to arrive at a mutually acceptable definition of competencies to resolve this contentious issue at the earliest, and bring about a final solution that is honourable, acceptable and inclusive."
This is a sort of a minor game-changer because except the Centre and the NSCN-IM nobody knows about the details of the 'competencies' worked out between the two parties in 2015.
In fact, making the competencies open in public would help expedite the peace process. Moreover, bringing it see the light of the day is now a moral obligation for both the Government of India and the NSCN-IM.
It has been a puzzling matter as to why 'secrecy' was maintained over the competencies of 2015 and the common people in Nagaland and also the rest of India were still only in guessing games and at times shooting arrows in darkness.
On the other hand, the Agreed Position inked between the Union government and the umbrella organisation, NNPG, were more transparent.
Even the competencies worked out in November 2017 vis-a-vis the Agreed Position was shared with public, media and also reported and at times debated. The NNPG calls their Status Paper 'very transparent'.
The introductory lines of the Status Papers say: "New ideas, new thinking and new outlook into the future led to radical changes in the socio-political and socio-economic frontiers" and also that there is a "new awakening in the Nagas".
Of course, the NSCN-IM has been the first set of negotiators with the Union Government.
But even after the Framework Agreement was signed by rebel leader Thuingaleng Muivah and R N Ravi (as the Govt of India's interlocutor), there were still delays for a final peace pact. If these 'delays' were deliberate on anyone's part; these have only backfired.
Right from the beginning, the Modi-led government was sincere with the Naga peace talks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi particularly did not want to go down the memory lane as having done nothing just as Dr Manmohan Singh's ten years have been.
So once influential NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chishi Swu expired in 2016, the Centre wanted to deal with a prominent Naga rebel leader from 'Nagaland state'.
Efforts were made to reach out to the groups operating in Nagaland.
"The need for an inclusive approach and to pave the way for the future of the coming generations was a thought process that the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) had mooted," says the Status Paper.
Ultimately on November 17, 2017 an Agreed Position was inked between NNPG and the Centre. Of course, RN Ravi was the architect of this move and N Kitovi Zhimomi emerged as a principal stakeholder. This had irked Muivah.
Kitovi like Isak Swu is a Sema Naga - one of the major tribes in Nagaland that has control over 10-12 assembly segments in the 60-member assembly.
Importantly, Semas reside in big numbers in the state's commercial hub and cash-rich Dimapur and adjoining areas.
Interestingly yet again, key NNPG leaders have told this scribe in the past that "during the informal and official rounds of negotiations with the Working Committee of NNPG, the Government of India never uttered a word about the Framework Agreement with NSCN-IM. No details of the FA were given and there was no condition laid down by the Government of India".
Hence, NNPG convener Kitovi and also others later said - "Matters had to be taken on a clean slate, that made the NNPG to work out an anchor point to be across the table with the Government of India".
In fact, it is in this context, the Status Paper agreed in principle between the Centre and NNPG, says rather categorically - "The whole spectrum of constitutional and legal position of India from 1951 to 2017 has to be reviewed and the position of Nagas had to be accepted by the Government of India".
To wrap up, for his part, Chief Minister Rio deserves credit for anchoring the July 16 meet and the resolution.
There is a 'consistency' too on what his minister Neiba Kronu said at Pfutsero that early solution is the need of the hour.
And thankfully, there were no bytes that a third party should be brought in or that a practicing politician from Assam (Himanta Biswa Sarma) has a magic wand.
The goodwill generated by the July 16 resolution must be sustained.
New Delhi/Kohima
'Still far away to go' would be the spirit in the minds of those concerned about early Solution to Naga issue and a lasting peace.
For NNPG, the umbrella organisation of seven militant groups, it is a small war won, but a critical one.
The NNPG is all for signing of a final peace pact at the earliest.
The Parliamentary Committee of Naga legislators and parliamentarians headed by the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and which also has deputy CM Y Patton, BJP's floor leader, for the first time placed on record their appreciation for 'positive initiatives' taken by NNPG.
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| Kitovi: NNPG |
In the process, the Nagaland government headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has inched ahead making a concrete attempt to materialise or finalise a Solution for final peace pact.
The state legislators also reiterated their stance to step aside and "pave the way" for an early Solution.
"Everybody is full of praises for our Resolution," a key insider in the Nagaland government told this journalist.
The four-point resolution was adopted at the end of a meeting at Kohima on Saturday, July 16.
