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Nagaland Separatist Movement in India
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Northeastern India consists of seven states :Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. Tensions exist between these states and the central government as well as amongst their native tribal people and migrants from other parts of India.In 2014 tensions rose as the Indian government introduced several Armed Forces Special Powers Acts (AFSPA) to subdue separatist movements in certain parts of the country. . Each Act gives soldiers immunity in specified regions against prosecution unless the Indian government gives prior sanction for such prosecution. Indian Army launched an offensive, which led to a retaliatory attack on civilians by tribal guerrillas. Major militant activities are being conducted in Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura.
Naga nationalism is an ideology that supports the self-determination of the Naga people in India and Myanmar, and the furtherance of Naga culture. Some Naga groups share a common belief of their ethnogenesis as a distinct people: these groups include Angami, Sema, Rengma, Lotha, Zeme, Liangmei and Rongmei According to this belief, the ancestors of the Nagas lived in harmony together at a place called Mahkel (identified with the present-day Mao village of Makhel in Manipur, and, alternatively, believed to be near the Chindwin river in present-day Myanmar.As their population grew, they decided to split and spread outside Makhel. According to the Heraka faith, the Naga peoples took an oath pledging that they would come together again and live as a kingdom.
However, when the British arrived in India, the various Naga tribes had no common national identity. The term “Naga” was a vaguely-defined exonym, which referred to the different tribes in present-day Nagaland and its surrounding area. The different tribes spoke mutually unintelligible languages and had distinct cultures but they are inextricably interrelated. Each Naga village was a sovereign state ruled by tribal elders. Internecine feuds, wars and headhunting campaigns were common among the Naga tribes. The British captured several Naga territories and consolidated them under the Naga Hills District of Assam. During the British rule, missionaries such as Miles Bronson and Edwin W. Clark introduced Christianity to the area, greatly changing the social and political fabric of the local society. The common Christian identity led to peace and unity among the various Naga tribes. Nagamese developed as a link language for inter-tribe communication.
During the Kuki revolt (1917–19) and the World War I (1914–18), the British Government recruited a number of labourers and porters from the Naga tribes. As part of the labour corps, around 2000 Nagas were sent to France, where, alienated from the other British Indian troops, they developed a sense of unity. They agreed that after returning to their homeland, they will work towards unity and friendship among the various Naga tribes. These Nagas, together with the British officials, formed the Naga Club in 1918. This club provided the socio-political foundation for the Naga nationalist movement. In 1929, the Club submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission, requesting that the Nagas should be given a choice of self-determination after the British departure from India. Heraka was a religious movement led by Haipou Jadonang and his successor Rani Gaidinliu, who sought to establish the legendary kingdom of the Naga people during 1929-33. The two aimed at creating a feeling of religious nationalism among the Nagas, mainly the Zeliangrong tribes (Zeme, Liangmei and Rongmei including Inpui-Kabui). They launched an independence struggle against the British, and sought to establish intertribal solidarity and unity. However, the movement was not widespread outside of the three Zeliangrong tribes due to its antagonistic attitude towards Christian converts and the Kukis. The movement also developed into a political uprising against the British, which prompted the Government to clamp down on it.In 1945, C. R. Pawsey, the deputy commissioner of the Naga Hills District, established the Naga Hills District Tribal Council as a forum of the various Naga groups. This body replaced the Naga Club, and a year later, developed into a political organization called the Naga National Council (NNC). The NNC initially demanded autonomy within the Indian Union and a separate electorate. However, later, under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo, it adopted a secessionist outlook and campaigned for the creation for a sovereign Naga state. The NNC declined as differences developed between Phizo and other leaders, and Phizo got the NNC secretary T. Sakhrie murdered in January 1956.
After a series of armed conflicts and peace missions, the Government of India agreed to create the Naga Hills Tuensang Area (NHTA), a Union territory with a large degree of autonomy. After further protests, violence and diplomatic discussions, the Government recognised Nagaland as a full-fledged State within the Union of India. Since then, the Naga nationalism has co-existed with Indian nationalism.
NSCN-IM started negotiations with principles of talks without pre -condition, talks at the level of prime minister and talks in third country. A formal ceasefire agree ment between the Government and NSCN IM was signed in 1997 after which several rounds were talks between held.
However questions are being raised on the inclusiveness of the Naga talks especially with outlawed militant outfit Khaplang faction of NSCN-IM is still maintaining defiant posture and shown reluctance to rejoin the peace process. A 15-member delegation of Nagaland GB (Gaon Burahs) Federation (NGBF) met Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in New Delhi recently and urged him to take on board all Naga national political groups to the negotiating table so as to find a lasting and peaceful solution. NGBF is the forum of the village headmen.
