Nagalim Voice March-April 2025
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON PEACE ACCORDS IN NORTH EAST: SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE INDO-NAGA POLITICAL TALKS
*Naga political movement is the most resilient struggle making the Northeast India the theatre of the earliest and longest in the Southeast Asia.
*Naga political movement is supported by legitimate historical and political grievances because of the factual account that Nagas was never an integral part of India either by conquest or consent.
*Nearly three decades ago, the Government of India under the Congress jumpstarted the peace process by declaring ceasefire with NSCN when the BJP-led Government came to replace the Congress Government in 2014, A milestone was achieved when the historic “FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT” was signed on the 3rd August, 2015, between the Government of India and NSCN aimed to make it a model agreement.
*How long the Indo-Naga political talks to be dominated by deceit and flattery?
*What remains to be seen now as the world watches: Would India’s Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi kill his own brainchild, ‘the 3rd August, 2015, FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT’?
*BJP Government had succeeded in signing peace deals with the ULFA, BLT, NDFB, UNLF (P), DNLA, ANVC, HPC (D), NLFT, ATTF, KPLT, STF, ANLA, etc.
The Naga political movement begin in 1918 when more than 4000 Nagas as Labour Corps sent by British Government to France returned.
Together with the British officials and Naga senior leaders formed the Naga Club in 1918 providing the socio-political foundation for the Naga nationalist movement. When the Naga Club submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission in 1929, it became the most defining moment for the Naga political aspiration wherein the memorandum mentioned, “Leave us alone to determine for ourselves as in ancient times.” This became the first written document from the Nagas to assert their birthright to be free as sovereign nation. The political determination of the Nagas stokes the flame of nationalism among the ethnic nationalities of the Northeast region. First it was the Manipur’s UNLF (United National Liberation Front) formed on November 24, 1964 and followed by the Mizos’ Mizo National Front (MNF) formed on February 28, 1966. UNLF contested that the Merger Agreement of 1949 was done under duress. They are all inspired by the highly motivated political movement of the Nagas who have the courage and blood to stand out before the mighty Indian Army in defence of their pride, honour; identity as a God given nation. The Naga’s nationalism is tempered by a desire to have their sovereign independent nation based on 1947 The Naga Independence Declaration and followed by Naga Plebiscite, 1951. All these indelible events set a new benchmark for the other ethnic nationalities of the Northeast. One after the other, movement started to assert their socio-political identity with the express desire for self-determination. Though many fall on the wayside, unable to gain legitimacy of their struggle, the Nagas spearheaded by NSCN was the Northeast’s flagship leading the political movement.
Long before the rise of BJP to rule India, the Mizo Accord was signed on June 30th, 1986 that brought to an end the 20- year-long Mizo war of independence. This comes ten years after the infamous “Shillong Accord”, the accord that the Nagas rejected outright and which give rise to the new Naga political movement spearheaded by the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) under the firebrand leadership of Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah that brought the whole Northeast under the spell of NSCN. The development set the alarm bells ringing and activated the Indian intelligence agencies like RAW, IB, and NIA, alongside the military to counter NSCN operations. Unaccounted money was poured in and use like smart bombs to cause division within the NSCN with pinpoint accuracy. However, much to the discomfort of Indian intelligence agencies, from every crisis, NSCN rise like a phoenix from the ashes and come out stronger, politically and militarily and proves its mettle where it matters.
The Mizo Accord was the biggest achievement of the Congress government under the Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi. Under the terms of the Accord, Mizoram state was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on February 20, 1987 to become the 23rd Indian state with a 40-member state Legislative Assembly and one member each in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The MNF chief Mr. Laldenga became the first Chief Minister of the Mizoram state.
Though the Mizos never picked up arms again to confront the Government of India, the state was not without insurgent movement. The Hmar People’s Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) and the Bru (Reang) National Liberation Front (BNLF) keep troubling the state government before a peace agreement was signed in later year. With these two agreements, Mizoram became insurgent-free state, getting the credit as the most peaceful state in the region.
Significantly, the Mizo Accord was sensitively drafted with extra care in the use words /languages so as to give some kind of honour to the MNF freedom fighters. Accordingly, the words “surrender” and “submit” were altogether avoided and instead used phrases and words like “bringing out” all underground personnel of the MNF and “deposit” of arms, ammunition and equipment. This enabled the Mizo National Army (MNA) to return honourably to Mizoram from their hideouts where they were jubilantly greeted by the people with drums, dance and flowers. The outbreak of the Mizo war for independence on February 28, 1966, also known as “Operation Jericho” came to an end when the Mizo Accord was signed on June 30, 1986, as the MNF/MNA came marching all the way from operation headquarters at Arakan in Myanmar and Tactical Headquarters at Sajek Valley in Bangladesh. Altogether, 581 MNF/MNA came over ground.
