Shilling Accord 1975 and Naga Peace Accord 2015
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: August 25 2015 -

The sense of euphoria that seemingly swept across Naga community among the NSCN-IM supporters and the general Naga public who have been yearning for a peaceful solution to the decades-old Naga issue appears to be vanishing slowly.

Now voices of dissent, distrust and lack of cohesion are surfacing.

While the Naga National Council (NNC), the oldest, existing insurgent outfit and progenitor of all NSCN factions has openly expressed deep rooted scepticism, the Sumi Hoho and all its frontal organisations have declared that they would not take part in the Naga consultative meeting being organized by NSCN-IM on August 25.

A day earlier, NSCN-KK led by its chairman Khole Konyak and general secretary N Kitovi Zhimomi asserted that the people of Nagaland will not embrace the “undignified peace accord” and said Nagas of Nagaland cannot be sacrificed to fulfill the political aspiration and desire of Nagas from other neighbouring States.

The outfit categorically stated it will not accept “imposition” of NSCN-IM peace deal in Nagaland because the political future of tribes of Nagaland is best understood and to be decided by them alone. No doubt, there is rivalry among different rebel groups.

This is not something peculiar to Nagaland. It is everywhere.

Given these diverse standpoints, one cannot help asking whether the peace accord signed on August 3 can achieve any lasting peace.

The NNC expressed deep apprehension that the Naga Peace Accord signed on August 3 between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM would be a revisit to the Shillong Accord 1975 and a harbinger of further division and distrust not only amongst the Nagas but between the Nagas and India.

Only time can tell how many of the stake holders can Naga interlocutor RN Ravi take on board before details of the framework agreement are worked out and sealed.

It is very likely that NSCN-IM leadership signed the cease-fire agreement perhaps with integration of Naga inhabited areas under a single administrative unit, with the addenda of some sort of autonomy in their mind.

As stated by NNC vice president Thepushuyi S Keyho, we are afraid if it is not a case of history repeating itself. Phizo led NNC was, in fact, the mother of almost all insurgent organisations now operating in Nagaland and beyond.

First, it was only the NNC. In the aftermath of the Shillong Accord, Isaak and Muivah and their followers defected together with SS Khaplang, then president in-charge of the NNC to form the NSCN in 1980.

Eight years later, their leadership parted ways and gave birth to two factions––NSCN (IM) led by Isaak and Muivah and NSCN (K) led by SS Khaplang.

It is in records that the Shillong Accord was the immediate and most prominent factor for the rise of NSCN after their leaders split from the NNC leadership.

The Government of India negotiated the Shillong Accord with some moderate Naga leaders within the NNC, not with the collective leadership of the outfit, and the accord was signed in 1975.

As expected, many leaders and cadres were disillusioned and disappointed at the manner how their leaders negotiated with the Government of India and what they got from the accord.

The radicals quickly capitalised the situation and formed the NSCN which soon intensified the war against the Government of India.

Led by Isaak, Muivah and Khaplang with the stated claim of winning sovereignty for Naga people, the NSCN soon outgrew its parent organisation.

Its influence, fire-power and strike force became the most dominating one in the entire North East region.

The new leadership also condemned those who signed the Shillong Accord as betrayers.

Given this history, the peace negotiators must ensure that maximum of the stake holders are taken on board before a final deal is made in order to avoid another disastrous ‘Shilling Accord’.

Another peace accord which would give birth to a dozen factions in addition to the existing ones would be catastrophic.