It is quite obvious that the period between now and December 2012 will be crucial for the Naga peace process, which includes both Government of India-NSCN (IM) political talks and the Naga reconciliation process spearheaded by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR). While New Delhi is also keen to finalize a solution by the year end, there is now overwhelming support, even from within the broad spectrum of Naga civil society, to complete the negotiation process by December and certainly before the next Assembly Election slated for early 2013. The Naga Hoho, the ruling Naga Peoples Front (NPF), the Opposition Congress and now the ruling dispensation in the State, the Neiphiu Rio government has also come out in support of a solution without anymore delay. Chief Minister Rio has gone a step further by proposing to the Prime Minister of India an ‘interim government in Nagaland taking representatives from all factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) outfits and hold the state Assembly elections after a gap of at least a year or two to restore permanent peace and stability in the state”. Rio’s proposal, which includes the offer to step down to pave way for a political settlement, is significant and needs to be appreciated in the overall context of the Naga peace process. In another significant development, all 60 members of the Nagaland Legislative assembly cutting across party lines, have also resolved to ‘pave way’ from their present position for the sake of a settlement.
Having said this, it will now require careful steps to be taken in order to bring all stakeholders together for the purpose of implementing whatever accord is arrived at, initially, by the look of things, between the GoI and NSCN (IM) and later involving the other Naga groups. Given that factional politics and rivalry still remains a cause of concern, caution must be taken to ensure that the political process from here on to the signing of whatever accord and even beyond is done amicably. In particular, the different Naga groups must show maturity and unity of purpose. For this to happen however, there has to be proper consultation, coordination, communication, cooperation, dialogue and reasoning based on mutual understanding and respect for each other. This is perhaps the right time to take a relook at the idea of a common Naga platform, which if we can recall was mooted by the DAN government’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) but which was vehemently rejected at that time and rightly so. Now the situation is changing.
We need to bring in a support system that is inclusive of all shades and opinions and which can aid and facilitate the process from here on. Also there is a need for synergy among all the different players that make up Naga civil society and polity. A Common Naga Platform can be an asset towards meeting these objectives. Similarly the FNR, which may be a part of the common platform, should continue to focus on reconciliation as it will need to do even after a solution is inked with the Government of India. The Joint Legislature Forum (JLF) and the array of Naga civil society groups will also form part of the common platform we are talking about. With the prospect of a settlement now looming, Nagas must prepare our own strategy so that we are able to act with cool heads without haste and do so collectively. The important role of the Common Naga Platform will come in when all out support of the Naga public will be required to push the case for an honorable political settlement acceptable to all Nagas.