A political solution to the prolonged Naga conflict seems to be within our reach with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) spearheading six decade’s long battle of the Indo-Nagas Political issue. Having spent few months at New Delhi and running from post to pillar in search of final and acceptable solution to the decade’s long Indo-Naga Political problems. Our two patriotic leaders Isaac Chishi Swu and Ato Kilonser Th. Muivah seems to have break the Ice and brings home a ray of hope when on their return from New Delhi told the press that the Final Solution will certainly arrived by the end of March 2013 after their ongoing talks with the Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.
When Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF) met with former deputy prime minister L.K.Advani in New Delhi. He was receptive and supportive of any settlement and has assured his best to help hasten the process.
Muivah while interacting with media persons told that the time has come for the Nagas to understand one another was really impressive. But If any solution is to be arrived at between NSCN (I-M) and government of India, than it should include all different groups of Naga political parties & not a single one should be push aside.
To a query by the media in regard to the nature of the solution, Muivah said that the actual details of the Solutions cannot be guaranteed at the moment as he said that the ball is now in the court of GoI but affirmed that there was “progress” in the ongoing peace talk.
Time will come and I supposed this is that very moment which every Nagas have been yearning for decades. The outcome of the Solution will decide the fates of thousand Nagas either for good or bad in the days to come by; and it is an obligation for every Nagas to bow down and think deep before it gets out of hand. Whatever be it, the Nagas for whom they are fighting for; deserved be informed on the Nature of Solution in brief as it concerned us all, although certain points ought to be kept under the blanket as the situation compelled. The ball might be in the court of GoI but that does not mean that they can decide the nature of the Solution by simply listening to the third parties views without the concerned knowledge of Naga people. It’s time for the Nagas to open up their opinions and not just simply to sit and stare the hungama.
The demand for “an alternative arrangement” for Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel and Ukhrul has been proposed but Ibobi is of the version that without knowing the detail points of agreement between the two, he is not in position to nod his head in positive to the wishes of the GoI, unless the exact points of the agreements and the peace talks are made known to him.
Both Ibobi and Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabum Tuki were summoned to New Delhi under the instructions of the prime minister. Responding to the directives of the Centre that Manipur play its part in accommodating some points discussed during the negotiations for solution to the Naga political issue, state chief minister O. Ibobi Singh has now insisted that the union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde first give in writing, details or points which the Centre was to agree for a settlement with the NSCN (I-M).
In response to Ibobi’s demand for ‘Alternative Arrangements’ the Union Home minister had spelt out a ‘six point proposal’ related with Manipur. Ibobi’s consent to the points of agreement is important here is equally important as it would help overcome a major obstacle the demand of the Nagas of Manipur for an alternative arrangement in regards to the solution issue which has been strongly demanded by the Nagas in four districts-Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel and Ukhrul. While United Committee Manipur (UCM) has cautioned that it was prepared to demand the “pre-merger status of Manipur” if the agreement disturbed the “unity of Manipur or its territorial integrity” while settling the Naga political issue.
Ibobi may be in an unenviable position- as he neither a in a position to afford to reject Delhi’s request nor afford to displease the valley over the issue of ‘territorial integrity of Manipur’. There are no easy solutions; time waits for none. Nevertheless, Ibobi as a Chief Minister of present Manipur Government needs to stand his ground at this crucial moment, and think twice that while trying to impress his own people back at home; he should see that Nagas decade long aspiration and the desire for solution is not trampled when the matter has reach this far; it could further give birth to another complex situation states as the situation itself is very sensitive. This is the trial time of his leadership to prove his maturity as veteran politician and see reasons on factual basis of the Naga history and step aside wherever unnecessary from the path of Nagas to solution which does not concerned them at all.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said he and his Manipur counterpart, Okram Ibobi Singh have decided to jointly oppose any move by the Centre to accede to NSCN (IM)’s demand for territorial integration of Naga- inhabited areas of Assam and Manipur with Nagaland. The duo had earlier blocked during the NDA government’s tenure. Mr. Gogoi said that he would definitely be happy if the two sides reached a final settlement at the earliest but cautioned that it should not be at the cost of the territorial integrity of Assam. Though there was nothing to be apprehensive about their territorial integration. The NSCN (IM) just wants to carve out a greater Nagaland by including all Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to the present state of Nagaland. Whatever belongs to Nagas yesterday still belongs to the Nagas of today and no one can snatch away that right at any cost. We just want the Naga population living in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to enjoy the same rights as we enjoy in Nagaland, i.e. in harmony with Naga customary laws and cultural and educational aspirations.
