Naga Peace: Common Platform For Rebel Groups, Joint Negotiation Suggestion Doing Rounds

For the record, there are about 20 Naga rebel groups and factions, of which, there are eight NSCN groups, including the NSCN-IM.

Two months after the NSCN-IM indicated, following a meeting with the Centre’s representative AK Mishra, that they were not opposed to resuming the peace dialogue, there is no movement in that direction.

Watchers of the Naga political issue say there is a strong suggestion in circulation that there should be a common platform of all Naga political groups and joint negotiation based on a common draft.

The argument is that since there has to be only one Naga peace agreement, the NSCN-IM and the other NSCN factions must agree on a single draft accord before it can be signed by all concerned.

Whether the NSCN-IM or the NNPG or the other NSCN factions agree to the idea or not is a different matter. But if a draft agreement has to be prepared, it has to be drawn from the August 2015 Framework Agreement signed between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India and the 2017 Agreed Position reached between the Centre and the NNPG.

For the record, there are about 20 Naga rebel groups and factions, of which, there are eight NSCN groups, including the NSCN-IM. The majority of the NSCN groups are on ceasefire with the government of India while the rest are still outside the purview of any truce.

Sources said if a draft agreement is prepared by New Delhi, the government may begin by talking to each of the NSCN groups separately before any possible joint sitting.

But to reach that stage is fraught with hurdles because of differences in position and approach to a resolution of the Naga issue between the NSCN-IM and the other groups and factions.

The ball actually is in the court of the Naga rebel groups because it is common knowledge that there can be only one Naga peace accord.

How the government of India and the Naga groups take things forward is left to be seen. Delays can lead to dramatic developments in the Naga socio-political and insurgency theatre.

Also Read: Naga Peace Talks: NNPGs Seek Unified Platform For Solution

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