Naga Peace Talks

Naga Peace Talks

Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II – North East insurgency; Centre state relations

In news Recently, the Nagaland Government appealed to all Naga political groups and extremist groups to cooperate in establishing unity, reconciliation and peace in the region.

• The peace process between the central government and two sets of the Naga extremist groups has been delaying for more than 23 years.

What is the background of Naga Insurgency?

• The Naga Hills became part of British India in 1881. The effort to bring scattered Naga tribes together resulted in the formation of the Naga Club in 1918.
• The club metamorphosed into the Naga National Council (NNC) in 1946.
• Under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo, the NNC declared Nagaland as an independent State on 14th August, 1947, and conducted a “referendum” in May 1951 to claim that 99.9% of the Nagas supported a “sovereign Nagaland”.
• Nagaland achieved statehood in December 1963
• In 1975, under the Shillong Accord, some factions of NNC agreed to give up arms.
• Some members led by Thuingaleng Muivah refused to accept the Shillong Accord and formed the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in 1980.
• In 1988, the NSCN split into NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) after a violent clash. The NSCN (IM) came to be seen as the “mother of all insurgencies” in the region.
• Ceasefire Agreement (1997): Signed between NSCN-IM and the government to stop attacks on Indian armed forces. In return, the government would stop all counter-insurgency offensive operations.
• Framework Agreement (2015): The Indian Government recognised the unique history, culture and position of the Nagas.
• Recently, the State government decided to prepare the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland but later due to pressure from various fractions, the decision was put on hold

What are the demands of Naga Groups?

• Key demand: Greater Nagalim (sovereign statehood) i.e redrawing of boundaries to bring all Naga-inhabited areas in the Northeast under one administrative umbrella. It includes parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Assam and Myanmar. The demand also includes the separate Naga Yezabo (Constitution) and Naga national flag.

News Source: TH