Take all the stakeholders into confidence ! From 1997 to 2015
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: December 10 2015 -
Prime Minister determined to solve Naga issue.
Coming as it is from the Centre’s Interlocutor to the peace talk with the NSCN (IM) RN Ravi and following the signing of the Framework Agreement on August 3 this year, there is every reason to believe this line.
And why not ? Eighteen years is indeed a long time, for remember the ceasefire agreement was signed way back on July 25, 1997 and it came into effect on August 1 the same year.
In between 1997 and 2015, the country has also seen a number of Prime Ministers including HD Deve Gowda, IK Gujral, Atal Behari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh and now Narendra Modi.
Significant to note too that the spadework to engage the Naga rebel group started during the time of PV Narasimha Rao when he met Th Muivah, Isak Chisi Swu and other leaders of the group on June 15, 1995 at Paris.
This was followed by yet another meeting between the IM leadership and the late Rajesh Pilot in Bangkok.
These initiatives should be more than evident that the Government of India is indeed keen on finding a workable solution with the NSCN (IM).
Also significant to note that the other factions, such as the NSCN (K), the NSCN (KK) and NSCN (R) have also been taken on board to sign ceasefire pacts and surely the Centre seems intent on resolving the issue with the people of Nagaland.
It is a different thing that the NSCN (K) recently withdrew from the ceasefire agreement with the Government of India.
RN Ravi’s recent pronouncement gains eminence in the face of the fact that it came during the Hornbill Festival and after inking the Framework Agreement with the NSCN (IM).
Given the vagueness of the August 3 agreement, it may be premature to comment on the likely outcome of the dialogue but both sides seem satisfied with the outcome so far and this should be happy tidings to the people, who the NSCN (IM) claim to represent.
One obvious point which the Centre has to contend with is the air of suspicion in the neighbouring States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur.
This should be obvious given the fact that claiming all the Naga inhabited areas in the three States has been on the agenda of the NSCN (IM).
Difficult to say which way the wind will blow, but the Centre need to keep in mind that the interest and stand of all the stakeholders should be taken into account.
To go about it, the Centre will need people who are well versed with the history of the region and the dynamics between different communities here.
Will absolutely make no sense if striking a deal with the NSCN (IM) is going to give birth to numerous other issues which will only deepen the Lim divide.
Taking all the stakeholders into confidence is a step which should not be overlooked.
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