In Nagaland, let 'perturbed peace' pave way to 'durable peace'

The unusual situation that has arisen out of the Indo-Naga conflict has certainly contributed to a state of affairs that can be characterised as “chaotic”. After all the insurgency, notwithstanding the cessation of hostilities with the NSCN (IM) in 1997 is the longest running insurgency in the world. But is also true that even as Nagaland has perhaps one of the highest extortion rates in the country: the illegal taxes that are being collected by various insurgent groups are being referred to, as is the attendant fact that it is one of the most “weaponised” state in the country, there are other indices such as the lowest crime rate against women in India which showcase that the law and order situation from a “particular point of view” is remarkable. Therefore, until such time there is a solution to the Indo-Naga conflict one would continue to witness a sense of “perturbed peace”. A recent visit to Nagaland was an eye-opener even for the fairly “dedicated” student of security such as this author. The security related developments in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland as also the India-China boundary as it pertains to the Eastern Sector have been followed for closer to three decades by this author. He has persevered to travel rather extensively in the region despite his indifferent health and a leg that has metallic implants embedded in it. Indeed, the situation in the recent times necessitated a re-visitation and that goaded him to embark upon yet another round of travel in the borderlands. After all, much has happened in the last couple of years. Manipur, Nagaland and parts of southern Arunachal Pradesh are heir to needles that point to unrest and instability. Manipur is perhaps the most troubled state in the whole of South Asia. The efforts of the fire-fighting mechanism in New Delhi are not showing trends of improvement. On 27September 2023, a 500 strong mob sought to set the Manipur chief minister’s ancestral on fire and there seems to be helplessness all around. South Arunachal Pradesh is “disturbed” only because it provides a conduit from the insurgent camps in Myanmar to the oil, coal and tea belt of Upper Assam. Nagaland, where a ceasefire is in progress, seems to be a narrative that is in progression. Indeed, it is one state which this author has not visited in its entirety. Earlier visitations have been only to places such as Dimapur and over 35 years ago as he thoroughfared Kohima on his way back from Manipur. It was the first state in the autumnal itinerary of this author. The unfortunate incident in Oting had occurred and there was some sort of political impasse. As a matter of fact, this author had been holding forth in Webinars on the Naga Peace Process sitting in Guwahati. It disturbed him that he was ordaining about a state and its state of affairs without actually visiting the disturbed state. However, the visit to Nagaland did not quite showcase the “perturbed peace”. Life seems to be going on as usual and the bustling streets of Dimapur, Kohima and even back of beyond Mon or Khonoma provided no inclination about the disturbance that one is generally fed on about Nagaland. The shops functioned normally, the people were friendly, delicacies were in plenty as was the serenity in Phizo’s village and a solemn visit to the War Cemetery in Kohima, too, was a demure affair. An outsider is not even given a second glance. Sundays, however, inform that Christianity has an over pervasive hold over each and every denizen of Nagaland and almost everything shuts on Holy Sabbath. But an aspect that did not escape this author is the fact that the onus of ushering durable peace which would mean that the sad headlines that Nagaland hogs metropolitan India disappears would have to be ordained by New Delhi. To that end, aspects such as extortion and institution of correct provision of gun laws etc rest with the Government of India. To the self-confessed student of security that this author is, it is not comprehended as to why the process of reconciliation and resolution has not been hastened and completed. An able beginning was made in 2015 with the historic “Framework Agreement”. But aspects that New Delhi could have avoided such as “doubling-up” an interlocutor also as a governor, militating thereby the duties of one with the other, could have been avoided. The Indian Army and the Assam Rifles are in Nagaland and the region to enforce what the ceasefire provision scriveners in New Delhi have set down on paper. But for one reason or the other it is these two noble forces that have to occasionally (and, quite unfairly!) bear the brunt of the mistakes and erroneous decisions of Raisina Road. The visit to Nagaland was an eye-opener for a number of reasons. The first and the foremost aspect is the complete transparency with which I was permitted to witness the security situation in the places I visited. The visit was chaperoned to an extent by the Assam Rifles, but this author was not prohibited from visiting places or meeting civil society organisations in order to cull the truth. As a matter of fact, he was encouraged and as a later column would testify the Assam Rifles actually facilitated a generous meeting of minds with the youth of Nagaland. People in mainland India and perhaps even abroad are fed on stories that are somewhat removed from reality. Most “experts” write about the North East as a “fragile garrisoned land” where the Indian army and the Indian para-military forces are considered to be somewhat of an occupation force with laws such as the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act. But the reality is very different. This author not only witnessed the extra mile that both the Indian army and the Assam Rifles have walked (and indeed are walking!) to usher in peace and development in the region, but the exemplary behaviour of the men in uniform. The Assam Rifles personnel (in a jocular sense to an Assamese onlooker such as this author) have picked up Nagamese as would a native speaker. It was rather refreshing to listen to a Sikh Riflemen from Tarn Taran to mouth aspects such as “Besi Bhaal Aase”. The manner in which both the Indian army and the Assam Rifles go about their Internal Security Management duties has to be seen to be believed. The Indian Army is in Nagaland temporarily, but the Assam Rifles’ presence is permanent and it has both counter-insurgency and border management as its primary brief. Officered by the Indian army, the operational command over the force rests with the Indian army. The synergy between the forces is excellent and it is excellent teamwork between the Director General of the Assam Rifles in Shillong, Corps Commander, 3 Corps in Rangapahar and the Inspector General of the Assam Rifles (North) in Kohima that has been reaping the rich harvest in the frontiers of India. Yes, aberrations have taken place in the past. But atonement and course correction have been swift. Indeed, one can hold one’s hand to one’s heart and say that an act of indiscretion by, say the Assam Rifles could never have been a premeditated act. At best it would have been an anomaly. But there are clouds of adversity as well. Such misfortune, it is a considered view, stops at the door of the political leaders and the bureaucrats in New Delhi. They should have comprehended the way aspects would shape up if such ridiculous provisions have been allowed to creep into the ceasefire ground rules. It is absurd, but an insurgent (despite the fact that he/she is in ceasefire) is allowed to carry his/her weapon if he/she conceals it, and when he/she is marching from Camp A to Camp B. Voluntary collection of taxes are allowed. But one can be certain that the definition of voluntary is to a considerable extent dictated by the weaponry and the arsenal that groups such as the NSCN (IM) possess. It is just as well that of late a “double-lock” system has been institutionalised for groups coming into newer ceasefires. But the fact of the matter is that the Assam Rifles continues to abide by the ceasefire rules and I know for a fact that were an insurgent to be caught without a weapon with the requisite “permission” he/she would be apprehended. The talks between the interlocutor, A.K. Mishra and the NSCN (IM) leadership, it has been reported, have restarted. Not privy to the details, all that can be said at this point is that there has to be compromise from both sides. The NSCN (IM) cannot expect to hold on to impossible demands such as separate constitution and integration of all Naga-dominated areas, although at least this author found no problem with a separate flag as long as it defers to the Tricolour. But the fact that a ceasefire has been allowed to continue for 26 years without resolution is bizarre. It even reeks of conspiracies about the Indian nation seeking to set into motion what certain observers are saying about both a “wearing out policy” even as “conflict fatigue” sets in and the patience of a vulture for a “power struggle” and consequent “division” to break out with a passage of unholy time. The author is a conflict theorist and bestselling author. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .