Settlement should be confined within the State of Nagaland
Talk between the Government of India & the NSCN-IM
- Part 2 -

Y Surchandra Singh *

A map of Nagaland State :: Pix - TSE

It is surprising that in spite of the demand made by three CMs of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and also by the various political parties nothing has officially been disclosed by the Narendra Modi led NDA government which claims to be the champion of transparency. However, leaders of the NSCN-IM started disclosing on piecemeal basis that in the framework agreement the demand for Greater Nagaland with additional territory from Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, greater autonomy, shared sovereignty, etc. are included.

Even amendment to Article 371A which provided for special status to Nagaland is not accepted by the NSCN-IM and in the Framework Agreement they have demanded for a suitable Amendment of the Constitution so that natural resources like oil, natural gas, water, etc. are controlled by the state of Nagaland. The NSCN-IM also wants the Naga Hoho, an umbrella organisation of the Nagas, to be made a statuary authority with legislative, executive and financial powers.

From the information available, the intension and pressure of the NSCN -IM is to have a Supra State type of Body or an Alternative Administrative Arrangement for the Naga dominated areas which include besides the state of Nagaland, 4 districts of Manipur, 2 districts of Arunachal Pradesh and some portion of Assam. The intension is to have a parallel government for administering these areas by having a body like "PAN NAGAS" or "NAGA HOHO" empowered by the constitution of India after amendment.

This will destroy the social and cultural fabric of the state of Manipur and also of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and will create a chaos and invite civil war. It will also reduce the political and administrative status of the State of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

India is a federal country and allowing to have a parallel government or body backed by the constitution in any state will simply strike at the very root of federalism. It should not be allowed at all cost. If, in any form or other, the talk and the agreement is to affect the States of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, then it is necessary to abrogate the present talk with the NSCN-IM only and should think of a fresh dialogue/talk comprising the representatives of GOI, States of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and NSCN-IM.

It may also be necessary to invite representatives of the various underground (UG) groups presently in Suspension of Operation (SoO) or talk with the State Government/ Central Government. Any agreement or settlement should be unanimous and should be signed by the representatives of all the stakeholders.

7. It may be worth to mention that out of the total geographical area of 22,327 sq. km. for the State of Manipur, 92% are the hills and only 8%, located at the centre, is the valley. This 92% of the area is mostly inhabited by Scheduled Tribes including the Nagas and the Kukis and is well protected under various provisions of different Acts and Laws such as Manipur (Village Authority in Hill Areas) Act 1956; Manipur Land Revenues and Land Reforms Act 1960; Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 1971 and Manipur Legislative Committee (Hill Areas Committee) Order 1972.

Under the provisions of these Acts/ Laws/ Orders, the interest of the tribal people- like their customary laws, diversion of land/ land alienation, the administrative powers of the village authorities/ institutions are well protected. In fact, for the State of Manipur what is required to be protected is valley area which constitutes 8% of the geographical area and valley people. Already about 20% of the valley area is occupied by the tribals. The Meitei people who forms about 60% of the population occupies only about 4% of the total geographical area.

8. The people of Manipur welcome the dialogue between the Government of India (GOI) and the NSCN-IM for a peaceful settlement or for that matter with any insurgent group anywhere. However, in doing so, care should be taken so as not to disturb other states and communities. Any solution should be confined within the state of Nagaland.

It will also be wrong to consider the NSCN-IM leaders, including T. Muivah, as the sole representatives of the Nagas. They are not democratically elected. In the last 2012 Assembly Election of Manipur, out of the 20 assembly constituencies in the hill districts, in spite of using money, muscle and gun power by NSCN-IM, NPF candidates which were sponsored by them could manage to win only 4 MLAs/ candidates. Their victory margins were also very thin. If the NSCN-IM cadres were made confined in their camps the deposits of all their candidates would have been forfeited. They are totally rejected by all sections of the people.

9. Can the GOI think of having a constitutionally recognised body like "PAN MANIPUR'' having jurisdiction over the areas inhabited by Manipuries in Assam or "PAN KUKI" or "PAN BENGALI". The GOI, under no circumstances, should entertain these types of claims. The GOI should not adopt any appeasement policy to any group or community as it will be counter productive in the long run and would encourage others to take up arms. It should not play communal cards. It may be noted that India is a Secular State.

10. It is because of the soft attitude and appeasement policy of the GOI that so many extremist / cessationist groups have come up in the North East. Such elements should be dealt with firmly and with a heavy hand. Any Agreement between the GOI and the NSCN-IM and solution to the Naga problem should be confined within the territory of Nagaland State- to repeat "to be confined within the State of Nagaland only".

(Concluded) ...