“Peace process” is a phrase so beautifully coined by our adversary that it has become household slogan for the past one and half decades. It has been systematically indoctrinated on the Naga minds so much so that today; peace process and sovereignty are loosely understood and accepted as synonyms. For good or bad, peace process that started with much hype and hope seems fast fading. It has become lackluster.
The comment of Mr. N. George, Maj. Gen. (Retd); the former Chairman of Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) & Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFSB) that appeared in local dailies on May 25, 2013 explained the intricacies shrouding the tedious developments. (Quote) “My assessment is that all primary parties to resolving the problem are not willing or find themselves unable to move forward. The leadership of all factions of the UG Groups seem rather comfortable with the status quo. A resolution of the problem will throw up imponderables to present levels of comfort, hence the unwillingness to take positive steps” (unquote).
What is peace process? Peace in Naga context is ending conflict with India. Process as defined by dictionary is a path or course to be taken. There was war between India and Nagaland. Peace was ushered in, when the fragmented Naga national groups entered into ceasefire agreements with India. They ended Indo-Naga war. Unfortunately, mere absence of conflict with India has not brought real peace to the people. Nagas are confronted with another kind of war; the wars of fratricide, multiple taxations in a no-tax land, extortion, etc. It is hard to believe that peace process and ceasefires could have such damaging effects.
“Peace process” is a means and not an end. Its core objective is to create a conducive atmosphere for talk so as to find a permanent solution. It is a confidence building measure. It gives breathing space in an atmosphere of suffocation. Being a “means” it is expected to be transitional and therefore temporary and time-bound. Peace process is not a substitute to permanent political settlement but being a transitional measure it should progress to permanent settlement.
Nagas need to retrospect and introspect on what developments have come from the endless engagement in peace process or standstill ceasefire agreements; whether it has proved productive or counter-productive. If the present public out-cry against unabated taxation is any indication, it is not difficult to predict the weather.
An over-stretched peace process or ceasefires may seem good for the primary parties but it is proving to be disastrous for Naga public. Ceasefire agreement without political engagement is dead politics. Infinite peace process and ceasefire extensions without political engagement are proving to be doing more harm than good to the public. Whether in the peace process or ceasefires; there’s a need to break the status-quo unless the primary groups are covertly working to continue the status-quo. If that is the hidden agenda, one should not be surprised if the hard-earned peace exercises dissipate sooner than expected. Hopefully, it will not do collateral damage to sovereignty issue.
Dr. K. Hoshi
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