The signing of the Peace Accord between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India in August 2015 came as a major shock to the people of Nagaland. "Unexpected" is a mild word to describe the situation. So what's the big deal? Well for starters, the people, the public, the residents of Nagaland, the beings that call themselves Nagas, had no inkling that this had occurred or was occurring. Almost two years later, it still remains a mystery. What was agreed? What was signed? What were the negotiations? (I sympathise with Aaron Burr, Sir!)
These peace talks have taken place for decades without bearing much fruit. The simple back story is that Nagaland wants independence from India. My personal opinion? It’s a far cry and I’d rather that the people drop this idea. However, before I write further, this is an unbiased and a clear explainer about the many peace talks that have taken place to get to where we are now.
For the people of Nagaland, for a certain age group and generation at least, This fight and struggle for independence has gone on too long with too much bloodshed for the ideology to evaporate. Realitstically, my question is: how can a state like Nagaland survive its independence when it has absolutely no resources of its own? (I was once told that we have unlimited natural resources to last us. We just don’t know about it. So to this I will say: OKAY). There is a certain age group that continue to hold on to the hope of an independent Nagaland because it has been their lifelong fight. Their ideals continue to stand strong and their distaste for the government of India is completely understandable when you consider how much pain and suffering they were put through especially by the Indian army. The stories are heartbreaking and some are almost too graphic to even retell them but, and it breaks my heart to say this, we must move on.
As part of the current generation, I may not speak for everyone, but I believe we do not see any reason for this fight anymore. The simplest question to ask is: why do they call it a “Peace Accord”? Hasn’t the problem always been an internal one? Yes it has. The rise of insurgency can be given credit to this fight for independence and if you check the wikipedia page for the peace accord, it says that the agreement was signed to 'end the insurgency.' Says a lot, doesn't it? The 90s was when the insurgency problems were at the peak and I remember much more than I should. I was not more than 6 when they would come home with their ego and pride dancing on their shoulders; waving their AK 47s along with other firearms, kicking things, picking up what they want, shouting about and demanding money. In short: there is a lot of reasons to be angry at the state government for so you will excuse me when I borrow from Taylor Swift and say “I would very much like to be excluded from this narrative”. To be fair, it wasn't always this way. The internal problems gave rise to many different factions, some of which became very extreme. They thrived on the fear of the people and survived on handouts. Unfortunately, I cannot differentiate between the moderates or the extremists. When anyone mentions the NSCN or any other underground insurgent factions that may or may not be operating, I immediately feel anxious and concern. I don't feel safe nor do I feel any sense of patriotism. Their sudden performance of pulling gout the rabbit from the hat has left people wondering whether if this is more of a personal propaganda, a trading of demands with the Government of India, rather than a service to the people.
Nevertheless, this was a cause to be understood and studied. If not for now, then for later because (if history has taught us anything) to understand the future, you must first understand the past. On September 12, 2015 ACAUT (Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation) hosted a discussion (Common Platform: Nagas opinion for peaceful settlement) to review and to help form an opinion about this peace accord that took everyone by surprise.
The forum was an eyeopener because looking at the crowd and the speakers, I saw the demographic that felt extremely affected by this and that's when it hit me that maybe the way I think, the way my friends and I think, maybe WE are the minority. I don't see anything wrong in this either by the way. By the end (and even now), I still feel the same way that I did. Nothing has changed except for the fact that I now have a clearer understanding about why this feels so important to many. It was a promise. It was a fight that carried on and somewhere along the way, the message and the cause was lost. Yet, the ones that felt patriotic enough held on and believed. All of a sudden, there’s news of it without anyone’s knowledge of it and they feel betrayed. It wasn’t one person’s or two people’s cause. It was the cause of thousands. It was a cause for the people. The Government and the NSCN-IM failed the people.
