'Supra State' offer in lieu of Nagalim in GOI-NSCN-IM Peace Talk Timeline
- Part 3 -

Aheibam Koireng Singh *

TAXATION

NSCN-IM's viewpoint: Government of Nagaland will have authority to levy income and other taxes on citizens and residents of Nagaland. It shall also have the authority to set the level of taxes for individuals and corporations to have power to levy excise and sales tax.
GoI's viewpoint: To the extent such taxes and levies are not subsumed in the goods and services taxes, the state government will be competent to levy land revenue, tax on agricultural income, tax on land and building, mineral rights, excise duty on alcoholic liquors for human consumption and narcotics, entry tax on goods into local area, tax on consumption or sale of electricity, sale tax/VAT. Taxes on professionals, taxes on luxuries, entertainment, amusements and betting and gambling, taxes on mechanical and other vehicles, taxes on animals and goats, taxes on goods and passengers carried by road or inland waterways, stamp duties on documents other than those mentioned in Entry 91 of List 1.
Remarks: Agreed

DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

NSCN-IM's viewpoint: The Government of Nagaland will have the authority to solicit and receive development assistance and establish partnerships to this end with foreign development agencies. This will be done in consultation with the Government of India. The two parties will also agree upon development assistance from India to Nagaland
GoI's viewpoint: The Government of Nagaland will have the authority to receive aid from multilateral and national development finance institutions (on back to back basis) subject to the concurrence of the Government of India. In today's world, private agencies promote tourism instead of government agencies.
Remarks: Agreed

STATE FLAG AND EMBLEM

NSCN-IM's viewpoint: Nagaland to have its own flag and emblem
GoI's viewpoint: Emblem may be decided by Nagaland but no separate flag.
Remarks: NSCN-IM is insistent about separate flag and separate constitution. It has to be noted that even if a separate flag is agreed, it will only be for Government of Nagaland. The contiguous Naga areas in Manipur where Tangkhuls are staying will not be using it. The issue has to be discussed further.

TRANSPORT

NSCN-IM's viewpoint: Air Transport- Nagaland will try to set up its own airline.
GoI's viewpoint: Except Railways and National Highways, ground transportation may be with Government of Nagaland. It should be examined whether separate airlines will be viable.
Remarks: Agreed

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

NSCN-IM's viewpoint: The Government of India will have the primary responsibility for the (Demanded in the Memorandum dated 1. 4. 2004). … .
GoIs viewpoint: Government of India will be primarily responsible for external relations but very clear in this regard. … .
Remarks: Agreed

PROTECTION OF MINORITIES WITHIN NAGALAND

NSCN-IM's viewpoint: All persons, who shall be citizens of Nagaland will be treated equally before law. There will be no discrimination whatsoever against person for ethnic origin other than Nagas and cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities will be protected
GoI's viewpoint: All residents of Nagaland shall be treated equally. Religious and linguistic minorities in Nagaland will have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
Remarks: Agreed

NAGALAND COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

NSCN-IM's viewpoint: An independent commission on human rights will be created
GoI's viewpoint: However, the state commission's jurisdiction will only extend to subjects within the competence of the state government and would not include subjects within the competence of the union. However, the enabling act should provide that no proceedings will be initiated against any member of the armed forces of the union for their actions.
Remarks: Agreed

BOUNDARIES

NSCN-IMs Viewpoint: A starting point for talks can be creation of a relationship which guarantees the distinct identity of the Nagas and Nagalim. There should be federal relationship with India governed in such a way that it cannot be changed unilaterally in the future by either side. (*Demanded In The Memorandum 1/4/2004). More realistic boundary of Nagaland should be agreed upon to integrate Naga areas within one administrative entity.
It is the position of the NSCN-IM that the present so called state of Nagaland Comprises only a portion of Nagaland and that more realistic boundaries should be agreed upon that enable the Naga areas to be integrated within one administrative entity. The portions of Nagaland which are situated in present day Myanmar will not form part of the present negotiations.
GoIs viewpoint: It was explained to them that under law, boundaries of state can be altered only after taking into consideration the views of the concerned state legislatures. The views of the Government of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam are very clear in this regard. Therefore, it would not be possible to concede to the demand in the absence of political consensus from all concerned. Therefore NSCN-IM may think of 'second best' if the best in their view is not possible. Possible autonomy of Naga areas without altering the boundaries of state concerned so that in many matters, the representatives of the hill areas may administer the subjects in their charge along with a supra state body for the Nagas for their cultural, social and customary practices may be discussed. This pan Naga supra state bodies will be in the recognition of the distinct identity of the Nagas
Remarks:

INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS

NSCN-IM's viewpoint: Provisions will have to be agreed upon for a smooth transition to the new situation
GoI's viewpoint: GoI agrees
Remarks: Agreed

GUARANTEES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

NSCN-IM's viewpoint: A timetable will have to be agreed upon for implementations of the agreements reached. A system will have to be agreed upon to ensure full and timely implementation by both parties.
GoI's viewpoint: GoI agrees
Remarks: Agreed

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh as well as the Union Home Minister, Mr. PC Chindambaram had rejected the report as baseless. But when the Seven Sister Post stand by its report, outrightly rejecting the denial by the GoI of having any such proposal, there were virtually no defense by the later.

From the above excerpts of the purported report, it is the position of the Isak Muivah led NSCN that "more realistic boundaries should be agreed upon that will enable the Naga areas to be integrated within one administrative entity". It also stated that the portions of Nagaland which are situated in present day Myanmar will not form part of the present negotiations". The report exposed that the GoI had rejected the NSCN's demand for Nagalim which are to be formed by integrating the 'contiguous Naga areas' of Assam, Manipur and Assam with the present state of Nagaland, stating that it is not possible in the absence of political consensus from all concerned as boundary of the states can only be altered with the approval of the Legislative Assembly of the respective states.

Assam had been dismembered multiple times and many new states were formed by parting away her territory. So, there is deep-seated resentment to the prospect of any further territorial bifurcation. Manipur's erstwhile strategic and fertile territory of Kabaw valley was given away to Burma in the past. Many people are still emotive about it. People of Manipur have for more than multiple times shown that they will rise up in opposition to the threat of any likely dismemberment of Manipur's territory without any regard for their personal safety.

Arunachal Pradesh have also categorically opposed to bifurcation of her territory. So, the GoI while convincing the NSCN-IM to do away with its aspired territory of Nagalim clearly stated, "the views of the Government of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam are very clear in this regard." In lieu of it, the GoI had offered a Supra-state body for ensuring some kind of cultural integration of the Naga areas of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam with state of Nagaland. This has been projected as the "second best option" for the NSCN if not the best.

This suggested body is intended as some sort of non territorial unification of Nagas living across the three Northeastern states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. This body will exercise authority over cultural, social and customary practices of Nagas. This pan Naga supra state body will be in the recognition of the distinct identity of the Nagas. The remark column of this subject in the report was left blank without stating whether NSCN-IM has agreed to it or not. But when this report came to public domain following its publication in the Seven Sisters Post, NSCN-IM maintained a stoic silence without rejecting it either.

Despite having the same party (with the Centre) in power the said proposal for supra state body was also opposed by the respective government in all the three states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur. Political parties, community based organizations, and many prominent personalities in the region also have voiced their opposition to the supra state proposal. Soon after, the issue of supra state for Nagas was eclipsed by the demand of creating a separate state of Frontier Nagaland" covering four districts of Eastern Nagaland – Mon, Tuensang, Longleng and Kiphire – and two Naga-inhabited districts of Arunachal Pradesh – Changlang and Tirap.

The GoI may have very good intention in putting up the proposal for supra state thinking that it will do away with the apprehension of territorial unification of the Naga while seeking final settlement but past instances taught that the GoI had slipped from its position giving concession after concession with one become a precedent of the other towards emboldening the Naga ultras with their appeasement policy. What can be gauged from the melee surrounding the issue of supra state is that any solution in isolation is not going to be durable and bound to generate conflicts. If a solution is to be sought, it should not be in part but in whole involving all the communities in the region.

Concluded ..