Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, April 26 (EMN): Only one ‘hurdle’ – that of an agreement over the Naga demand for a separate flag – is standing between the government of India and the Naga armed groups finalising the Indo-Naga political negotiations, according to a report in the Indian Express, a national newspaper, on Thursday.
Recently the chief minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio had gone on record saying ‘only symbolic issues’ were left to be discussed in the Indo-Naga talks. The Indian Express report appears to give credence to the statement.
“The Central government and Naga armed groups are said to have finalised the substantive portions of the peace accord which is likely to be signed before the monsoon session of Parliament. The final draft of the accord, which hopes to finally bring India’s oldest insurgency to a close, is now looking to jump the final hurdle: an agreement over the Naga demand for a separate flag for the state. The government is also apprehensive about a violent reaction in the Manipur Valley to the signing of the accord,” the report read.
Citing official sources, it stated that the ‘accord’ does not change the boundary of states; but provides autonomous Naga territorial councils for Arunachal and Manipur; a common cultural body for Nagas across states; specific institutions for state’s development, integration and rehabilitation of non-state Naga militia and the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
It also quoted RN Ravi, the centre’s interlocutor, as saying: “Yes, we are pretty close to finalising the (Naga Peace) accord.” The report quoted another source as saying it was only a matter of crossing the Ts and dotting the Is. “It could be taken to the Cabinet before being signed in Delhi ‘in a couple of months if there is no slip between the cup and the lip.”
Talks between Ravi and Naga representatives: the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) — comprising the representatives of six Naga groups — and the NSCN-IM are currently taking place in Delhi.
“Although the Centre is dealing with seven Naga armed groups, sources said it will sign ‘only one single accord with all of them’. Sources said the contentious issue of Naga autonomy has been settled amicably with India’s federal structure emphasising ‘shared sovereignty’ between the states and the Centre.
“One issue still being negotiated is a ‘symbolic one’, sources said, wherein Naga groups are demanding a separate flag for the state. The Centre has, however, made it clear to the Naga groups that it will not be able to concede that demand in the peace accord. Given the long and contentious history of the Naga insurgency, this could turn out to be a tricky issue,” it reported.
According to the report, the ‘accord’ does not involve any change in the boundaries of the states, thereby allaying fears in Manipur about the deal. It, however, provides for an autonomous Naga territorial council in the state, the report stated.
“Besides Manipur, there will be an autonomous Naga territorial council in Naga-majority areas of Arunachal Pradesh but not for Assam. The accord also provides for a common cultural body for Nagas across states which will be statutory in nature. This body, which is envisaged as a socio-political platform, with ‘no political role’, will have representatives from all Naga tribes.
“The accord also contains certain structural changes in the Nagaland legislature — a bicameral legislature and increase in the number of parliamentary and assembly seats from the state. It will also lead to formation of some specific institutions for development of the state as a commitment from the Centre.
“The Naga armed groups will stand disbanded after the accord and the non-state armed militia who are eligible will be absorbed in central or state forces. Those who are not eligible will be rehabilitated by the government. The accord also promises the removal of AFSPA from Nagaland as a logical consequence of these actions,” it read further.
Again, citing sources the newspaper reported that with the general elections scheduled for 2019, the ‘accord’ has to be signed before the monsoon session of Parliament so that it can be implemented in time. “The accord will need some Constitutional amendments which will have to be passed by the Parliament and state assemblies after a due process.”
The more substantive issue before the Centre, it reported, pertains to fears of a violent reaction in Manipur valley where there is a genuine sense of insecurity about the deal. “The Centre and Manipur government are exploring ways to assure residents of Manipur Valley (which has 60% of state’s population with 10% of state’s land) that their land will be secure.
“As of now, while anyone can buy land in the Valley, the sale of land is restricted in the hills, an area dominated by Nagas. A law for Manipur restricting the sale of land in the Valley could be announced simultaneously with the signing of the accord,” the report read.
A statement from the Rengma Hoho on Thursday has asked why the Rengma people living in Assam have been ‘excluded in the agreement’.
“Rengmas were living in our own territory since time immemorial and we are very much part of the Naga political movement since its inception, Rengmas have submitted a memorandum to the Sundaram Commission against division of Rengmas into different administrative unit and have appealed to the present negotiating party both Indian and Naga leaders and demand that Rengmas desired to live under one administrative roof.
“We still commit to our stand and have been supporting the present Naga political negotiation hoping to get justice in the event of political settlement that Rengmas will not be deprived of its rights to maintain its own administration and social system,” it stated.
The organisation appealed to the negotiators not to neglect the Rengmas in Assam in any administrative arrangement in the event of final agreement with government of India. “If no justice is done to our demand Rengma Hoho shall treat any agreement as betrayal and will have peoples discourse to challenge any settlement that subjugates the Rengmas. Intentional political decision to dehumanized (sic) the Rengmas will not be accepted by us.”
