On Monday April 23, 2018 one rare news about Northeast India to hit the bulletins was the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Meghalaya and some parts of Arunachal Pradesh. The decrease in the number of militancy related incidences and deaths in the last few years in Meghalaya and parts of Arunachal Pradesh had prompted the Central government to lift the AFSPA in these two states. Home Ministry indicated that across the Northeast, 2017 was the year with the lowest number of deaths of security forces with just 12 than compared to 289 in 1997, a 97% decrease in the last two decades. Also the civilian casualties dropped by 96% in the last 18 years with 85% decrease in insurgency incidents during the same period.
Along with the news of the removal of the AFSPA from some of the states there was big news on the relaxation of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) from Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. The PAP is required by foreigners travelling in those areas falling between the Inner Line and the international border of those states as stipulated under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958. The PAP covers most of the Northeast. Earlier in 2011 the PAP was relaxed for a year in Nagaland. Some parts of the Northeast also fall under the Restricted Area regime. Nagaland was one of the first states to request the Centre to relax the RAP/PAP regime from the Northeast. It was the then Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in 2006 who appealed to the Centre to either relax or completely remove it. He stated that it was a ‘product of the Cold War era’ and ‘do not appear to serve any useful purpose’.
The protection of minority tribes and people in the Northeast is an important aspect. The extension of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 is one such example that brought about the Inner Line Permit. However, many of these laws had shunted out the Northeast from the eyes of the world for many decades and also alienated the people from the region. The present move is a test both for the government and the respective states in the region. Along with the aspirations of the people to protect their identity it is also time to move forward and be part of the global community.
The decision of the Centre cannot be just ignored as routine but indeed can be termed as bold. The facts and figures presented are but requirements only to support the government’s move. The intention of the Central government is conspicuous enough. The government wants to open up the Northeast in its constant endeavour to achieve the goals of the Act East Policy. Onus lies on the states and the people of the region to show if they are finally ready.
