The curse of numerous factions : Watching the peace talk
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: April 06 2015 -

How well is the IM faction of the NSCN placed to ink a solution which would be acceptable to all ?

This question is important in the backdrop of the reality that one sees in the existence of the Khaplang faction of the NSCN as well as the emergence of Khole and Kitovi group of the Naga rebel group.

The Zeliangrong United Front is yet another group which seems to have a significant presence in Tamenglong district.

No doubt the IM group is the major player, in so far as the Naga community is concerned, but can any solution inked with this group be taken as resolving the vexed Naga issue once and for all ?

It is also extremely significant to note that the Khaplang faction has abrogated the peace pact with the Government of India and while it remains to be seen what the future holds, it is nonetheless a disturbing development to note that two prominent members of the outfit, Wangtin Naga and Tikhak, have announced that they are going to float an armed group soon.

This is after they were expelled from the NSCN (K). To be sure Delhi must have taken note of all these developments but the bigger question is how they intend to go about resolving the Naga issue.

Is inking a deal with the IM group going to answer all the answers or just some answers ?

A point which the Government of India must be seriously mulling over, for it has already experienced the pain of factionalism within the armed outfits.

And it goes without saying that any new development within the armed outfits of the Nagas is going to impact on Manipur.

This is all that more so given the fact that the Government of India is planning to ink a final deal with the IM group very soon, most probably this year itself.

With nothing laid down in black and white, it is therefore not surprising to see that various theories are doing the round and interestingly the outcome of the peace talk between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) is watched as keenly in Manipur as it is in Nagaland. There are reasons for this.

Obviously no one will be in a hurry to forget what happened in 2001 when the Government of India decided to insert the words, ‘ceasefire without territorial limits’ in the truce pact with the NSCN (IM).

Known as the Bangkok Declaration of June 14, 2001, everyone must be aware of what happened after that.

Manipur or more particularly, Imphal, burned for days before the catchy words were deleted from the ceasefire pact in the latter part of July, 2001.

The nightmarish days must still be fresh in the minds of quite a large number of people here, and while it is still not known what will be inked this time, the feeling of apprehension is still very much there.

Only Delhi or rather Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the top leadership of the NSCN (IM) and the higher ups in the Government of India will have a fair inkling of where the peace talk is heading towards, but it is best for Delhi to keep in mind that it makes no sense to ink a solution which may give birth to more problems in the future.