Ever since the change in government (The Modi Government in India and T. R. Zeliang in Nagaland), the state has gone on a downward spiral beginning from the power tussle since the takeover of the new Chief Minister in 2014/2015to the recent furor caused by the urban local bodies (ULB) elections (better known in the news as ‘the fight for women’s reservation’) and the (long-awaited) resignation of T. R. Zeliang as CM. It has continued time and again to fail the people miserably by going behind their backs. It’s just my opinion but I strongly feel that this peace accord agreement has some linkage to the ULB elections. There were reports (by way of a very casual conversation in the most unlikely place with the most unlikely person) that the contents of the peace accord would be revealed in the beginning months of 2017. That’s when the ULB elections were positioned to take place, kicking off first in Nagaland. One of the speakers at the common platform brought up the issue of women’s rights which I tihnk was completelty misplaced when you listen to the entirely. He said ‘the need to respect women’s rights is on the rise everywhere in the world including India” and that this will turn out to be in the favor of the Nagas. This was followed by the injustice and the sufferinf faced by the Naga people. I actually refuse to believe that this was a coincidence.
These are transcripts of the six speakers who gave their views and opinions as well as answered questions in the end. As i said, almost two years into the agreement and the peace accord remains a phantom and no one raises the issue. My hypothesis is that something didn't go according to plan along the way so it's on a definite halt but with the upcoming state elections scheduled for next year, there is a chance that we will yet again see the people of Nagaland firing up. And it's about time.
*NPG - Naga Political Groups
*NSCN-IM - National Socialist Council of Nagaland - led by Isak (Swu) and (T) Muivah
*NSF - Naga Students Federation
*NAGA HOHO - The apex tribal organisation in the state
*NAGA MOTHERS ASSOCIATION - NGO
"I stand trembling with shame and fear before you and before God wondering what is the reason for this another gathering. Haven’t we had enough already or is today’s meeting going to be a new chapter in the political, social and spiritual history of the Nagas? If so, we need to take seriously the words of the psalmist when brothers and sisters live together in unity. Nagas learning to live together in unity should be a special concern even in today’s meeting. At a time when the Nagas are demanding their God-given right for sovereignty as well as the physical integration of the forcibly separated Naga territory in India’s northeast, we see the Naga’s internally divided and split into various opposing political groups, wasting their energy and resources in a power struggle with each other instead of forming a united national government to achieve Naga sovereignty. In addition, I also sense that the professing Naga Christians (the church, civil society and the national workers) have not been faithful to the god of the bible who has called the Nagas out of spiritual darkness into his marvellous light of salvation.
We are told it is only a frame with the details yet to be worked out. The Naga public are to be participants in the detailed discussions, directly or indirectly. Based on partial and conflicting information, some individuals and groups have already endorsed the accord while others remain sceptical and critical. And others remain non-committal until they see the full text of the accord and that’s understandable.
the whole text of the original peace accord should be printed for the widest circulation possible so that the Naga public can study and react objectively for the purpose of formulating a common consensus on the final accord with the Government of India. Delaying the publication of the full accord contents can only make matters worse, creating suspicion, confusion and even further division among the Nagas.
I believe we have nothing to lose by welcoming the peace accord. I do urge my fellow Nagas to give the NSCN-IM the benefit of the doubt. I plead with you who are critical of the IM. I also have my own disagreement with the IM. In the name of Christ to treat the peace accord not as NSCN-IM’s private accord but rather that is for all. Let us consider Isak and Muivah as Nagas not as Sumi and thangkhul respectively. Of course, the government cannot be trusted until the final accord is signed at the highest level. In the meantime, let us show willingness to examine the accord contents on their own merits. Acceptance, rejection, modification must come only after thorough examination and deliberation. The Nagas have suffered enough. They want peaceful solution at the earliest. We can no longer afford to ignore any accord negotiated by any Naga group. Time is of the essence. I would personally urge Mr. Swu and Mr Muivah and their colleagues to make every effort to reach out to the leaders of other groups for rapprochement"
- REV. DR. TUISEM SHISHAK
“I listened very carefully and I am prepared to say that I do not doubt the patriotism of the IM. I believe they have worked very hard and shown immense competence and thoroughness to work out what they say they are bringing. The problem is as everyone said, we don’t know what are in those terms that they said they will reveal. Quite possible that nothing has been worked out and they are testing the Naga people’s reaction, I don’t know. But I believe that their commitment to Naga history is real.
