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A tenuous peace under strain

The recent spurt of violence involving the two factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) has put fresh strains on the tenuous peace in Nagaland. The clashes highlight a lacuna in enforcing the ceasefire agreement that they have reached with the Government separately: while there is a Ceasefire Monitoring Group in place, there is no mechanism as such to ensure that the terms of the agreement are adhered to. The clashes constitute violations of the ground rules of the ceasefire. While the Isaak-Muivah and Khaplang factions continue their battles for supremacy and turf control, the ceasefire leaves the security forces hamstrung. This was the situation that Zunheboto faced last month when intense gun battles between the groups forced a large-scale exodus from the town, as people were caught in the crossfire. Zunheboto provided a fresh pointer to the popular mood against the violent run the groups are enjoying. The crisis was defused after community elders sternly persuaded the heavily armed contingents to leave the populated areas. The Government should take note of the popular mood and be able to leverage it to its advantage. The violence that the State has witnessed in recent weeks is as much a matter of law and order as a reflection of the larger Naga political problem. There is no way the Government can wash its hands of the situation. Concern remains also over continuing extortion by operators under the cover of insurgent organisations. The Naga groups should hold their fire and not imperil the ceasefire. The plea that the Naga Hoho issued in this regard ought to be respected.

The demand of the Congress for the dismissal of the Neiphiu Rio Government on the ground of its failure to contain the violence is, however, unjustified and holds the risk of political volatility aggravating an already unstable situation. What the Congress should do at this juncture is to work in tandem with the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland Government to aid the peace process. While attempts to address the larger issues that have persisted for half a century and more continue on different planes and platforms, political posturing ignoring the big picture should not be allowed to muddy the waters. Meanwhile, the designated Group of Ministers should meet at the earliest to deliberate the issues that came up at the October round of talks with the NSCN(I-M) and formulate the Government's stand and approach to the peace process. The long-running quest for a peaceful solution to the Naga issue may well have entered one of its most critical stages.

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