AMSTERDAM INDO-NAGA TALKS- 7 DECEMBER ONWARDS

Guwahati 4December,2008
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ELEVEN- YEAR- OLD INDO-NAGA TALK RESUMES
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Everybody talks for peace and progress;the only congenital problem with peaceniks lies with the nature of peace- be it the peace ,Third Reich had thrust upon the Zionists for a couple of years that led to total devastation of the world or,a just and durable peace ,founded on universally endorsed standards like equality of nations and self-determination of nations which had acquired,but not exercised that right.

Peaceniks or conflict escalators or, genuine peace-breakers have to choose one of the two_grey remaining grey as ever.Choice is yours,outcome could for others.After the cold war, American peace models vary from Nato-bombing at Kosovo,fragmentation of Yugoslavia to Taliban and WMD hunting in Asia outside American soil. American bombing for peace has been in the peace- studies curriculum in the USA.Any honest peace broker cannot overlook all the human experiences.

Nitty gritty of Nagaland's sovereignty demand is widely known,yet the the colour or stripes of peace are least known.Is unjust peace fragile ?A lot of homework has to be done by PMO's office and the prime minister of GPRN on the subject.

Paris principles of 15 June,1995 had brought the NSCN to the table on the conditions that_ a] talks would be on the sovereignty of Nagaland,b] talks would be at the PMs' level,c] talks should be outside Indian territory.Paris principles had thus, become a benchmark or the basic standard of legitimate talks between NSA or NSAs demanding extra- constitutional positions;however,they have the least bearing with NSAs demanding constituional recognition of their tribal or communal rights or,ST status within the four corners of the Constitution of India.These NSAs are basically different- the only most common characteristic remaining_is the use of military means or, resort to arms.

At the peak of Naga insurgency, the direction of any consequential significant talk had been already charted by PM Nehru. His official statement in the parliament on 28 August,1962 provides the roadmap of Indian position:

"---subsequently,we repeatedly discussed the matter in early days with Mr.Phizo himself and then with others representing the Nagas,hostile or not, and always WE MADE IT CLEAR TO THEM THAT WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THE FULLEST AUTONOMY within the Indian union.It is true that I told them that I was not prepared to discuss any secession from the Indian union but SHORT OF THAT I WAS PREPARED TO DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH THEM." [emphasis added].

Nehrus's categorical statement is nearly synonymous with what PM Narasimha Rao talked about 'short of Azadi' status of Kashmiris in 199os.Fullest autonomy has never meant minimum autonomy under the Constitution of India.The term'FULLEST' in lieu of sovereignty is the term for negotiation.

Out of 31-demand- proposal made by the GPRN caucus, the most relevant one in regard to Naga national question is re-federalisation of Indian union by leaving all powers to the GPRN save defence, external affairs,currency and communication that could be at Indian hands.A study of ground realities hints that in the event of GOI conceding the common proposal-it may not happen at all also-, the other NSAs like the Khaplang group or NNC are not parties to any negotiated agreement.Here,peace may face a stumbling block.

The model placed on the table for three years is exactly what PM Indira Gandhi and Dinesh Singh offered in 1967 unilaterally to the Nagalanders. In a sense, the Indian PM's road map was Indian position made known before four decades and there is absolutely nothing new in the GPRN proposal that happened to be Indian position towards constucting peace in Nagaland.Only the table is turned around;it is back to square one.

In retrospect, during peace talks in Nagaland,JP Narain proposed a BHUTAN type status for Nagaland,Reverend Scott asked for Puerto Rico status, Assam chief minister and other two cited Self-determination as a benchmark.Records would reveal details.Peace might have broke out in 1967; the quest for durable justice continues.