A tricky task

Efforts by the Core Committee on Naga Political Issue (CCoNPI) to end the deadlock in Naga peace talks are laudable but the committee faces a daunting task of making the two Naga negotiating groups sit at the same negotiating table with the Government of India. The CCoNPI headed by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has held separate meetings with the two Naga negotiating groups- the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and the Working Group of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) to bring them together for one agreement, one solution. Even though the Central Government negotiated with the two groups separately, it has made it clear that a single agreement on the final solution will be signed with all Naga groups. The Naga peace process has been hanging fire over the issues of separate flags and constitution for Nagas. While the Central Government's Interlocutor in the Naga peace process and Nagaland Governor N Ravi has been reiterating that talks have been concluded and accord remains to be signed, the NSCN(IM) has been holding the ground that the contention over the separate flag and constitution for Nagas has remained unresolved. The NSCN(IM) has been negotiating with the Central Government on the "Framework of Agreement" signed by the two sides in 2015 while the NNPG's negotiation is based on the "Agreed Position" signed with the Central Government. The CCoNPI finding a common ground between the "Framework Agreement" and "Agreed Position" will be critical to bringing the two negotiating groups across the table. The CCoNPI has appealed to Naga negotiating groups to resume peace talks with a positive approach and mutual respect by setting aside preconditions. Opposition Naga People's Front (NPF) deciding the join the Rio-led ruling People's Democratic Alliance government for the formation of an all-party government in Nagaland has added momentum to the efforts by the CCoNPI. Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee is, however, sceptical that the formation of the all-party government would only delay a permanent solution and urged all 60 legislators of Nagaland Assembly to resign to pave the way for Naga political solution. As peace talks have reached a dead-end over the interpretation of the "Framework Agreement" between the Central government and the NSCN(IM), Nagaland Assembly legislators resigning at this juncture may only result in a constitutional crisis and instead of breaking the ice between two negotiating sides. Rather, the NPF joining the all-party government can be seen as sending a strong signal to NSCN(IM) and NNPG to bury their differences and come together in the common interest of finding a single permanent solution without further delay. It also makes the CCoNPI more representative for the Central Government and the Naga negotiating groups to carry forward the task of facilitating the resumption of Naga peace talks. The Central government may not be keen to resume talks with only the NSCN(IM) and is likely to insist on NSCN(IM) and NNPG first come together and agree on a common solution. In the backdrop of such a fluid situation, the CCoNPI making a breakthrough in convincing NSCN(IM) and NNPG to talk to each other and discuss fine prints of a common solution is the need of the hour. Civil society organizations backing the efforts of the CCoNPI and urging the Naga negotiating groups to sit together may help to end the deadlock in the peace process. Naga people are in dark as what has so far been agreed upon by the Central government and Naga negotiating groups while they know that issues of separate and flag have pushed the negotiation with the NSCN(IM) to a dead end. Naga groups taking a closer look at the contemporary realities in Indian politics and geopolitics that have shaped India's deeper relationship with ASEAN and neighbouring countries Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal may help them reorient their approach to the entire peace process. Understanding how these realities have shaped new aspirations among Naga people, more particularly among the youth is critical to find out the right strategy to end the deadlock. It will also help them gain insight into how the thorny issues need to be addressed from a new political standpoint and sustain the peace process. On its part, the CCoNPI having its clear standpoint on critical issues that have come in the way of a permanent solution to the Naga political problem is important to understand where the problem lies. The CCoNPI and Naga civil society conveying their standpoint on the critical issues to negotiating parties of the Naga peace process will help holding out the mirror to all stakeholders to help them reflect up the ground realities. Resuming the Naga peace process is important to bring an end to the conflict situation in the entire northeast. The CCoNPI becoming successful in ending the deadlock is important to ensure that peace does not remain fragile in the region for long.