Waitlisting Freedom
By Kevin Pau
If we are to compare Abraham Maslow theory of motivation with the appetite of the Indian government in solving the issues of the Tribals in Manipur, our solution will be placed ironically somewhere at the top of the pyramid.
The issues and demands of insurgents in Nagaland and Manipur are shrouded with complex mazes of political aspirations and objectives. In the eye of the government the final piece in the giant jigsaw puzzle is the Naga issue and once placed in the right spot it will have a cascading effect of resolving the issues of the rest.
The seven decade old Naga national struggle has given birth to other movement in the region and as the mother of all insurgency, the intricacies and nuances involved in building a peace process has been well documented and observed. Historically, starting from the Simon commission in 1929, to the advisory of the last colonial administrator-Charles Pawsey, to Naga-Akbar Hydari Accord in 1947, to the Shillong Accord in 1975 and lastly to the signing of the Framework agreement in 2015. The movement has been negotiated and espoused by each and every government of the country since Independence, albeit any lasting solution.
The 1960 agreement between GoI and the Naga People Convention paved the way for 13th CAA 1962, which amend Art.170 and insert a new Art.371A, for the formation of Nagaland as a state with constitutional protection in 1963. The problem arises with the absence of the same facility to other Naga inhabited areas in the adjoining states. The struggle for proposed Nagalim by amalgamating the areas of Naga SAZ in Myanmar, with the state of Nagaland and other Nagas areas into a constitutional entity has ran into roadblock with the centre and neighbouring states. A new hope for the 1997 signed ceasefire came in the form of FA in 2015 on 3rd August. Coincidentally, the Manipur government took preemptive measure to protect its interest by releasing the dreaded 3 Bills on 31st August 2015.
“Indestructible union of destructible states”
Currently there are three important factors to the Naga demand, first is the Shillong Accord of 1975, second the removal of Art. 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and lastly the Chinese factor-What was East Pakistan to the Mizo insurgency is the Yunnan Province for the Nagas.
Today, the Modi led government is riding on a strong nationalistic fervor. The signing of the Shillong Accord (acceptance of the Indian Constitution) and FA (Shared sovereignty) showed the concern the centre reserved for solving the Naga issue. Cynically, the idea of having a separate dominion may find no resonance in the Constitution and it will be a political suicide for any party in power. The current predicament has created a deadlock with no clear winner. Resolving the issue for both parties can go two ways, by use of force or resuming talks.
The accusation of shifting of goal post by the Nagas and the ‘armed gang’ comment by the Interlocutor cum Governor and the recent I-Day speech needs no interpretation on the outlook of both side. Taking from there the Naga demand for separate constitution and flag will be a far cry unless they have bigger things to barter with. The removal of separate flag and constitution of J&K and the bifurcation and demotion of the former state is a case in point. It is unlikely the government of the day will budged against the idea of Akhand Bharat.
The Quad was formed in 2017 to counter Chinese influence in the region and to contain the military growth and posturing of the latter in the Indo pacific region. The leaked FA has mentioned about shared sovereignty, one interpretation can mean federalism in the form of mobility between state list and central list. It will be interesting to see to what extend GoI will want devolution of power with an entity that is susceptible to be used as a proxy.
Lastly, identity politics and conflict of interest between different groups might have also caused the conundrum. The demographic composition of tribes in the NSCN(IM) and the NNPGs and the perception of legitimacy to represent Naga interest can be a factor. The Nagaland based groups are represented predominantly from the tribes of Ao, Sema, Angami and Konyak. While the Muivah led NSCN(IM) has representation mainly from the Tangkhul tribes of Manipur.
Our place in the chessboard
The current defence minister and former home minister in 2017 asserted that the government will end north east insurgency by the year 2022. One can infer that the only impediment to regional development is the issue of insurgency among the two backwaters of the northeast state. Our current political demand (be what may), it seems is just around the corner and the materialization of the goal was dependent on the outcome of the Naga talks.
The leaked FA is silent on balkanizing the territory of neighbouring states, for now this will pacify the concern of the Meitei society and the implementation of the ILP has closed the case for further agitation. The ST demand is fragmented even among the society, for and against. And it is unlikely the government will parley with gun toting secessionist movement of Kangleipak or Khalistan or elsewhere.
If the Naga talks are to stagnate in perpetuity, the government will have look at our issue keeping in mind the dynamics of Act East Policy, stability in Manipur means bigger role and pull for GoI in the SE Asian region to counter China. The central government can always move its chess piece from Moreh to Zokhawthar and Behiang for implementing the said policy, depending where peace prevails.
We are not aware about the progress of the political talks of UPF/KNO but it is time we upped the ante. Prayer, Petition and Protest must be held for parallel issues like Chivu Stone Inscription, for it symbolizes the suppression of tribal identity and employment of farcical history to propagate territorial claim. The issue of the park can become a catalyst to pick up the pace of the talks. The indirect influence of the public on the political process will help build pressure on the interlocutors for early settlement. We want urgency and tentative timeline. We have to partake in the nation’s progress and globalized growth; we can’t be spending our time, energy and resources on an issue for eternity. We need a closure.
The Leap Forward
The Mizos never gave up the idea of unification. The presence of ZoRO is a testament to work in progress. They knew the importance of regional politics and assert their place in Indian history when the opportunity strikes. Likewise let us first consolidate what we have, then see the feasibility of other objectives. If the subject of the letter sent by PNC to the GoI in 1960 for ‘Chin Re-unification’ was changed to ‘territorial council for tribal areas’ then today we would have been on the next pedestal. We need leaders with vision, who choose progress over power. Once are rights are secured, there is always the option of transnational governance, supranational union or geo-cultural body.
There are many who deserved international attention before us, allied by the most powerful nations. Globalization have removed physical barrier by opening various mediums of communication and interaction. Re-unification does not always have to be physical and territorial. We have to leverage the power of internet, air and land connectivity and cooperative governance to bring people together through informal channel and open platforms. Our goals should swim with the tide of global growth and not inhibit us with what at stake. Let us keep our hope and move forward. Long live tribal unity.
Sources:
1) https://thewire.in/politics/nagaland-framework-agreement-nscn-im
2) https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/1325214.pdf
3) https://cdn.thewire.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/17161825/Naga-FA-1024x433.jpg
4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Pawsey
5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shillong_Accord_of_1975
6) https://www.nagalandpost.com/possible-fall-out-after-settlement-based-on-framework-agreement/201196.html
7) https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/nagaland-governor-slams-collapse-of-law-and-order-in-state/article31915402.ece
8) https://www.morungexpress.com/entrenched-network-of-vested-interests-misappropriated-dividends-of-peace-nagaland-governor
9) https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/talking-tough-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-naga-issue/article32359118.ece
10) https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/by-2022-will-solve-kashmir-naxalism-and-northeast-insurgency-issues-says-rajnath/300508
11) https://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/IN_470628_Naga-Akbar%20Hydari%20Accord.pdf
12) https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/constitution-india/amendments/constitution-india-thirteenth-amendment-act-1962
13) https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/manipur/manipur-govt-likely-to-extend-soo-agreement-with-kuki-militants-for-another-six-months-6563383/
14) http://14.139.13.47:8080/jspui/bitstream/10603/60440/12/12_chapter%205.pdf
13) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supranational_union