"The Parliamentary Committee welcomes the positive initiatives being
taken by the Government of India and the Working Committees of the NNPG
in regard to the on-going peace dialogue between the Govt of India and the Naga
national political groups. The Committee also appreciates and welcomes the
efforts made by the Naga political groups in taking the talks forward," the statement said.
The panel threw the ball into the court of the Government of India specifically urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to "invite" NSCN-IM bring about a final solution that is "honourable, acceptable and inclusive".
It appealed to the negotiating parties (that is the centre, NNPG and NSCN-IM) to refer to the competencies as reflected in the Framework Agreement of 3rd August 2015 signed between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM.
"Since the talks have been concluded officially on 31st October 2019, the
Hon'ble Prime Minister and the Hon'ble Union Home Minister are urged upon to
invite the NSCN (IM) leaders for an early conclusion," the statement said.
At the NNPG camp, the resolution has been taken positively but with its due pinch of salt.
It has been a rare occasion for the Rio-led dispensation to appreciate the role played by the NNPG (umbrella organisation led by N Kitovi Zhimomi) and also to acknowledge publicly that the formal talks were completed on Oct 31, 2019.
Generally, an impression prevails that powerful sections in the present Nagaland government were biased towards NSCN-IM.
In fact, pressure would now mount on the NSCN-IM to review its stance on Flag and a separate Constitution
- the twin demands rejected by the centre outright.
Officials in Delhi earlier said that the demands of Flag and Constitution were added by the NSCN (IM)
post October-2019 only as an 'afterthought exercise'.
The Parliamentary Committee, while welcoming the statements and
observations made by various organisations and individuals calling for unity and
early solution, appeals to all sections to refrain from making statements that may
create misunderstanding and disunity, and that may stand in the way "of our
common and collective endeavour to achieve genuine and lasting peace".
"We stand by the commitments of the constituent political parties as reflected in
their respective manifestoes to pave way in the event of a political solution being arrived at," said the statement signed by CM Rio, Deputy CM Patton, former CM T R Zeliang and NPF leader K. Azo Nienu.
The stand of the parliamentary panel (comprising all 60 legislators) in effect reflects the power of people's pressure and wishes expressed by various influential organisations including various tribal student bodies, the Nagaland Tribal Council and the Federation of Gaon Burrahs (village elders).
At the individual level, veteran Naga leader S C Jamir, who enjoys good working rapport with PM Modi since his days as Governor of Gujarat, recently said that -
"There is a marked change in the mood of the people of Nagaland. The ideological watchdogs have failed to note that there is anger against anti-social and anti-national elements".
His reference was obviously to the NSCN-IM.
The NNPG led by its convener N. Kitovi Zhimomi is keen for an early solution. This group
has inked a preliminary Agreed Position pact with the centre on Nov 17, 2017.
Recently, former army chief and ex-CDS, Gen (Retd) M M Naravane also visited Nagaland and met important Naga leaders and social workers. (as reported in this website
https://meghalayanews24.com/cm-rios-man-friday-neiba-pitches-for-early-solution-ex-army-chief-naravane-visits-nagaland/?amp=1)
There are indications that after July 18 voting for the Presidential polls, the centre may initiate some
more concrete steps next week or so to end the decades-old Naga insurgency.
Important;y, the potent NSCN-IM has also lately come under criticism and especially some Naga intellectuals
and ex-IAS officers have alleged that the Tangkhul leaders (tribe of NSCN-IM leader Thuingaleng Muivah) who reside
mostly in Manipur want to dictate terms for Nagas in the present state of Nagaland.
Many Naga leaders including from NTC and political party NPF have said that if the NSCN-IM does not
agree for an early solution, it could walkout from the negotiations that started way back in 1997.
In May, NPF leader Azo Nienu said - "The moment the NSCN-IM signed the August 3, 2015 Framework
Agreement....sealed their fate vis-a-vis Constitution of India. It was signed by interlocutor R N Ravi on behalf of
Government of India and in other words this pact is itself within the framework of Indian Constitution".
ends
NSCN-Centre talks likely soon
New Delhi
A crucial round of meeting could take place between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM in New Delhi shortly.
The Centre has initiated a 'big move' to resume the stalled talks with the NSCN-IM, a source said.
Former Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang has also claimed that new peace emissary A K Mishra has invited
the NSCN-IM leaders for another round of talks.
On July 16, the Nagaland legislators under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio decided
to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to 'invite' NSCN-IM for
next round of talks to take forward the peace process.
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