Indo - Naga & other peace (Accord) talks
- Part 6 -

BD Behring *

11. Centrally funded University.

11.1. A centrally funded Central Institute of Technology (CIT) will be set up to impact education in various technological/ vocational disciplines such as Information Technology, Bio-Technology, Food Processing, Rural Industries, Business Management, etc.

11.2. The CIT will be subsequently upgraded to a Centrally funded State University with technical and non-technical disciplines to be run by the BTC.

12. Relief & Rehabilitation

12.1. The BLT would join the national mainstream and shun the path of violence in the interest of peace and development. After the formation of the interim council of BTC, BLT will dissolve itself as an organisation and surrender with arms within a week of swearing-in of the interim council.

The State Government would provide full support to relief and rehabilitation of the members of BLT who would surrender with arms in this process in accordance with the existing policy of the State. Financial support in such cases, however shall be limited to be provisions of the scheme prepared and funded by the Government of India. Withdrawal of cases against such persons and those related to overgroundBodo movement since 1987 shall be considered according to the existing policy of the State of Assam.

12.2. The Government of India will initiate steps for review of action against the Bodo employees of Government of India and subordinate officers as well as in respect of Central Government Undertakings. Similar action would be taken by the Government of Assam.

12.3. Bodo youth will be considered for recruitment in Police, Army and Paramilitary forces to increase their representation in these forces.

13. Special Rehabilitation Programme for the people affected by ethnic disturbances:

The Special Rehabilitation Programme (SRP) for the people affected by ethnic disturbances in Assam, who are at present living at relief camps in Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon etc. shall be completed by the Government of Assam with active support of BTC. Necessary funds for their rehabilitation shall be provided by the Government of India and lands which are free from all encumbrances required for such rehabilitation shall be made available by the BTC.

14. Interim Council Immediately after signing of the agreement, Interim Executive Council for BTC shall be formed by Governor of Assam from amongst the leaders of the present Bodo movement, including the signatories to this settlement, and shall include adequate representation to the non-tribal communities in BTC area. The Interim Council shall not continue for a period beyond 6 months during which period election to the Council shall be held. Government of Assam shall dissolve the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) and repeal the BAC Act.

15. Government of Assam will consider inclusion of all tribals including Bodos in RHAC/MAC/LAC in consultation with leaders of these Councils.

16. The Implementation of the provision of the Memorandum of Settlement shall be periodically reviewed by a Committee comprising representatives of Government of India, Government of Assam and BTC.

Signed on 10th February, 2003
at New Delhi
in the presence of
Shri L.K. Advani,
Hon'ble Deputy Prime Minister of India
and
Shri Tarun Gogoi,
Chief Minister of Assam.
(HagramaBasumatary)
Chairman, Bodo Liberation Tigers
(P K Dutta)
Chief Secretary, Govt. of Assam Ministry of Home Affairs
(R C A Jain)
Secretary (BM)
Government of India

Manipur: Suspension of Operation agreement signed with Kuki militants.

August 25, 2008 14:32 IST

The Manipur government and the Centre have signed an agreement for stopping counterinsurgency iperations against Kuki militants in the state, official sources said on Monday. The suspension of operation agreement was signed last Friday (August 22) by D S Poonia, principal secretary (Home) of Manipur and Navin Verma, joint secretary (north-east) of the Union Home Ministry on behalf of Manipur and the Central governments respectively. Eight members each from the Kuki National Organisation and the United People's Front also signed the agreement on behalf of different Kuki militant outfits, the sources said.

KNO and UPF represendted 11 and eight Kuki militant outfits respectively. KNO vice president LanminthangVaiphei and UPF general secretary S T ThangboiKipgen were also among the signatories from the side of the militants, the sources added. Two more groups sign pact today Hill militant outfits, UTLA and PRA, join suspension of operation Imphal, March 23: The Manipur government's efforts to bring militant groups to the negotiating table has paid more dividends with two more Kuki militant groups agreeing to sign the Suspension of Operations agreement.

The United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA) and the Pakan Reunification Army (PRA), which mainly operate in the state's hill districts, will sign a tripartite agreement with the Centre and state government officials here tomorrow, an official source said. The agreement will be signed by Sambhu Singh, the Union joint secretary, home, in-charge of North-east, senior officials of Manipur government and leaders of the two outfits at the banquet hall of the head-quarters of the 1st Manipur Rifles battalion here, he added. The United Tribal Liberation Army, which was formed in 2002 with about 150 cadres, had agreed to sign the agreement during the fourth round of talks with government officials in December last year.

The peace pact, however, could not be signed immeditely because of the Assembly elections in January. The outfit mainly operates in Churachandpur district and Jiribam subdivision of Imphal East, intelligence sources said. The Pakan Reunification Army was formed in 2007 at Khobung in Chandel district with a few hundred cadres. They mainly operate in Chandel district. With this, the number of militant groups signing peace pacts will go up to 22.

The first tripartite agreement was signed in 2009 with 19 Kuki militant groups under two umbrella organisations — the Kuki National Organisation and the United Peoples Front. In 2010, the Kangleipak Communist Party (Lallumba) signed the agreement. The cadres of these 20 groups, numbering more than 1,500, are now accommodated in 12 designated camps. The Kuki National Organisation and the United Peoples Front are still waiting to start a political dialogue.

The Kuki armed groups are fighting either for a "Kuki homeland" or to safe-guard the interest and identity of their community. Though most of the hill-based militant groups have signed the Suspension of Operations agreement, major groups like the United National Liberation Front, the People's Liberation Army, the Kangleipak Communist Party, the KangleiYawolKannaLup, the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and the United Peoples Party of Kangleipak, which are fighting for Manipur's "independence", have not responded to the call for peace talks.

The Kuki National Lib eration Front has also rejected the Suspension of Operations agreement. "With two more Kuki armed groups joining the peace process, there will be more peace in the hill districts of Manipur. We are also trying to bring the other groups into the peace process," an official of the state home department said.

22 YEARS INDO- NAGA PEACE TALK:

The Naga Public has become sceptical about the on-going Naga Peace Talk which has been continuing without any tangible solution for the last 22 years. Therefore, the peace talk must be more transparent to the general public, less the aspiration and hope of the Naga People is dashed/scrambled. The Naga People are waiting hilariously for lasting solution instead of bearing the hardship or other dire consequences in the event of renewal of the bloodshed conflict as happened in the past. Indeed, maintaining the atmosphere of peace and tranquillity with goodwill in the present world ismy consistent commitment and conviction in all my endeav our.

That is why, as a member of the World Peace Council where I participated also at the World Peace Council Conference, I tabled a motion in the House of 5th Manipur Legislative Assembly of fifth session on 22-07-1991 under half an hour discussion urging the government of India for initiating Peace talked with the Naga insurgents and other groups of insurgents.

For other insurgent groups and other organisations except the Naga Peace accord like
(1) Kashmir merged with India, 1947
(2) Manipur Merger Agreement, 1949
(3) Shimla Agreement, 1972
(4) Sikkim Annexed, 1975
(5) Sheikh-Indira Accord, 1975
(6) Assam Accord, 1985
(7) Mizoram Accord, 1986
(8) Memorandum of Settlement, Bodoland Territorial Council, 2003
(9) Manipur Suspension of Operation Agreement with Kuki Militants, 2008
were already settled in the past.

Therefore, what I personally perceive is that, the Indo-Naga peace talk has frustrated or sustained long enough for too long and hence, it is time now to finally settle or bring to a logical conclusion without further delay.


Concluded .....