Manipur Naga Outfits Want Inter-Ministerial Team for Talks

Kolkata: The United Naga Council (UNC), the representative apex organisation of the Naga community in Manipur has lost no time after the expiry of its 20 day-ultimatum to the Centre and the state administration. It is pursuing the twin issue of Free Movement Regime (FMR) and fencing along the India-Myanmar border. The ultimatum, issued on July 22, expired on August 10.

After a stock taking exercise on August 11 at Imphal, UNC’s presidential council declared the community’s resolve to “escalate” their movement against border fencing and scrapping of FMR. This, because the authorities in New Delhi and Imphal have done precious little to address their demands which they have been voicing for a long time and in support of which they have explored all avenues for peaceful protests.

The authorities’ silence and inaction “affect the community that has been divided by the border”, knowledgeable sources contended, while explaining their position to NewsClick.

Read Also: Indo-Myanmar Border: Manipur Naga Groups’ ‘Ultimatum’ to Centre

The format of an “escalated” agitation is to be firmed up in 15 days, that is, by August 25. All constituent, subordinate and associated units of UNC, All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur, Naga Women’s Union and the community at large have been advised by UNC’s presidential council to mobilise their resources and gear up for challenges ahead “in accomplishing the task of protecting Naga rights, culture and traditional ties”.

At the same time, the apex outfit will respond positively if their representatives are called for talks by “competent” authorities. There is no question of declining invitation for talks, sources told NewsClick.

Of relevance in the immediate context is that Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla assured a 10-member UNC delegation led by Ng Lorho, the outfit’s president, on August 16, that he would facilitate talks with the Union government “at the earliest”. In the past four-five months, New Delhi has been interacting with representative civil society organisations of the Valley-based Meiteis and the Kuki-Zos who inhabit the hills.

So, for the Union government, there is now a new front, in reality a third, in Manipur. (Incidentally, at the moment Bhalla is holding additional charge as Nagaland Governor following the demise on August 15 of LA Ganesan, who was the regular incumbent.)

But, the more important point at the moment is what are the expectations of the Naga community from the Union government as their leaders hold intra-community consultations on how to escalate their movement?

Inquiries made by this correspondent from a cross-section of Manipur watchers suggest that the programme will certainly have a ‘direct action’ component and that may even mean blocking the entry of essential commodity supplies into the state.

Normal movement through the critical NH2 and NH 37 has been the worst casualty during the ethnic violence phase in the state since May 3, 2023. Blocking the entry of essentials is usually a part of any agitation programme in Manipur and, therefore, this format of direct action is likely to be kept in view by the Naga community leaders too.

The ‘non-direct’ action component is likely to include a new demand. According to informed sources, the Naga civil society organisations CSOs) want New Delhi to look beyond its much-tried practice of remitting all complicated North-East issues to the Home Ministry’s North-East division, currently headed by A K Mishra, who is designated advisor (North-East).

The two issues of scrapping FMR and ongoing construction of fencing along the India-Myanmar border are ‘international’ in character. Also, the situation in Myanmar since February 2021 has become complicated --- a junta assumed control and before long ethnic armed outfits have emerged as resistance groups.

The 398-km border between Manipur and Myanmar in the prevailing circumstances, therefore, also involves sensitive security matters. The Naga community’s ultimatum to New Delhi and Imphal had pointed out that at stake are ‘Naga ancestral homeland’ and consultation with ‘affected indigenous communities’ under Articles 8, 26 and 36 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which have been “endorsed by India”.

Keeping these ground realities in view, the Naga CSOs want that New Delhi’s team for talks should also include senior officials of the External Affairs and Defence Ministries. This simply means that for talks with them,  they want the Centre to constitute an inter-ministerial team comprising officials from Home, External Affairs and Defence ministries. They are understood to have conveyed to Governor Bhalla “their latest thinking” in this regard.

Issues within Manipur: Disquiet in Naga Foothills

The belt was the scene of widespread agitation under the initiative of Imphal-based Foothills Naga Co-ordination Committee (FNCC) with effect from July 18. Road blockades and a general strike followed accusations of demographic alteration, encroachment by illegal immigrants/Kuki refugees and concerns about the “cultural and historical integrity of Naga territories”.

The FNCC accused the state administration of inaction and “sought firm steps to preserve Naga ancestral lands. On the agitation’s 21st day on August 8, Manipur’s home secretary N Ashok Kumar held exhaustive discussions on the points raised by FNCC and persuaded it to call off the blockade with immediate effect.

Kumar assured FNCC that unauthorised construction/ naming or renaming of roads would not be allowed and if there is any proven instance of violation by groups or organisations suspected by FNCC, the government would initiate legal steps.

He assured that concerns expressed by the aggrieved party over the Suspension of Operations Agreement/continued presence of designated Kuki militant camps close to Naga inhabited areas, would be posed to the Union Home Ministry for consideration when fresh security protocols are finalised.

Kumar also informed FNCC that firm action plans were already under execution under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985, and other relevant Acts, to destroy all illegally raised poppy and cannabis farms. The administration is considering a proposal to undertake a survey of the misused areas.  

The writer is a senior freelance journalist based in Kolkata.