As part of the Mizo Accord, MNF was made to amend the MNF constitution where the mention of “self-determination” or “highest sovereignty” were deleted.
Another eyesore of the Mizo Accord that still remains unsettled was the border dispute with Assam that dates back to the colonial era.
Thus, Mizo political movement that was started on February 28, 1966 end up in 1986 unable to carry on the weight of independence movement like the Nagas under NSCN.
For all practical purpose, the Mizo Accord was never implemented in letter and spirit to deserve being characterize as a “model agreement” or accord.
“Model agreement” of any kind that the Centre was planning out of the Naga issue when the historic Framework Agreement of the 3rd August, 2015, was signed between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) was something waiting to happen.
Accordingly, Narendra Modi gave high profile political status to Framework Agreement as the signing ceremony was live-telecast to make the national and world leaders bear witness.
- Eight years after the Mizo Accord was signed, the issue of Hmar insurgency issue pricks the Mizoram government. Finally, Memorandum of Settlement between the Mizoram government and Hmar People’s Convention (HPC-D) was signed on the 27th July, 1994, with the main objective to give adequate autonomy to the Sinlung Hills Development Council for social, cultural and educational advancement of the people under the jurisdiction of the council. As part of the settlement, the HPC was made to take steps to amend, as may be necessary, its article of Association/ Constitution so as to make them conform to the provision of Law. The HPC was made to undertake not to extend support or have any relation with NSCN, ULFA and other such underground groups by way of arms supply or providing protection in any manner.
- The insurgent movement in Meghalaya could not sustain for long after NSCN entered into ceasefire with the Government of India in 1997. The surrender of ULFA and NDFB and their disbandment as per agreement with the Government of India brought about huge problem for the Garo and Khasi-Jaintia militants to operate and survive on their own. Earlier, the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) formed in December 1995 and its breakaway faction, ANVC-B signed ceasefire with the Government of India on July 23, 2004. With this, over 500 cadres of both factions surrendered.
Another group, Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) formed in 2009 has gone silent after the killing of its Commander-in-Chief Mr. Sohan D. Shira and the arrest of its founder Mr. Champion R. Sangma in Bangladesh, now rotting in judicial custody.
- A Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed between the Government of India, Government of Tripura and National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) in New Delhi on the 4th September, 2024, ending 35-year-long conflict in the state.
Under this agreement, more than 328 arms cadres gave up arms to join the mainstream of society. Tripura government was provided 250 crores for the development tribal population. So far Tripura has remained a peaceful insurgent-free state.
- A landmark agreement was signed on 16. 01.2020 to resolve the 23-year-old Bru-Reang refugee crisis by which more than 37,000 internally displaced people are being settled in Tripura with a financial assistance of/package of around Rs.661.00 crore.
- Bodo Peace Accord: A memorandum of Settlement was signed with the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) on the 10th February, 2003, in New Delhi, following tripartite talks represented by Government of India, Assam government and BLTF. With this agreement, 2641 cadres surrendered and laid down arms in Kokrajhar. A vast majority of them were absorbed in CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force). On the following day, an interim 12-member executive council of the Boto Territorial Council (BTC) was formed in Kokrajhar. With this, seven-year Bodo insurgency under BLTF came to an end.
On the 27th January, 2020, another Bodo Accord was signed after series of talks between the four Bodo insurgent groups- National Democratic Front of Bodoland-Progressive (NDFB-P), NDFB-Ranjan Daimary (NDFB-RD), NDFB-Dhirendra Boro (NDFB-DB) and NDFB-Saoraigwra (NDFB-S), as well as the United Boro People’s Organization and the All Bodo Students Union(ABSU). Subsequent to the agreement, the NDFB factions were disbanded in March 2020. The Bodo movement started when the Assam Accord failed to address their homeland demand.
- To resolve the long running dispute in the Karbi regions in Assam’s Karbi Anglong, agreement was signed on September 4th, 2021 in which 1040 armed cadres renounced violence to join the mainstream society. A total of 338 arms surrendered.
The Karbi groups are People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK), Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT), Kuki Liberation Army (KLF) and United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA).
(vii) Adivasi Peace Accord with eight armed Adivasi groups, (2022): A Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed on 15.09. 2022 with representatives of 8 Adivasi groups to end the decades old crisis of Adivasi Garden workers in Assam, following which 1182 cadres of Adivasis have joined the mainstream by laying down arms to end extremism and ensure Adivasi interests. A special development package of Rs.1000 crores was promised to the Adivasi groups over a period of five years for infrastructure development in Adivasi populated villages/areas.
