Stalemate in Naga peace process

The Naga peace process has reached a dead end with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) sticking to its position that the final solution is not possible without a separate flag and constitution for Nagas. The "National Assembly" of the rebel group, however, indicating to continue the dialogue with the Central Government has kept alive the hope for sustaining the two-and-half-decades-long peace process. Though the NSCN(IM) has pushed the ball into the Central government's court, pressure is also mounting on the rebel group to find a middle path to facilitate an expeditious solution. NSCN(IM) chairman Q Tuccu in his speech said that the Government of India's opposition to separating the Naga flag and Constitution prompted the rebel group to convene the "National Assembly" to reaffirm their stand. He insisted that the "Naga national identity" is symbolized by their flag and the Constitution. The Central Government cannot acknowledge and accept the NSCN(IM)'s position on the flag and Constitution as it cannot commit anything that is not mandated by the Indian Constitution or outside its framework. Besides, the Government of India conceding to the use of a separate political flag by the Nagas will amount to recognizing Nagaland and adjacent Naga-inhabited areas in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to be "sovereign" for which there is no scope in Indian Constitution, and it would also undermine India's sovereignty. Any peace agreement signed by the Central Government with an organization outside the purview of the Indian Constitution will have no constitutional validity and the NSCN(IM) recognizing these ground realities is critical to finding a meeting point and ending the impasse. Unless there is consensus between the Central government and the NSCN(IM) over the interpretation of the Framework Agreement signed in 2015, mere resumption of dialogue is not going to cut much ice and end the deadlock. Sincere efforts by both sides over the past 25 years of the ceasefire to hammer out a lasting and honourable solution to the intractable Naga political issue must not be allowed to go waste and dialogue must continue with an innovative approach and with the spirit of finding a common meeting point. The Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups, with whom the Central government concluded parallel peace talks, is ready to sign the final agreement, but the Central government has made it clear that there will be only a single peace accord to be signed with all Naga rebel groups. It is a pragmatic decision by the Central government as signing a peace accord, leaving out any organization will only keep alive the Naga insurgency instead of bringing an end to it. The Central government cannot ignore the political message conveyed by the emergency "National Assembly" and is expected to come up with a calibrated response. However, the lack of transparency over the issue on which the two sides have already reached a consensus has allowed the room for the issue of the flag and the constitution to get prominence and eclipse the progress made in peace talks. Informing the Naga people, who are key stakeholders in the peace process, about the consensus already reached will give them a sense of the progress made and weigh it with the contentious issue of flag and constitution to articulate their views as to what needs to be done to end the deadlock and expedite the final peace accord. They cannot be expected to voice a strong opinion on this contentious issue without knowing details of other issues that were put on the peace table and if any consensus has been reached on those issues. Taking the people of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and governments in these states into confidence is also important as NSCN(IM) has been laying claims over Naga-inhabited areas in these states adjacent to Nagaland. Keeping people in the dark will only trigger more speculations which are unwarranted. The Central government, as well as state governments in these states allaying apprehension among people over the final Naga peace accord, is vital to sustainable peace in the northeast region. Efforts by the Nagaland government through the Core Committee on Naga Political Issue constituted to facilitate an expeditious solution are laudable and the committee continuing its role as facilitator is crucial for the Central government and the NSCN(IM) to stay engaged around the peace table and prevent derailment of the ongoing peace process by contentious issues. With about eight months to go for election to Nagaland Assembly, the clamour for a "solution before the election" may grow louder in the coming days. Delay in the signing of the final peace accord not only creates a political uncertainty it will also push ordinary Naga people to live in uncertainty and continue to be subjected to multiple extortions by rebel groups. Permanent peace and progress will continue to be elusive in Naga-inhabited areas if the deadlock continues and talks are not resumed to resolve the contentious issues.