“They (NSCN IM) have said we will come and tell the public what we are going to settle. That’s very good. But I believe that process is defective because the national workers are the ones in the different groups. They are handing the political issue of the Naga struggle. And I think if they had sat down and done that, instead of going over them, we will not be having this confusing crisis in our society today. Even now, I wish they will issue a special invitation to the different groups and say to them: sit down we’ll have to be honest with each other. We’re not telling the public yet but we are telling you because you are fellow national workers.
I believe it will be a gesture that will produce unexpected results. I feel that we must look at the provocations of one another that we have inflicted on our society"
- NIKETU IRALU
Growing up in the times, Rev Dr. V. K. Nuh has been a living witness to the freedom struggle for the last 60 years watching patriots giving their lives for this fight. Seven peace accords have been made for the Naga people but we are still in trouble he says.
“Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. Something is wrong if no one can come together. The present young generation is only concerned in the fruit; their benefit. The older generation who have seen the way people suffer continue to hold on to the reason of how this fight began.
Isak Swu said this is an era of democracy and we are committed to the settlement of all human problem through dialogue and mutual respect (with honesty). We also believe that there is no problem that cannot be solved through discussion.If that is true, then we have to sit down and reason together"
Rather than blaming each other, Rev. Nuh believes it is time to find out what is right rather than who is right and is of the view that, ultimately, it is a people’s movement and it will be the people who will have the final word.
"All the Naga political groups – NGOS, Public and our society – must contribute the best wisdom so that this agreement can lead to a solution. As the group that has brought the agreement, NSCN IM, must be honest inclusive and follow the democratic process and invite the different group to share their visions. This should be said for their own sake and for the sake of the Naga people. The people must be frank with the IM and tell them where they have done right and tell them to be honest and change their own ways as General Atem boldly asked for at the 8th Naga people’s consultation meeting on August 25, 2015 so that they can work together with others for a common future, with one voice for one nation. This is where our values and struggles are at stake.
Gandhi once said to a group of British: I don’t like you Christians but I like your Christ. You are so unlike your Christ. I wonder will anyone say the same thing about us Naga Christians? I don’t know how we Nagas are going to heal the terrible wounds we have inflicted on one another but as far as I am concerned healing this wound is one of the tasks I am committed to.
One point I want to emphasis is about the integration. Make no mistake, there is no greater Nagaland, there is no smaller Nagaland but there is one Nagaland. We will not take an inch of Assamese land. We will not take an inch of Meitei land. No piece of stone, no blade of grass. But out Naga ancestral land belonged to the Nagas and to no one else. We have the right to live together with our own laws and with our own culture. We have the right to all our ancestral land. The solution has to be worked out with dialogue with our neighbours because it cannot be forced and imposed by us on them.
Another point I want to mention is the name of our country. Nagalim was given by one faction. In order to legitimise, all the other political groups must agree. If they cannot agree, then we must go for referendum. I am not against Nagalim but we have to follow the democratic process in choosing name of a country.
A peaceful negotiation between Naga and Government of India cannot be viewed as the end of Naga journey to nationhood but as the beginning of the new peaceful, political and cultural process and a new Naga mind-set can assist this process"
- DR. VISIER SANYÜ
I would like to express my gratitude to our leaders Muivah and Isak Swu for giving their best of life to serve our Naga people. What I would like to say is this, and I have said it before, if IM will bring sovereignty, I would like to be the first one to follow them. But if they cannot, I have to appeal to them. I think we need a breathing space and if the Delhi accord can serve to provide that space I am all for it. but my appeal is this: let the accord be used only as a stepping stone in our journey toward achieving our ultimate Naga aspiration. My second appeal is please do not put a final stop or a complete closure to the story of the Naga’s aspiration. Don’t kill the spirt of Naga nationalism after all you leaders, you have given all your life and fought for it all your life. Of course we understand, especially the older people may be too tired and possibly losing hope because they have worked for so many years and nothing seems to be happening. perhaps some of our leaders are beginning to say we have tried our best but nothing is happening. We will not achieve our Naga dream so let us drop it all and close everything before we die. I hope that will not be the case. So my humble appeal to our leaders, we want to be proud of you. We are still hoping you wouldn’t disappoint us by becoming short sighted in your political vision. May god grant you wisdom and courage at this juncture in our common Naga journey and may god have mercy on us all.
