Hope for an early Naga peace accord

Efforts by the Nagaland government and the Parliamentary Committee of Naga Political Issue to push for an early peace accord between the Naga rebel groups and the Central Government are laudable. An immediate breakthrough is less likely without a consensus between the Central Government and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) over the interpretation of the Framework Agreement signed between the two sides. Since the NSCN (IM) is still sticking to its insistence on a separate flag and a separate Constitution for the Nagas to become part of the solution, any possibility of a peace accord is only wishful thinking, as the Central Government is not likely to concede to rebel group's demand. Besides, the Central Government has already made it clear that there will be only a single peace accord to be signed with all Naga rebel groups. This implies that instead of pushing the ball to the Centre's court, the political leadership of Nagaland is making efforts to convince the NSCN (IM) and Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) - comprising of seven rebel groups - to come together and reach a consensus as this is required for a breakthrough success. The Central Government continuing parallel peace parleys with the NSCN (M) and the NNPG, has not helped in resolving the contentious issues. The NNPG is ready to sign the peace accord with the Central Government and holds the view that negotiations were concluded on October 31, 2019. Formation of the opposition-led government in the state fueled hopes for an early solution, as it was seen as a significant move of the entire political leadership burying their differences for the greater cause of permanent peace and progress in Naga-inhabited areas through an honourable solution to the protracted armed conflict. With Assembly election to Nagaland Assembly due early next year, uncertainties in the Naga peace process have triggered apprehensions of revival of the slogan "solution before election", which was raised ahead of the 2018 Assembly polls in the state. All political parties initially signed a declaration not to issue party tickets and not to file nominations to facilitate solutions to the vexed Naga political issue, but subsequently settled for "election for solution" which helped evading a constitutional crisis. Following the Oting incident of killing of 13 innocent civilians in a botched counter-insurgency operations in Nagaland, the cloud over the peace process, which had already reached a dead end, started thickening. The NSCN (IM)'s announcement that "no political talks will be meaningful under the shadow of the AFSPA" dashed hopes for an early solution. Recent partial lifting of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Nagaland is seen by many in Nagaland as a timely and bold step by the Central Government to break the ice. Different quarters have also pointed out that as peace talks were held when AFSPA was in force in the entire Nagaland, any precondition to lifting of the act fully for the peace process to resume is not justified and they fear that it will only put a new spanner in the peace process. The NSCN (IM) insisting on a separate flag and Constitution indicates that not much progress in the peace process has been made over the past more than two years since the talks were stalled, even after appointment of a new interlocutor by the Central Government. Without a breakthrough, the ruling parties in Nagaland will find themselves on a sticky wicket explaining to the voters what is delaying the solution and the peace accord. Pressure will also be mounting on them to spell out a clear position on the contentious issues, so that the Central Government can gauge the desire of the Naga people. Naga civil society organizations have been urging all rebel groups to come together and make united efforts for early solution. The NSCN (IM) and the NNPG sitting across a table to build a consensus on the fine print of a peace accord will help the Central Government to expedite the signing of the accord. Rebel groups, reading the writing on the wall and common desire of the Naga people for an expeditious solution, will convince them to take the first step forward. Complexities cannot be wished away, but progress made after nearly two-and-half decade-long peace process cannot be allowed to go in vain. Delay in signing of the Naga peace accord is not just affecting peace and progress in Naga-inhabited areas, it is also posing a hindrance in unlocking the potential of the entire North-East to become the hub of a new Asian growth story scripted through a host of connectivity projects pushed by the Central Government to turn the region from landlocked region to a well-connected region. It is hoped that the initiatives of the political leadership in Nagaland will facilitate early resumption of the stalled peace process. Ending the trust deficits among Naga rebel groups as well between the Central Government and NSCN (IM) at the earliest will be crucial to make the desired breakthrough.