cover story LONG ROAD TO PEACE The peace agreement between NSCN (IM) and the Central Government have generated optimism but at the same time the Naga people have been kept in the dark about its contents. What does this mean for the future of this proud and ancient race? Nabarun Guha nce upon a time, day devised a plan to get rid of somewhere in Nagaland, NSCN (IM) being the him. He asked the man to post a Othere was a village chief. largest armed group in letter on his behalf to the Deputy He used to run the village in an Commissioner of the town. autocratic manner, thus exploiting Nagaland has emerged When the old man took the letter the people. There was an old as the power centre of to the DC, the latter asked, ‘Do man in the village who dared to you know what is written in the speak against the chief and point the Naga nationalist letter?’ The old man said he did out his wrongdoings. Irritated movement not. The bureaucrat informed him with the old man, the chief one that the village chief had asked In what can be called a truly landmark moment in Naga history, Indian Prime Minister Narendra, Home Minister Rajnath Singh pose along with NSCN (IM) supremo T Muivah and other important entities of the NSCN (IM) and Indian government 24 │ │ October 2016 him to arrest the old man. This Timeline of the Naga Struggle story might seem unrelated to the ruckus over the peace process in Nagaland. But a closer look into the issue will show a striking similarity between the situation 1881 of the old man in the story and common people of Nagaland. The Naga Hills became part of Khekiye Sema, a former IAS British India. officer and Member, Consultative Body of Civil Society Against C o r r up t io n a nd Un a b at e d Ta x at io n (ACAUT), who narrated the story says, ‘Exactly the same thing is 1918 happening today in Nagaland as The first sign of Naga resistance was seen in the formation of the the Naga people are party to a pact about which they know nothing. Naga Club They are not objecting to the agreement but they are objecting to the manner in which they are being told to conform to the terms of the agreement. As long as they don’t know the content, they 1946 would never be able to negotiate The Naga National Council for themselves.’ (NNC), under the leadership of The present scenario Angami Zapu Phizo, declared On 3rd August last year, the Nagaland an independent State Centre signed a framework on 14th August 1947. agreement with the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaak-Muivaah), which is to be the basis for a peace accord that 1951 promises to settle the Naga issue. The NNC resolved to establish a ‘sovereign Naga state’ and The question of sovereignty of the Nagas has been a source of conflict conducted a ‘referendum’ in 1951, in which ‘99 per cent’ supported since the birth of the Indian union. an ‘independent’ Nagaland. A just and equitable agreement to end the decades-old conflict and meet their needs and aspirations is a legitimate right of the Naga people. NSCN (IM) as the largest armed group in Nagaland has emerged as the power centre of the Naga nationalist movement. So, they definitely have an edge when it comes to talking to the Central Government for a political settlement. However, they don’t have the unanimous October 2016 │ │ 25 The Naga struggle for independence has witnessed a lot of killings, resulting in innocent children becoming orphans support of the Naga people. The situation is further complicated 1952 by the presence of other Naga insurgent groups, notably the On 22nd March 1952, Phizo formed the underground Naga Federal NSCN (Khaplang), as a result of Government (NFG) and the Naga Federal Army (NFA). The the fragmentation of NSCN (IM). Government of India sent in the Army to crush the insurgency. NSCN (K) had made their stance clear earlier this year when they launched a deadly ambush 1958 on army jawans in the jungles The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was enacted. Almost of Manipur. Other groups like simultaneously with the resistance, peace efforts started here. NSCN (Accordist) and NSCN (Khole-Konyak) are also opposing the accord. NSCN (Reformist) who had been supporting the I963 truce have threatened to go back The Naga Hills, a district of Assam, was upgraded to a State by to NSCN (K). also adding the Tuensang Tract that was then part of NEFA. The death of Isak Chishi Swu, the founder-member of NSCN (IM) has been a huge blow for the 1964 group. Nagas are a diverse group of people, often divided along In April of that year, Jai Prakash Narain, Assam Chief Minister tribal lines and clan loyalties. Bimala Prasad Chaliha and Rev. Michael Scott formed a Peace Though Muivah is also a well- Mission, and