PTI
New Delhi, August 9
Naga peace pact is only a “formula” for a final accord, Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang on Sunday asserted while seeking to allay apprehensions of other northeastern states, and said that the other members of Assembly were even ready to step down to make a new beginning.
Voicing confidence that other rebels groups would also come on board after the signing of agreement between NSCN-IM and the Centre, he said a 16-member Naga delegation will visit Myanmar to meet S.S. Khaplang, the chief of the other Naga rebel group NSCN-K which had abrogated the ceasefire agreement and attacked security personnel, including a convoy of army killing 18 soldiers in Manipur in June.
“I along with all members of the Nagaland Assembly are ready to step down, if an acceptable and honourable solution is found to the Naga people, in order to make a new beginning,” the Chief Minister, whose Naga People’s Front is an NDA ally, said.
His remarks are significant as the region has a history of rebels groups joining political mainstream and even assuming power after signing of peace accords.
Will speak to other CMs: Zeliang
Asserting that the agreement will not affect non-Nagas and will resolve the problems of North-East, Mr. Zeliang said that he speak to other chief ministers of the region.
Chief Ministers of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have said they will not cede an inch of their land. They have protested for being consulted before signing of the pact with NSCN-IM on Monday.
“The pact signed by Centre and NSCN-IM will help bring peace to the North-East. I will speak personally to my counterparts of neighbouring states to allay their apprehensions over the agreement,” Mr. Zeliang said at a press conference in New Delhi, a day after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Solving the Naga problem is solving the problems of the North-East. Non-Nagas of the North-East should not have any negative thinking about the pact with NSCN-IM,” he said.
‘Naga customs, land holding to be respected across NE’
Shedding light on details of the Naga peace pact which have been kept under wraps, Mr. Zeliang said it is in line with the demand of Nagas for autonomy to protect their customs and land holding systems in all areas inhabited by the tribe in the North-East.
Highlighting the key aspects of the August 3 pact between the Centre and the rebel group NSCN-IM, which he termed as a “formula” for a final agreement, Mr. Zeliang said Naga customary system and land holding system will be respected by the Centre based on the “unique history of Nagas” and it will be applied in all Naga inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
“The Naga issue does not pertain to only Nagaland. Naga problem is covering the entire Naga contiguous region. So, when we say it would respect the traditional land holding system, customary system, it would cover the entire Naga (community) wherever they are...,” he said.
The NSCN-IM, which had given up its original demand of sovereignty a few years ago, has been asking for integration of Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
All three states are opposed to the outfit’s demand.
“Whether in Assam, or Arunachal or Manipur, Naga people are living in their own land and they want some kind of autonomy or more power to strengthen their rights and their customary system.
“I think non-Nagas should not have any negative thinking about this,” he said.
The Chief Minister said even Bodo issue was resolved and he was very happy when Mizo accord was signed.
“Today we are resolving Naga problem. It is not going to affect any other community, who are not Nagas. Solving the Naga problem is solving the problems of the North East,” he said.
Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had said on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised him that he would consult north-eastern states in finalisation of the details of the peace accord signed with NSCN(IM) last week.
