A very matured step and also a sign of sincerity was shown by the Government of India when it recently invited the Working Group of the 6 Naga National Political Groups for negotiations on the prolonged Naga political issue. It came at a time when misapprehensions had come about in many sections of the society after the signing of the Framework Agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) on August 3, 2015.
After nearly 20 years of signing the ceasefire agreement in 1997, the detractors of the peace process only increased due to the prolonged negotiations which seemed never to end. It had started to become a thorn in the flesh for the negotiating parties especially the NSCN (IM) since those factions opposed to them used it as a weapon. Among the political parties, the NPF too was ridiculed by its opponents since even after three terms the Naga political settlement was still evasive. Sections of the public also started to question the legitimacy of the tribe hohos who had given their support in principle to the peace process. In social media it became the object of ridicule as it seemed there was no end to the peace process and it was worsened by the fact that the contents of the peace talks were always shrouded in secrecy.
Although it is debatable when the vote share is taken into consideration, the continued support to the NPF party and its alliance partners enabling it to secure absolute majority in the assembly is the one major determinant of the people’s support to the peace process, at least in any other democratic setup. The NPF manifesto was very clear of its role to be a facilitator and its support to the peace process. On the other hand, taking into account the failed and the not so successful agreements of the last 70 years starting with the Hydari Agreement of 1947, it is but a genuine concern to show signs of suspicion and pessimism by the people though it is also an accepted fact that many a times it is manifested in those who have trust deficits. Although it behoves respectable institutions not to blindly question peoples’ trust, it was indeed done so knowing well that those members of the public and organisations were not in a position to reply. The majority of the people who supported the peace process just so that it might finally bring a logical end to the Naga political issue or at least the beginning of the end of it were branded as blind followers and sycophants of various organisations.
The framework agreement came about amid such a scenario in the state and although it was welcomed by the majority of the people including all the apex tribe organisations, there were many who scurried for cover only to return with more arsenal. Those who mocked the peace process earlier stating that India will never sign another agreement more substantial than the previous agreements were in for a surprise. It is quite evident that many in these groups including some of the factions failed to understand the current happenings around the world especially the geopolitical scenario in the region. The intention of both India and Japan to outdo Chinese dominance in the South Asian and South East Asian markets is no secret. The huge investment by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in India including Nagaland is an instance. Peace in the Northeast especially the Naga areas is a pre-requisite for it to be successful and the current leadership in New Delhi will walk the extra mile to do so, at least this time they are expected to do so .
Among the Naga nationalist leaders with the exception of AZ Phizo and some of his contemporaries it seems there are very few among the nationalist leaders who understand the geo-political scenario in the region. Unfortunately, the so called over ground leaders in the state, majority of who have not even visited Myanmar or Bangladesh are not in a position to take into account these factors in their analysis and in their discourses. It is no secret that due to the lack of interest shown by the western countries the Naga nationalist leaders slowly moved closer and closer to Pakistan and China at a time when India had closer ties with the erstwhile USSR. There were also instances when one faction or the other, with the exception of some very recent groups, might have played into the schemes of the Intelligence agencies as alleged by each other. All these factors have its share of contributions in the long history of the Indo-Naga political imbroglio especially leading to very notable conflicts among the Naga groups. Nevertheless, instead of learning from it and working towards reconciliation, if history is still used for continued attacks against each other within the Naga nationalist groups then it will be catastrophic. History should teach the leaders to narrow their differences rather than narrow their views. The FNR in its recent public statement correctly observed that power politics, self-preservation and exclusiveness threaten to demoralize the Naga spirit and obstruct Naga reconciliation. Posterity will not forgive those leaders, if after coming till this point all efforts turn futile because of their narrow views leading to the derailment of the peace talks.
The invitation to the remaining Naga national groups is undoubtedly the start of a new beginning. It is a masterstroke on the part of the government of India that will silence many detractors. The same continued sincerity is expected from the GoI too to find lasting peace in the region. The invitation also indicates that the GoI took heed to one major resolution of the ACAUT rally of August 25, 2017 which would have resulted in a restive atmosphere if not adhered to. It should also reassure the leadership and the members of the public that are part of this anti-graft movement of the sincerity of the GoI, by giving it the benefit of doubt. The invitation should also not be taken as a sign of weakness on the part of the two initial negotiating parties. While acknowledging the fact why the GoI chose only the NSCN (IM) to initially start the peace talks, it is expected from the latter that it would make some compromises and adjustments to accommodate the other groups. On the other hand the leaders of the working group also need to understand that it is the cause, the Naga national movement, which today made it possible for them to be invited by the GoI. However it is purely their individual contributions over the years that will determine their standing among the people and also within the nationalist groups, not just because they used to hold certain positions in one of the factions or groups. The time has come for the leaders to accept reality, it is time to realise that the time for peace has come else the next movement will be the people’s movement and it would be costly for many. That would be a harsher reality.