Khaplang said would not stand in the way of Swu and Muivah’s agreement with the Centre, provided they do not become a stumbling block for him. Encouraging signs are emerging as the GPRN/NSCN has conveyed its appreciation to NSCN (K) president S.S. Khaplang for “clearly spelling out his political roadmap through his letter to the FNR that Nagas of Myanmar will create no problems and will not stand as a hindrance towards the political destiny of Nagaland, while the political destiny of the Nagas living in Myanmar should be left to the people of Myanmar and the political destiny of people living in Nagaland should be left to the Nagas of Nagaland. It was indeed emotional. Khaplang said his fight with Swu and Muivah was because of differences in political ideology and not because of any personal enmity and goes on to add that Swu and Muivah had been sending emissaries to him inside Myanmar since 2009.
A high-level meeting of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) on Thursday decided to consult the Naga people before inking any peace accord with New Delhi. The underground outfit was in the process of consultations but declined to divulge details. Mr. Isak Swu assured the Naga people that in the event of an imminent agreement, the outfit would come to them for consultation.
According to a reliable source; the followings have been agreed upon by both entities are stated in briefs .i.e. (A). “Pan-Naga Hoho (Parliament)”, will administer Naga-inhabited areas of Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, leaving out Myanmar. (B). the agreement would have a separate flag for Nagaland (Nagalim), common currency, and a joint defence force. Foreign affairs will be with the Centre. Sources said an over 15,000-strong Naga army (NSCN) will guard the borders of Nagalim but so far the group has refused to decommission its cadres. (C). In a major breakthrough in the Naga peace process, the Centre has secured a written commitment from the separatist NSCN (IM) that it will accept the Indian Constitution.(D). According to sources, the Naga group has also recognised the impracticality of redrawing state boundaries in the interest of peace in the Northeast. (E). In lieu of the written commitments, the Centre has accepted the condition that it will ensure that Naga people enjoy certain special rights; especially in the above three states where they are in a minority. In other words, the success of the peace process will depend to a great degree on the extent to which the Centre is able to deliver in terms of a special set of rights. (F). the state governments would, as a next step, talk to their respective local Naga groups towards carving out a special status for the Nagas. (G).Nagaland will get a separate “state flag” and its Assembly will be renamed “Tatar Hoho.” These require an amendment to the Constitution. On the issue of “decommissioning of weapons,” the government has agreed to absorb several thousand NSCN-IM cadres into the Indian Army’s Naga Regiment and the paramilitary forces. (H). While ruling out independence or redrawing of boundaries in the northeast, the government has now promised the Naga government considerable autonomy and a pan-Naga social body. Indian passports held by Nagas will indicate their residency in Nagaland.
The Indian government is expected to make additions to the constitution’s Article 371A that grants special status to Nagaland, with some elements borrowed from Article 370 that provides Jammu and Kashmir with a special status. Amendment of Article 371-A will have to be passed by both houses of India’s parliament.
This is a major breakthrough. So If the GoI can take the opportunity that has opened up to its logical conclusion which Mahatma Gandhi has assured us that we would not be forced into a union with India. It could end one of India’s longest running conflicts and has the potential to set in motion a process that could transform the insurgency-wracked northeast.
While much praise is being heaped in the Indian media on the NSCN-IM for making the bold compromises and the government for the immense flexibility it has shown, one of the main actors that have patiently facilitated the peace process has gone unsung. The role of Naga civil society, the Church and women’s organizations have gone by unnoticed and unrecognized. It was organizations like the Naga Mothers Association, which kept the ceasefire alive for 15 years. Others too have worked relentlessly to achieve reconciliation between rival Naga groups.
As India and the NSCN-IM enter the critical home stretch on the road to a peace agreement, Naga civil society will have to redouble its energies to push the various Naga groups and parties to work together.
Lastly, the writer of this article wants to call upon all the Nagas to express their opinion, so that we play the card well when in it’s in our hand for a lasting solution to this aged old Indo-Naga Political problem. We should all wake up from the deep sleep and interfere into the matter which concerned us all as Nagas, because the outcome of this Solution will have a great impact in the life of thousand Nagas and the generation come and will decide the fate of the Naga Society for the days to come. Else the meaning of so-called lasting solution become worthless.
Medowe Kapfo,
Press Secretary
NPF 16th Pfutsero A/C
