Kohima: Death threats, capital punishment, illegal taxation, and kidnapping—these are not just words circulating in the alleys of Kohima and Dimapur but have also reverberated within the halls of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) this month. But ceasefire with Naga political rights was supposed to usher in peace, right? So what went wrong?
Alarmingly, these terms have been closely associated with the activities of Naga political groups, who claim to be the guardians of Naga rights. August has been particularly tumultuous, with two mass protests erupting in Kohima and Dimapur, as hundreds of citizens took to the streets, voicing their frustration and fear.
The catalyst for this public outcry was a death threat issued to a contractor by the NSCN-K Khango faction. The incident highlighted a growing sentiment among the people and the elected leaders that the ceasefire, rather than fostering peace, may be providing a cover for criminal activities.
The gravity of the situation prompted Lt Gen Amarjeet Singh Bedi (Retd), Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG), to break his silence and address the media for the first time since assuming office. Bedi clarified that the Government of India has signed ceasefire agreements with only five Naga groups over the years: NSCN (IM) in 1997, NSCN (U) in 2012, NSCN (R) in 2015, NSCN (Khango) in 2019, and NSCN (Nikki) in 2021.
However, these five factions are just a fraction of the 26 Naga political groups currently operating in Nagaland, raising concerns about the effectiveness of these agreements in controlling factionalism and criminality.
Does Nagaland need a ceasefire?
Besides the public outcry, there is growing frustration among elected representatives who have reached the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) through the democratic process of Universal Adult Franchise (UAF).
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has voiced significant concerns regarding the actions of Naga political groups, questioning whether these groups have been legitimately mandated by the Nagas to impose capital punishment for issues related to illegal taxation.
Rio had questioned the justification of enforcing capital punishment as outlined in the yehzabo (constitution) of one group, given that these groups profess to work on behalf of the people. He emphasised the gravity of the situation, calling for serious and respectful discussions.
NPF MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu, who has been vocal about the state’s escalating lawlessness, raised the issue on the second day of the session, questioning the necessity of the ceasefire. “Does the state need Ceasefire?” he questioned.
The ceasefire mechanism, as reported earlier, functions as a collective forum to resolve varying perceptions and contentious issues of the Ceasefire Agreement amicably. This approach ensures a peaceful environment in Nagaland, facilitating the resolution of the Naga political issue.
Nienu did not mince words in his critique: “Time has come for us to ponder on this issue. To me, Ceasefire has become a license to threat and intimidation, kidnapping, extortion, multiple taxation and killing. All such nefarious activities are happening in front of our eyes under the guise of the ceasefire, which includes the mushrooming of groups, and factions. Therefore, Nagas will be better off without a Ceasefire in my opinion, for how long can we as mandated leaders remain silent spectators and for how many times shall we allow them to challenge the Rule of Law?”
His impassioned plea has resonated with many across the state who feel that the ceasefire agreements have strayed far from their original purpose.
The ceasefire agreements with various Naga groups may differ in specifics, but they share common clauses aimed at maintaining peace. These include commitments to refrain from extortion, forcible collection of money and supplies, and intimidation of individuals, including government officials.
The agreements also stipulate that the groups must avoid blockades of roads and communications, as well as any actions that could disrupt the functioning of local and state governments, hinder economic and developmental activities, or affect essential services.
The ceasefire ground rules also prohibit ‘forceful recruitment’ by Naga groups. However, another shocking revelation emerged during the recently concluded assembly session when LJP (RV) MLA Sukhato Sema revealed that “318 young Naga graduates had recently joined a particular faction/group”. The nature of the recruitment remains unknown till the time of this writing.
Deputy CM Yanthungo Patton also revealed that since January, the Nagaland government has sanctioned the detention of 17 individuals linked to various Naga political groups under the National Security Act (NSA), although no details were further provided.
As per data provided by Patton, 106 individuals linked to different factions were arrested by police and security forces since January 2024, with 25 arrests related to abduction or kidnapping and 26 related to violations of the Arms Act.
Recently, Lok Sabha MP Supongmeren Jamir also urged the need for a more active role for the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell, beyond merely maintaining a ceasefire status.
What are the alternatives?
On the floor of the state assembly, Nienu emphasised the urgent need for a thorough review of the ceasefire ground rules, suggesting that if the agreements are to be extended, they must be revised to address the current realities on the ground and enforce the rule of law more effectively.
He recommended that the Government of India should provide a minimum monthly sustenance allowance and ration to members of ceasefire groups to prevent them from resorting to extortion and other unlawful activities to support themselves.
He also suggested transforming the current single-chairman model of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) into a three-member committee, comprising representatives from the Army, Police, and a civilian. He suggested that the ceasefire committee should be placed under the control of the state government, which is currently under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Nienu proposed relocating all individual ceasefire offices from Dimapur to a centralised structure in Kohima.
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He called for strict action against groups not part of any ceasefire agreement with the Government of India, including potential bans on such outfits. Nienu suggested that members of groups not in ceasefire agreements should be excluded from the NNPG Board or Group.
Nienu also recommended that all factions and groups should cease issuing parallel orders or directives to the general public. He also stressed the need for a clear and consistent role for the state government, highlighting the current contradictions and the urgent need for effective law enforcement.
This story has been published as part of the AIPP-EastMojo Fellowship 2024
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