Indo-Naga Second Ceasefire, 1997 : An analysis
- Part 2 -

Dr Gairiangmei Maringmei *

NSCN (IM) Chairman Isak Chishi Swu (right) and General Secretary Th Muivah in Naga head gears and spears during brief public reception program held in Nagaland's Dimapur Airport on December 14, 2004
Pic: Oken Jeet Sandham

The ceasefire process has become the most controversial issues in Northeast states of India that has alarmed the entire Northeast region. Most diplomatically, no clear-cut geographical boundary of the ceasefire ground rules and its coverage was mentioned in the initial stage. After several years of debate and buying times, GoI had accepted the geographical boundary of the ceasefire ground rules "without territorial limits" by the Bangkok Agreement of 14 June, 2001. The Bangkok Agreement was signed between the GoI and NSCN (IM) in Bangkok. The following five-points Agreement are the mutually agreed upon:

a) The ceasefire agreement is between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) as two entities "without territorial limits".

b) Both parties would abide by the ground rules revised on 13 January, 2001 both in letter and spirit.

c) It is agreed to further extend the ceasefire for a period of 1 year with effect from 1st August, 2001.

d) The Government of India and the NSCN (IM) agreed to proceed with the peace process on the substantive issues to bring political solution to the issue. It is recognized that there is a need for mutual trust and respect.

e) The next round of talks would be held in the last week of August, 2001.

This ceasefire extension agreement was overwhelmingly received by the people of Nagaland. Besides, many organizations such as the Naga Hoho, the NNC-F and NSCN (K) welcomed the development. However, the move was seriously objected by the neighboring states of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, which was seen to be intruding upon the territorial integrity of their states. On the consequent objection raised by the Meitei people of Manipur, the Bangkok Agreement was revised deleting three words "without territorial limits" and this has created further misunderstanding between various communities of the Northeast states.

The Naga Hoho, Naga Students' Federation (NSF), Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), All Naga Students' Association of Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Mothers' Association (NMA) and other civil society organizations of the Northeast region, mainland India and from around the world, played a significant role in the peace talks between the GoI and NSCN (IM).

There is far from truth in the allegation that the civil societies are mere frontal organizations of the Naga people as they enjoy certain amounts of autonomy and there are instances when they did take stand against violence perpetrated by the factions. No Naga factions group can afford to ignore the opinion and aspirations of the Naga people as expressed through these civil society organizations.

The old and young, women and children have been suffering considerably due to counter-insurgency operations in Naga inhabited areas and also due to inter and intra-factional killings. For instance, the public outrage against the factions' excess in Mokokchung and Tuensang in 2003 clearly indicates the limits of their tolerance.

With regard to the detention of Muivah in Thailand, two meetings were organized by the Thai Friends of the Nagas on 23 July and 22 August, 2000 in Bangkok. These meetings have brought together a spectrum of bipartisan participants from Thailand, India, Naga areas, and various international groups, to discuss the Indo-Naga conflict and the impending expiration of the 1997 cease-fire agreement.

The meetings resolved to appeal to both the Thai and Indian Governments to recognize Muivah as a key negotiator in the Indo-Naga peace talks, and therefore endorsed his immediate release from custody in the interest of peace and security in the region. It called for the immediate resumption of negotiations in good faith between the GoI and the NSCN (IM).

It resolved that this process be amended to make it more participatory, transparent, an accountable to all those with a vital stake in its conclusion. It also resolved to encourage wider discussions of the meaning of peace and democracy in order to make the peace talks meaningful for both the Indian and the Naga people in their quest to a just and honorable solution. On 13 September, 2000, Muivah was released on bail due to the intervention of UNPO and other international organizations.

A civil society meeting was organized in Kohima, Nagaland in early 2001. Many leading civil society groups from Northeastern states, and mainland India participated in the meeting. This initiative led to constituting a research-cum fact finding team consisting of Mr. Ram Kumar Narayan and Ms. Laxmi Murthy as members of an independent fact-finding team to investigate into the violations of cease fire ground rules. This team, with the help from The Other Media and other Naga Civil Society Organizations, completed a comprehensive report title: "Indo-Naga Ceasefire Agreement and Peace Process: Four Years of Ceasefire: Promises and Pitfalls".

This report critically analyzed the lack of clarity in ground rules and the violations of ceasefire by both the parties. Moreover the report analyzed the violations themselves clarifying many grey areas in the ground-rules, and sought a review. This evoked a strong response through a 40 page response from the Indian Army refuting all the charges.