got the government and NNC to sign an agreement respected Naga leader, he is not to suspend operations that September. from Nagaland but from Somdal village of Ukhrul district in 26 │ │ October 2016 neighbouring Manipur. Most of his comrades — Rh Raishing, Phungting and Angelus Shimray 1967 — are from the Tangkhul tribe. But the NNC/NFG/NFA continued to indulge in violence, and Swu was, however, a Sema Naga after six rounds of talks, the Peace Mission was abandoned , and a from Nagaland. Elaborating on this, Sema says, massive counter-insurgency operation launched. ‘We are not against NSCN (IM) negotiating for us. But NSCN (IM) comprises of Tangkhuls. In the 1975 1960s, when the Naga Nationalist Council was fighting our battle On 11th November 1975, the for independence, the Tangkhuls government got a section betrayed our movement at a of NNC leaders to sign the crucial juncture. They (the Shillong Accord, under which Tangkhuls) had 246 graduates and this section of NNC and NFG could have easily represented us in the talks. Emissaries were sent agreed to give up arms. to the Tangkhuls requesting them to join NNC, but they didn’t. The worst of human crimes 1980 have happened against the Nagas A group of about 140 members led by Thuingaleng Muivah, who at that time. Women were raped were at that time in China, refused to accept the Shillong Accord, inside churches. The Tangkhuls and formed the National Socialist Council of Nagaland in 1980. joined much later. Muivah joined in 1965. However, despite this Muivah also had Isak Chisi Swu and S S Khaplang with him. history, the Nagas still say that if NSCN (IM) is the only group negotiating with the government, so be it. The Tangkhuls have the intellectual capital to carry out this negotiation. Nagas are sensitively aware of this and don’t grudge this.’ Speaking on how Isak’s demise will affect the peace process, Sema says, ‘Isak was the lone balancing factor in NSCN (IM). Nagas knew that he was a God-fearing person. He would have at least ensured 1988 something for Nagas. That pillar is gone. There are no Nagas in In 1988, the NSCN split into NSCN (IM) who can question NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) after Muivah.’ a violent clash. While the NNC began to fade away, and Phizo The Demand for Nagalim died in London in 1991, the The purported objective of the NSCN (IM) came to be seen as NSCN (IM) is the establishment of Nagalim (Greater Nagaland), the ‘mother of all insurgencies’ c o n s i s t i n g o f a l l t h e Nag a i n h a b it e d in the region. areas of Assam, Manipur, October 2016 │ │ 27 Arunachal Pradesh and some 1990s portions of Myanmar. Nagalim, Muivah, Swu and other top NSCN (IM) leaders escaped to Thailand which will be an independent State, lies in the Patkai Hills. The in the early 1990s. While Nagaland Governor M M Thomas, a Church proposed Nagalim spreads over leader from Kerala, extracted the first positive response from the approximately 1, 20, 00 sq km in NSCN (IM), Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao met Muivah, Swu contrast to the present State of and others in Paris on 15th June 1995. In November 1995, then MoS Nagaland which has an area of (Home) Rajesh Pilot met them in Bangkok. Subsequently, Prime 16,527 sq km. Minister H D Deve Gowda met them in Zurich on 3rd February The map of Nagalim, released 1997, which was followed by meetings with officers in Geneva and by NSCN (IM) claims Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Bangkok. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee met them in Paris on Hills districts of Assam. Besides, 30th September 1998. The Government of India signed a ceasefire the map also includes parts of agreement with NSCN (IM) on 25th July 1997, which came into Golaghat, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh and effect on 1st August 1997. Over 80 rounds of talks between the two Jorhat in Assam. It also includes sides were held subsequently. Dibang Valley, Lohit, Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal 2014-present Pradesh and significant parts of four districts of Manipur- For the NSCN (IM), the Modi government continues from where Tamenlong, Senapati, Ukhrul and Vajpayee left off. The RSS’s Northeast veteran P B Acharya is Chandel. currently Nagaland Governor, and Joint Intelligence Committee chairman R N Ravi, with his IB background, is an old Northeast Future of the Accord hand. The State’s political scenario has changed, with T R Zeliang’s The main problem with the Naga People’s Front, an NDA ally, persuading all groups in the accord is its cloak of secrecy Assembly, including the Congress, to become partners in an all- which is breeding confusion, party government.