Ending the deadlock

The formation of the 'Parliamentary Committee on Naga Issue' for playing the role of facilitator in the Naga peace talks has triggered hopes of ending the current deadlock in the peace process. The peace talks between the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), and the Government of India reached a dead-end following a difference in interpretation of the clauses of the Framework Agreement signed by the two sides in 2015. Talk of any effort to break the ice between the NSCN(IM) and the Government of India sounds music to the ears of peace-loving Naga people. On its part, the Government of India cannot afford to lose the opportunity of taking the help of the committee constituted by the Nagaland government in ending the deadlock. The Central government's response will depend a lot on how far the committee succeeds in persuading the NSCN(IM) to listen to it. The civil society groups extending support to the committee in its efforts will be critical to make the Central government as well as NSCN(IM) see reason and reach the final agreement without further delay. Naga civil society groups have been echoing the common desire of Naga people for an expeditious signing of the final accord by the Government of India and Naga rebel groups to pave the way for permanent peace and end to the over-six-decade-long armed conflict. The committee is aware of the complexities standing in the way of singing the final peace settlement by the Government of India and the Naga rebel group. First, the government claimed to have concluded the talks in October 2019, but the NSCN(IM) insisted that differences over the separate flag and the constitution for Nagas have not yet been resolved. Secondly, the Government of India has made it clear that even though it held separate talks with the NSCN(IM) and the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups there will be a single accord to be signed with all factions. For this, the NSCN(IM) and the NNPG need to sit across the table and reach a consensus over the fine point of a peace accord to be signed with the Government of India which has not happened to date. The parliamentary committee constituted by the Nagaland Government being a committee of all the 60 members of the Nagaland Assembly is representative in character and has the mandate of the people of Nagaland state. The initiatives to be taken by the committee, therefore, carry weight, and it is desired, that these will be reciprocated by the Government of India as well as Naga rebel groups. The Committee, however, will have limitations as over 24-year-long peace negotiations between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM) are not confined to issues territorially limited Nagaland state alone but to also other Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh. The committee can facilitate meetings between the NSCN(IM) and the NNPG so that they can iron out differences through dialogue and the peace process narrows down to the Government of India on one side and all Naga factions on the other side of the negotiation table. The NSCN(IM) has adopted a cautious approach towards the committee. Making its stand clear, the rebel group said that the formation of the committee is welcome provided "there was no attempt to dilute the spirit and substance of the Framework Agreement." Naga Peace Interlocutor and Nagaland Governor N Ravi have been making it clear to the NSCN(IM) that the Government of India cannot agree to a separate flag and separate constitution for Nagas. The committee will be walking the tightrope between the hardened positions of the NSCN(IM) and the Government of India over the Framework Agreement. The complexities demand the committee members also to have a clear understanding of the Framework Agreement and other substantive issues to get to the crux of the problem. Views of other stakeholders in neighbouring states are important before the Government of India and Naga rebel groups ink their final peace accord. Even though the role of the committee primarily is to facilitate Naga groups and the Government of India to resume and take the negotiation process towards the signing of the peace accord, the committee holding discussions with stakeholders in neighbouring states can help it understand the issue on a wider perspective. Finding the permanent solution to the vexed Naga political problem is critical to achieving permanent peace in the entire Northeast region and the region deriving optimum benefits from India's Act East Policy to unlock its huge potential in transboundary trade, commerce and people-to-people exchange. Armed conflicts in the region coming to an end are the precondition to establishing peace. The 'Parliamentary Committee on Naga Issue' admitting that the Naga political issue is complicated and requires a nuanced approach to make a breakthrough in the current deadlock in the peace process will be the right premise to start playing the role of a facilitator.