A One-Day Convention was held on 19 July, 2007 at the Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi. The representatives of NPMHR, NMA, NSF, and the Naga Hoho along with various representatives and leaders of Indian Civil Societies, including Students' Groups, Academicians, Concerned Citizens, Eminent Personalities, Political Parties and Human Rights Groups took part in the convention. The convention came out with three declarations:

a) the continuity and relevance of the Indo-Naga Ceasefire must be translated into peace strategies through political solutions and that the peace process must not only mean mere respite from hostilities.

b) a decisive solution for the six-decade old Indo-Naga conflict would demonstrate the vibrancy of Indian democracy in negotiating with multiplicities.

c) the political talks between the Government of India and the NSCN must be enhanced further, by upholding the three-point principles on which the Ceasefire was signed, and, the political dialogue must in all earnestness be pursued to resolve in mutually honourable and acceptable agreements outside the existing framework of the Indian Constitution.

On 26 June, 2012, a high level Naga delegation led by the Naga Hoho has met the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Central leaders including Intelligence Bureau officials and the interlocutor R.S Pandey in Delhi. The Naga delegations have been pressing the GoI to bring the Indo-Naga settlement within 2012. Another meeting of Two-day National Consultations on the "Naga Peace Process and the Possible Outcome" held at the India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi on 12 and 13 January, 2013.

The meeting has stressed for the need of the solution to be for the satisfaction of all the Naga peoples, and therefore fulfill their long standing demand for integration of all Naga inhabited areas. The meeting resolved to continue to work together towards a peace that is just and honorable, and founded on the principles of democratic governance, and urged upon the negotiating parties to address the concerns of the Naga people. In January, 2013, the Naga Hoho has appealed to the Governor of Nagaland, Nikhil Kumar, to take appropriate steps for deferment of the election process in the Nagaland state and allow sufficient time for the peace process.

Naga Hoho, President Keviletuo Kiewhuo, and General Secretary P Chuba Ozukum stated that the Indo-Naga political problem has remained unresolved for more than six decades. They said even after more than 70 rounds of political negotiations since 1997, "We are made to understand that the Government of India does not seem to be interested in a solution but is rather imposing election on Nagaland so as to divide the people further." Naga Hoho also stated that the Naga people were happy to witness the political negotiations over the past two years, which reflects their sincerity and commitment towards a solution.

It added that even the 60 MLAs of the state have apprised central leaders about their willingness to pave the way for a political solution before holding election in Nagaland. Naga Hoho further said, "When we are at the threshold of a peaceful resolution, we are amazed as to why India should impose election on us against the will of the people." The Naga body is of the opinion that a solution should precede polls and it is definitely not the right time to hold election in Nagaland as the Naga people are longing for a political settlement. "15 years of political negotiations would go in vain if the polls are to be held at this crucial juncture," Naga Hoho added.

With regard to Nagas' unity, the co-ordination committee of the Naga Hoho, called for concerted efforts to bring about unity among different Naga tribes to facilitate talks between the GoI and Naga factions in early October 2001. The Indian civil societies and its representatives visited almost all the districts of Naga areas in 2006, and 2007. There was tremendous pressure on the NSCN (IM) leaders from different Naga groups to settle the decades-old Naga conflict and restore peace. The Naga Hoho and Naga tribal councils have launched a "reconciliation campaign", it believes that the settlement of the Naga problem is not possible without the unity of all the Naga tribes.

The Naga Hoho has initiated the campaign in order to help and end the clashes between the different faction groups operating in the North eastern states and to bring together all Naga sections, particularly the underground factions, for the "greater cause of rebuilding the Naga family and ending years of blood-shedding." The civil society groups did not want to force this effort to dilute or deflect the inner process that was much needed as the Naga Society was torn apart at it seems as it were with violence and killings which in some sense threatened the very peace process itself. Moreover, the tension, the violence, the killings and the divisions among the Nagas weakened the negotiators' position while representing the Nagas, hence may have made the negotiators vulnerable to the pressures of the GoI.

The Naga civil society has played a meaningful role in affirming the peace process all these years. Apart from playing the role of monitoring the ceasefire it also made efforts to build relationships with their counterparts in other states of the northeast and India. These efforts are few of the significant steps initiated by the civil bodies in the recent years to facilitate to bring about peace in the Naga inhabited areas.

However, there has been a slowdown in its activities and has been under pressure in the emerging situation where there is a visible stagnation in the peace process. On the other side, there has not been much progress in initiating dialogue with the neighboring states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, which would be affected by the demands for territorial integration of all the Naga inhabited areas. Much worse, the Indian civil society groups have not been active to demand accountability from the GoI vis-à-vis the peace process. The occasional involvements of civil organizations groups in consultation with the Indo-Naga peace process are not on the whole much.

The Naga public could not know whether there has been any progress at all with regard to the peace process. This gave rise to speculations and wide spread uncertainty, confusion, anarchy and Naga society has become vulnerable to be swayed by fissiparous tendencies.

To be continued...