The Northeast region in India has recently seen significant strides in its peace process. Central to these developments are the Naga Ceasefire Agreements and other accords including the Karbi Anglong Agreement, Bru Accord, Bodo Peace Accord. The introduction of legislative measures like the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the National Register of Citizens also play a crucial role. Let’s delve deep into these elements along with understanding their implications on the vision of an ‘insurgency-free, prosperous North East’.
The Naga Ceasefire Agreements and the Naga Peace Process
With roots dating back to the post-independence era, the ceasefire agreements serve as a critical milestone in the ongoing Naga peace process. Recently extended by another year on April 19, 2022, these agreements involve three principal Naga groups. These include the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-NK (NSCN-NK), NSCN-Reformation (NSCN-R), and NSCN-K-Khango.
Originating from breakaway factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) and NSCN-Khaplang (NSCN-K), these groups are central to the Naga territory’s peace process. This process kickstarted back in 1947 when the Naga territory, initially part of Assam, was amalgamated into a single unit under direct Indian governance following an agreement between Naga leaders and the government.
A Vision for an Insurgency-free, Prosperous North East
Taking into account the strategic security importance of the North East, the Indian Government has embarked on a mission to resolve disputes in this region by 2022. This ambitious project aims to cultivate a peaceful environment steeped in development by 2023, enriching the region’s culture, language, literature, and music in the process.
Several peace agreements have been signed with military outfits in northeast India over the years, including the Karbi Anglong Agreement in 2021 and the Bru and Bodo Peace Accords in 2020. These agreements are designed to bring peace to the region through negotiations, more local autonomy, strengthening security forces, and developmental activities.
Status of Conflicts in Northeast India
The conflict status in Northeast India differs across regions and is primarily characterized into National, Ethnic, and Sub-regional Conflicts. National Conflicts involve the idea of a ‘homeland’ as a separate nation, an issue prominently visible in Nagaland’s Naga insurgency.
Ethnic Conflicts, on the other hand, are defined by assertion of numerically smaller tribal groups against the dominant ones, most notably seen in Tripura with the change in its demographic profile post-1947 due to mass migrations from East Pakistan.
Sub-regional Conflicts involve movements demanding recognition of sub-regional aspirations, often conflicting with State Governments or autonomous Councils. Mizoram, plagued by violent insurgency, sets an example of successful return to peace post the Mizo Peace Accord’ between the Union Government and the Mizo National Front in 1986.
Among the other reasons for conflicts include sponsored terrorism, clashes resulting from continuous inflow of migrants from across borders, and criminal enterprise aiming to expand and consolidate control over critical economic resources. A significant ethnic conflict in Assam revolves around the perceived influx of ‘foreigners’- people with differing language and culture, exacerbated by the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 and the National Register of Citizens debate.
Note: Information in this article is derived from The Hindu.