Dust kicked up by peace processes : Politics of ceasing hostility
- Sangai Express Editorial :: June 18, 2013 -

Ceasing hostility followed by negotiation. So is this the beginning of the journey towards a solution ?

In political speak, the answer will undoubtedly be a big yes but take a closer look and the answer may not be this simple. An example of politics not exactly mirroring the reality.

A bitter truth, which the Government of India and the respective State Governments may be loathe to admit publicly. About 45 days hence, the ceasefire pact between the Government of India and the Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN would have completed 16 years.

In the nearly 16 years that have passed by, there is nothing much to show that some progress has been made, other than the setting up of peace camps for the rebel cadres, the ceasing of direct confrontations and the on and off show of one upmanship between the outfit and the security forces.

Likewise the Suspension of Operation agreement inked between Imphal, Delhi and the Kuki armed outfits, coming under the two umbrella organisations, the Kuki National Organisation and the United Peoples’ Front in 2008, has not moved beyond the SoO pact.

No meaningful talk across the table and certainly no progress in the real sense of the term. It is in such a climate that Manipur has seen a number of outfits coming forward to the negotiating table.

The pro-talk group of the ULFA under Arabinda Rajkhowa and some Bodo and Karbi groups too have joined the talk band wagon.

On paper this is a sure indicator that the efforts of the Governments, both Delhi and the respective States, are yielding dividends, yet the slip between what is on paper and what is happening at the ground reality is palpably clear.

No longer at the opposite end of the conflict, but not yet an ally to trek the route towards peace or a solution.

Sounds more like a case of ‘peace process’ being more complex and confusing than the open hostility demonstrated by the bush war waged by the rebel groups, before they decided to sit down and talk across the table.

The complexity of the issue may just lie in the question of what exactly is it that the rebel groups want and how far the Government of India is willing to accommodate their demands.

Equally important too is the question of, ‘on whose behalf are the rebel outfits going to negotiate with the Government ?’

The latter question is extremely significant with regard to the numerous splinter groups, especially from Manipur.

Is the negotiation going to be about a settlement for the cadres of the outfits or is it going to be anywhere near representing the people, on whose behalf they first picked up the guns to wage a war against India ?

Moreover does Delhi and by extension the respective State Governments understand the peace process as involving the people as a whole or is it an exercise in settling issues with the respective armed groups ?

Clearly the dust kicked up by the numerous peace pacts which have been inked with different armed groups have added more twists and turns to the conflict situation in the region than the open hostility witnessed earlier.

For those groups, which have so far stuck to their guns and refused to come for a political dialogue or cessation of hostilities, the cards are laid down on the table. No confusion here.

The irony of peace processes or political negotiations cannot be more visible than the current scenario that is being enacted on the turf of the North East region.

And herein lies a tale.