1. Flaws and Weaknesses in the Naga ceasefire

(since the beginning of ceasefire until 2014)

  1. The ceasefire is between the Indian security forces and NSCN IM
    1. There is no restriction on NSCN IM using violence against anybody else – Other armed groups or individuals or civil societies who are not supportive with NSCN IM.
  2. Since the ceasefire approx. 1000 persons were killed by NSCN IM.
  3.  They attacked and killed large no of people including those from other armed groups. A large number of people of Nagaland including politicians were killed.
  4. The Ceasefire helped NSCN IM capturing Nagaland state. 
  5. Indirectly GOI has helped NSCN IM to grow and stronger.
  • Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG) is a weak and loosely structure body
    • CFMG mechanism to monitor and enforce the ground rulesand to see that the armed cadres remain in camps is very weak and ineffective.
    • Expectation was that the armed cadres would be in the designated camps. It didn’t happen. Most armed cadres are moving freely with guns.
    • Chairman of CFMG is a retired officer and appointment is for one year. They remain worried about their tenure extension and thus try to remain in the good book of NSCN IM.
  • There is nosystem of periodic review
    • Periodical review is important to assess the progress in the talks.
    • Different ministries are involved on the ground. MHA, MOD, MEA. There is no mechanism of coordination between three ministries.
  • Designated camps are not need based to accommodate the armed cadres but to allow NSCN IM to spread out over entire Naga area.
    • Designated camps are safe places where armed cadres can stay and live while political talks go on.
    •  Instead of that, a large number of designated camps were setup which facilitated  IM to spread over entire Naga area. As a result, all the districts of Nagaland have got Designated camps. Even in Manipur there are three camps.
    • It helps IM to establish and run their parallel government in all the Naga areas.
  • Ceasefire was made Indefinite from 1st Aug 2007
    • It means, there was no pressure on IM to make progress and conclude the talk. Which suited the IM
  • Instead of means to end; Ceasefire became an end itself.
  • Government did not engage any other stake holder under the pressure of NSCN IM
    • Virtually Govt of India allowed NSCN IM to become sole representative of Naga people (It was like the British recognizing the Muslim League as the sole representative of Indian Muslims).
    • This was a major blunder.

Entire ceasefire was designed to make NSCN IM stronger over the entire Naga area. Other stake holders were deliberately ignored and sidelined.  Other armed groups and traditional tribal bodies were overlooked.

  • PARADIGM CHANGES IN THE PEACE TALKS BROUGHT after 2014
  1. Demand of Th. Muivahdid not accepted that Talks were to first begin at the PM level before talking to the Interlocutor.
  • Peace Talk was made inclusive
    • On the ground he started meeting with other stake holders in Nagaland as well as other neighbouring states.
    • Before 2014 (previously 18 years) talk was exclusively with NSCN IM.
    • A fundamental change was brought in by involving other stake holders in Naga Talk.
    • A paradigm change, from exclusive monopoly of NSCN IM over the Talks to inclusive peace process with all stake holders was made. i.e. Gaon-Budha committee, church bodies, civil society and consultation with the neighbours of Nagas, etc.
  • Included All other armed Naga groups in the Talk
    • There were 7 other Naga armed groups, who could not be included in the process because of the threats of IM that they would break the ceasefire.
    • Any settlement could not bring peace because there were 7 armed groups, though they were smaller, militarily not strong as NSCN IM, but each of them have armed cadres of 1000 to 1500.
    • They were brought together and made a part of the peace process
  • NSCN IM was compelled to climb down their demands.

As a result of internal and external pressures NSCN IM was compelled to climb down from their position in the past. Demands for Parliament, President, Prime Minister, own judiciary, own election commission, own passport,  and shared sovereignty were dropped.

  • Nagaland People have rejected statuary PAN NAGA HOHO.
    • The Naga Hoho was captured by NSCN IM and made their proxy. Today Naga Hoho is completely marginalized in Nagaland.
    • All the tribes of Nagaland, one after another withdrew their membership from Naga Hoho.
    •  All tribal student bodies withdrew their membership from Naga Students Federation (NSF)
    • Women organizations of all the tribes withdrew their membership from Naga Mothers Association (NMA)
    • Nagaland Tribes rejected Naga Hoho. They are limited to Manipuri Naga only.
    • It made NSCN IM extremely vulnerable and marginalized in Nagaland.
  • After becoming the Governor, Sh. RN Ravi in Nagaland
  1. Dismantled Town Command of NSCN IMThere were town commands in every district head quarter. In Town commands they kept 30-40-armed cadre with a Commander to rule the area. Under R.N. Ravi’s directions to Assam Rifles, Army and Police their town commands were dismantled.  By Oct-Nov 2019, he could close down all town command.
    1. Constituted Special Investigating Team (SIT)
      1. He constituted SIT in Nagaland to investigate major extortion cases by NSCN IM especially in Central Government Projects.
      1. Criminal cases are registered against senior IM leaders and some were arrested.
    1. He has choked the revenue of NSCN IM in Dimapur
      1. Dimapur is their main income source.
      1. Dimapur is main gateway to Nagaland and Manipur. This is the main center for extortion.
      1. Present state government handed over Dimapur Municipality tax collection system for all type of taxes to private party instead of employees  of Municipal council. This system was controlled by NSCN IM. This was a big source of income for them.
      1. At his direction, Tax collection by Private Party was stopped and collection by Municipal employees restored.  Huge loss to NSCN IM.
    1. Anti-extortion monthly review
      1. He started Monthly review on anti – extortion drive by Security Forces.
  • Strong Political Message that Nagaland is a permanent entity NSCN IM does not recognize the Nagaland State. From 2006 Present CM of Nagaland took a stand that “Nagaland is a temporary arrangement.  16 points agreement which lead to creation of Nagaland state is not the final solution. So, Nagaland becomes a tentative state and not a permanent state until Indo-Naga political issue is resolved.”Sh. RN Ravi took several initiatives to counter this argument,Felicitated Dr. ImkonglibaAo as a father of Nagaland State by giving his name to Durbar Hall. Honored Naga Peoples Convention leaders and their families.  He started to give strong signals that Nagaland is not temporary state, by glorifying those who created Nagaland state, by the naming not only Durbar hall but also several institutions including schools and public parks at district headquarters.
  • Present Situation
  1. NSCN IM is not position to break ceasefire
    1. Before 2014 NSCN IM used to threaten GoI that they will walkout and will break the ceasefire.Today they are not in position to break the ceasefire.
    1. Breaking Ceasefire will break the NSCN IM.
  • NSCN IM wants to continue Ceasefire endlessly, for them it is a solution
    • They want to continue with ceasefire deliberately as long as they can drag it. They have dragged it for last 24 years. Continuation of ceasefire has become a solution for them.
    • Any settlement will not give them the privilege and authority that they enjoy today. So, they want to continue with Ceasefire endlessly
  • NSCN IM is targeting Interlocutor not Govt of India.
    • Strong opposition to NSCN IM in Nagaland has rattled them. They hold Interlocutor responsible for that.
    • If a new Interlocutor comes, naturally it will drag.

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