Title : NAGA INSURGENCY: What & Why

Date : Dec 07, 2021

Description :

GS III

 

Topic à Internal Security related topics

 

• What is the Naga Peace Process, and what does it entail:

 

• Associated Problems:

 

• Since 1997, the Indian government has been in talks with Naga rebel groups, particularly the NSCN(IM), with the goal of signing a Naga Peace Accord.
• The Naga insurgency, which is rooted in Naga nationalism, is one of the country's oldest insurgencies.
• The Naga-populated territories of the Northeast never regarded themselves to be part of British India, and the Naga National Council (NNC) declared Nagaland independent on August 14, 1947.
• In 1952, it established an underground government (NFG) and an army, prompting the Centre to dispatch the army and implement the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act, or AFSPA.

 

• Shillong Accord:

 

• After years of negotiations, the Shillong Accord was struck in 1976 with Nagaland's underground factions.
• Many top NNC officials, however, rejected it, claiming that it did not address Naga sovereignty and obliged Nagas to adopt the Indian Constitution.
• The Naga organisations have since splintered into separate factions.

 

• The Peace Accord:

 

• Nearly 100 rounds of negotiations have taken place.
• The organisation and the Indian government signed a framework agreement for the Naga Peace Accord in August 2015.

 

• What went wrong, and how did it happen:

 

• According to sources, even the accord's different competencies had been agreed upon, albeit a few stumbling blocks remained.
• The factions were adamant about having a Naga constitution and lobbying for a Greater Nagalim that would extend beyond the current Nagaland state's borders.
• The state council flatly refused to recognise a separate flag and constitution, warning that "any misadventure to fragment our magnificent nation shall not be accepted."

 

• What are the fundamental issues in the midst of all of this:

 

• The excitement with which the framework agreement was revealed led to unrealistic hopes of a quick agreement.
• A separate constitution for Nagaland would be unacceptable to the administration. This was never a point of contention.
• There was a consensus that the flag should be awarded.
• However, after the Kashmiri flag was removed on August 5, 2019, that option was no longer an option.

 

• The most effective path forward:

 

• It is critical to recognise that an agreement cannot be reached without the participation of militant groups.
• One demand is for a bicameral Assembly with at least 40 nominated members representing different tribes; another is for cadres to be absorbed into local armed forces or the Indian paramilitary.
• The establishment of autonomous councils in Naga-dominated areas of neighbouring states, as well as the use of the Naga flag for at least customary events, are both necessary.

 

• Source à The Hindu à 06/12/21 à Page Number 8

Tags : internal security, nagaland