Compromising formula required to bring lasting peace in NE region

T Haokip *

Commemoration at TNL Ground, Ukhrul for Peace Accord signed between NSCN (IM) and GoI on Aug 10 2015 :: Pix - Sunzu Bachaspatimayum

The recent signing of Naga Peace Accord has evoked mixed responses from different quarters. Many people have seen as a step towards bringing peace in the region. It's welcomed by many Naga people and had celebrated in Ukhrul and Tamenglong of Manipur.

On the other hand, other Naga militant groups have asserted that one organization can't represent the entire Naga people. Chief Ministers of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have complained of not being consulted before the signing of the Accord because the demand area of the NSCN (IM) includes parts of all these neighboring states and vowed that not an inch of their territory shall be ceded to the Nagas.

However, it is to be noted that since the contents of the Accord is not made known to the public yet, it is too early to either celebrate or oppose it.

Meanwhile, Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of the Kuki people in Manipur has submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi with a charter of demands.

The demands include prior settlement of 905 innocent Kukis killed by the NSCN (IM) in the first half of nineties, 360 Kuki villages uprooted by the NSCN (IM) and the rendering of more than 100,000 homeless in their own land as a result of the Kuki genocide perpetrated by the NSCN (IM).

The Kuki genocide which was started in 1992 lasted till 1997 when the NSCN (IM) stopped killing innocent Kukis after the militant group signed ceasefire with the government of India. It is to be noted that no peaceful settlement of the ethnic conflict has done so far between the Kukis and the NSCN (IM) nor by the government of India.

While the Accord is presumed as a harbinger of peace in the region, it is to be known that 'peace' per se is a subjective term as far as North East India scenario is concerned. What is peace for one community is war for the other and vice-versa.

Peace for the Nagas is Greater Nagaland which comprises integration of all the Naga inhabited areas which includes parts of the three neighboring states with Nagaland by redrawing the existing boundary of the affected states. This is something not acceptable to all other affected people. It is tantamount to inviting Armageddon in the region. On the other hand, until this objective is achieved Nagas appear to keep fighting towards this end.

The major obstacle in the Naga peace process is the overlapping land issue. The demand area of NSCN (IM) is not at all acceptable to the neighboring people.

Claiming of entire Senapati district where demographic distribution is fifty-fifty between Kuki & Naga, Ukhrul district (Naga 70:30 Kuki), Chandel district (Naga 40: 60 Kuki), Tamenglong (Naga 60:40 Kuki); and half the Manipur valley, dominated by the Meiteis, besides parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh is not at all acceptable. Just because the district headquarters are located in Naga areas doesn't mean that the entire district belongs to them.

If at all Naga contiguous areas are to be united territorially or administratively, mutual land distribution with neighboring communities which requires a lot of compromises, adjustment and give and take should be worked out.

Otherwise, fulfilling the demand of a particular community at the cost of others will lead to further bloodshed in the already fragile region. Listening to the cries of only one child and ignoring those of his siblings is not a wise act of a responsible father. The bottom line therefore is, before any decision on the Naga issue is made, all the affected communities have to be consulted and a compromising win-win solution has to be brought out.