The main Adivasi groups that laid down arms are: (i) ACMA (Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam), (ii) All Adivasi National Liberation Army (ANLA), (iii) Bircha Commando Force (BCF), (iv) Adivasi People’s Army (APA) and (v) Santhal Tiger Force (STF). So far, none of these groups have shown any sign of picking up arms again.
(vii) DNLA Peace Agreement (2023): A Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed on 27.04.2023 with Dimasa National Liberation Army/Dimasa People’s Supreme Council (DNLA/ DPSC) of Assam to end insurgency in Dima Hasao district of Assam, following which 181 cadres of DNLA have joined the mainstream by laying down their arms on the 28th October, 2023.
(ix) UNLF Peace Agreement (2023): A Peace Agreement on Ground Rules with United National Liberation Front (UNLF), a valley-based Manipur armed group, was signed on the 29th November, 2023. As per agreement, UNLF has agreed to return to mainstream by abjuring violence and agreeing to honour the Constitution of India and laws of the land. The MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI) had sanctioned Rs.11 crores for the construction of two camps for 416 cadres of UNLF (Pambei) at two locations.
(x) ULFA Peace Agreement (2023): A Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) has been signed on the 29th December, 2023 with the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). As per agreement, ULFA has agreed to abjure the path of violence, surrender all arms/ammunitions, disband their armed organization and join the peaceful democratic process as established by the law and uphold the integrity of the country. The ULFA group that was formed on the 7th April, 1979 in Sivasagar to establish a sovereign state of Assam has disbanded themselves in December, 2023. Tracing its origin, ULFA is a by-product of the anti-foreigners Assam agitation. It was in 2009 when ULFA’s important top rank leaders including Chairman Rajkhowa fell into the security net of Indian security forces that ultimately forced the ULFA to enter into ceasefire with the centre in September 2011. However, ULFA’s C-in-C Mr. Paresh Barua oppose any talks with the Government of India and rename his group as ULFA (Independent) in April, 2023. This has put Assam on tender hook as peace will remain elusive as long as Paresh Baruah is active. He is based in Ruili in Yunnan Province of China. Interestingly, the Indo-Naga political talks have been greeted with growing scepticism by Paresh Barua. Maybe he is not wrong given the fact that India has proved herself for being coward and deceitful in dealing with NSCN on Naga issue.
(xi) Suspension of Operation (SoS) agreements with the United People’s Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organization (KNO) of Manipur have been extended for a further period of one year since 2023. The Meitei-Kuki bloody ethnic conflict that broke out on May 3, 2023 had added a new security dimension with no sign of resolving as the Kuki-Zo groups had demanded a separate administration as the only step forward to end the conflict. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had responded to this demand as something preposterous. The Assam Rifles (AR) is on record hobnobbing with the Kuki militants against the Nagas since the 1990s and this has continued till today.
(xii) A Cessation of Operation (CoO) agreement with Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) of Manipur was signed on the 27th December, 2022 and ZUF agreed to abjure violence and join the peace democratic process as established by the law of the land. In the real sense of the term, this group is a mere product of India’s security and intelligence agencies to counterweight the dominance of NSCN. Thus, this group has been drafted into Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), a conglomeration of seven groups nurtured by Government of India’s intelligence agencies to serve as the main force to counterweight NSCN’s Framework Agreement of the 3rd August, 2015 with the Indian intelligence agency drafted Agreed Position in order to cause division and confusion among the Nagas.
The many peace agreements signed and the seemingly peace that is seen indicates the nature of problem that had fuelled insurgency. Most importantly, it also shows that the Naga issue is altogether different from these groups. The historical and political rights with sovereign identity not honoured by the successive governments led to another ceasefire and finally the historic Framework Agreement on the 3rd August, 2015. This agreement recognizes the unique history of the Nagas and granted recognition to the sovereign identity of the Nagas. However, in the subsequent period, India went back against her owns words with flattering excuses. The true meaning of having signed the Framework Agreement means building the foundation of “trust” & “legitimacy”.
But so far, India has proved herself to be coward, perfidious and treacherous, using her demonic AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) once again to force the Nagas into submission. The Naga political movement had rightfully established the historical and political legitimacy way back on January 23rd 1993, when Nagalim was given bona fide UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization) membership; July 11, 2002 when the Amsterdam Joint Communique was signed between the Government of India and NSCN that recognised the unique history and followed by the 3rd August, 2015 Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and NSCN giving recognition to the sovereign rights of Nagalim.
No wonder, the unethical conduct on the part of the Government of India in handling the Naga political has expose the lying tongues, false promises, deceit and flattery. Such unethical negotiation has destroyed trust leading to impasses-like situation that has impaired relationship between the two stakeholders. May God be the judge who betrayed who!