The Government of India signed a peace accord with the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM) on Monday, 3 August, in an attempt to end over six decades of Nagas' struggle for self determination.
Why are Nagas not celebrating the signing of peace accord, which is being termed as 'historic'? Aren't they supposed to erupt in jubilation following the announcement?
Hundreds of civilians were reportedly killed, raped and tortured during the struggle for self determination. Many have died without realising their dream of a permanent settlement with GoI. Yes, Nagas have been awaiting a permanent settlement to their struggle for decades, and though the latest development is a welcome move, people are still skeptic.
Why? Because the details of the accord have not been disclosed yet and people are afraid if it will end up like the Shillong Accord 1975 signed between GoI and Naga National Council (NNC), that led to further factionalism, due to failure to take the consent of the public.
Nagas want to know the clause of the pact on their main demands -- "sovereignty" and "Greater Nagalim" or integration of all Naga-inhabited areas under one administrative umbrella. So, celebrations are expected only when the details of these demands are made public.
The content of the peace accord agreement is believed to be just a "preamble" based on which a final solution will be brought about. Details for possible solutions are reportedly still being worked out.
Maybe the content of the agreement has been intentionally kept under suspension foreseeing possible dissent from the public. Dissent is expected if the demand for integration of all Naga-inhabited areas is granted, as chunks of land from States like Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar will have to be merged with the Nagaland State.
Meanwhile, Nagas can't celebrate the signing of the peace accord until clauses of the agreement on "sovereignty" and "Greater Nagalim" are announced.