I don’t know where some of our civil leaders or even our politicians stand but I for one am not ready to give up on our Naga dream. If they, the older generation, cannot bring about the aspiration the fulfilment of our aspiration, I would urge them to leave that to us, the younger generation. We do believe in our rights and we are very confident that a brighter future for the Naga is possible. Yes, we can do it and we will. Our story is one of God’s given right and therefore out story is based on truth. We are not going to fight with weapons and resort to violence but the truth (as the bible says) will set you free and if we can hang on to the truth and pursue what is right, I believe that the truth as a potent force can win the many hearts in India as well as other parts of the world. And one day I hope they will understand that the right thing has to be done for the Naga people. Of course at the present juncture I wouldn’t raise my hopes too high on the Indian people in dealing with the Naga issue. Obviously the Government of India cannot grant us sovereignty or territorial integration. Even the majority of the Indian politicians in Delhi hardly know about the Nagas let alone recognising our rise to self-determination”
- REV. DR. MAZIE NAKHRO
Possibly the most popular, Khekiye K Sema came onto the stage with a booming opening and did not hold back. Speaking in the common tongue of the people, he won the crowd with not only his wit and his charisma but also his ability to connect and interact with them. Those that speak/understand Nagamese are welcome to listen to the original version below.
Framework agreement. What is that? Is there anybody here who knows what it is? There’s not a single hand in sight but the Naga people are saying it’s good right? How do you say something is good and something is bad when you don’t know what it is? So today you and I are here to try and find out what is going on and what we can do. We didn’t come here to pass resolutions, we are not here to fight our ego battles with the Naga HOHO or NSF or Mother’s Association or any NGO’s but all we want to do is clear our minds, put them together and figure out how we can move forward. Hopefully, we can have a clear discussion so that by the time you leave here, your confusion is partly cleared.
If the framework agreement is something they've (NSCN-IM) worked so hard on, what is the need of keeping it such a secret from the people? Mr. Sema gives a narrative of how you only hid things when there's something terribly wrong with them so he questions out loud (Is it as bad as shit?). He reiterates the fight for independence back in 1951 when every single person within Nagaland, every village, every tribe got together and gave them vote; a 99.9% vote for freedom. "We said we will work to remain free and that was the moral right. That was the strength that Naga’s brought and we have stood upon that strength for the last 69 years" but ever since the news of the framework was broken, two issues were singled out: sovereignty and physical integration. The problem here is that it would be a shared sovereignty and integration in namesake (without actual landmasses involved to be literal). Mr. Sema is also right in pointing out to how the Government of India would react because a few thousand Nagas have been coached to endorse this accord so their view is that they have done great things with the Nagas by way of reaching an agreement.
But then here we are, more than half of us puzzled and confused about this agreement. So if they want the strength that was with the 1951 plebiscite, if they say there is going to be an agreement after 69 years, the least that could have been done is give the news to the public, make us decide, give us a choice to choose what is good and bad within the framework rather than coercing us to just say that it’s good without even seeing it. Which of our Naga village have they left their brains in? Didn’t God give us this brain so we could use it?
After all these years of fighting, wouldn’t it have made more sense if they went to the apex bodies of all tribes as well as visited the villages (in the ways of our forefathers) talked to the leaders to discuss the content and then have the consultation meeting so that all tribes and theirleaders can have a say in what’s good and bad and what change is required? If this united front was displayed, even the Government of India would stand up and take notice of the Naga voices
In conclusion, Mr. Sema wished it was not so open ended. There is no solid answer to give when there are questions about becoming a sovereign state or even of a physical integration. His advice to the NSCN-IM? That they please talk to the other factions. Without the union of the NPG's, Nagaland will again slide back to a time when extortion was the key word. Mr. Sema warns that without a unified understanding, there will be a civil war and our blood will be shed.