The delegation before meeting the Prime minister had met Government of India’s Interlocutor for Naga Peace Talks, R.N. Ravi urged upon the latter to include all stakeholders in the peace process. NGBF expressed concern over abrogation of cease-fire between government of India and NSCN (Khaplang) and requested to “revive” the cease-fire with the group. Chuba Ozukum, President of Naga Hoho, the apex body of Naga people told ET, “It is a desire of Naga people that talks must be inclusive and all the groups must be included and in absence of Khaplang faction or any other group talks cannot be inclusive.”
Credit: Wikipedia
Northeastern India consists of seven states :Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. Tensions exist between these states and the central government as well as amongst their native tribal people and migrants from other parts of India.In 2014 tensions rose as the Indian government introduced several Armed Forces Special Powers Acts (AFSPA) to subdue separatist movements in certain parts of the country. . Each Act gives soldiers immunity in specified regions against prosecution unless the Indian government gives prior sanction for such prosecution. Indian Army launched an offensive, which led to a retaliatory attack on civilians by tribal guerrillas. Major militant activities are being conducted in Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura.
Naga nationalism is an ideology that supports the self-determination of the Naga people in India and Myanmar, and the furtherance of Naga culture. Some Naga groups share a common belief of their ethnogenesis as a distinct people: these groups include Angami, Sema, Rengma, Lotha, Zeme, Liangmei and Rongmei According to this belief, the ancestors of the Nagas lived in harmony together at a place called Mahkel (identified with the present-day Mao village of Makhel in Manipur, and, alternatively, believed to be near the Chindwin river in present-day Myanmar.As their population grew, they decided to split and spread outside Makhel. According to the Heraka faith, the Naga peoples took an oath pledging that they would come together again and live as a kingdom.
However, when the British arrived in India, the various Naga tribes had no common national identity. The term “Naga” was a vaguely-defined exonym, which referred to the different tribes in present-day Nagaland and its surrounding area. The different tribes spoke mutually unintelligible languages and had distinct cultures but they are inextricably interrelated. Each Naga village was a sovereign state ruled by tribal elders. Internecine feuds, wars and headhunting campaigns were common among the Naga tribes. The British captured several Naga territories and consolidated them under the Naga Hills District of Assam. During the British rule, missionaries such as Miles Bronson and Edwin W. Clark introduced Christianity to the area, greatly changing the social and political fabric of the local society. The common Christian identity led to peace and unity among the various Naga tribes. Nagamese developed as a link language for inter-tribe communication.
During the Kuki revolt (1917–19) and the World War I (1914–18), the British Government recruited a number of labourers and porters from the Naga tribes. As part of the labour corps, around 2000 Nagas were sent to France, where, alienated from the other British Indian troops, they developed a sense of unity. They agreed that after returning to their homeland, they will work towards unity and friendship among the various Naga tribes. These Nagas, together with the British officials, formed the Naga Club in 1918. This club provided the socio-political foundation for the Naga nationalist movement. In 1929, the Club submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission, requesting that the Nagas should be given a choice of self-determination after the British departure from India. Heraka was a religious movement led by Haipou Jadonang and his successor Rani Gaidinliu, who sought to establish the legendary kingdom of the Naga people during 1929-33. The two aimed at creating a feeling of religious nationalism among the Nagas, mainly the Zeliangrong tribes (Zeme, Liangmei and Rongmei including Inpui-Kabui). They launched an independence struggle against the British, and sought to establish intertribal solidarity and unity. However, the movement was not widespread outside of the three Zeliangrong tribes due to its antagonistic attitude towards Christian converts and the Kukis. The movement also developed into a political uprising against the British, which prompted the Government to clamp down on it.In 1945, C. R. Pawsey, the deputy commissioner of the Naga Hills District, established the Naga Hills District Tribal Council as a forum of the various Naga groups. This body replaced the Naga Club, and a year later, developed into a political organization called the Naga National Council (NNC). The NNC initially demanded autonomy within the Indian Union and a separate electorate. However, later, under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo, it adopted a secessionist outlook and campaigned for the creation for a sovereign Naga state. The NNC declined as differences developed between Phizo and other leaders, and Phizo got the NNC secretary T. Sakhrie murdered in January 1956.
After a series of armed conflicts and peace missions, the Government of India agreed to create the Naga Hills Tuensang Area (NHTA), a Union territory with a large degree of autonomy. After further protests, violence and diplomatic discussions, the Government recognised Nagaland as a full-fledged State within the Union of India. Since then, the Naga nationalism has co-existed with Indian nationalism.
NSCN-IM started negotiations with principles of talks without pre -condition, talks at the level of prime minister and talks in third country. A formal ceasefire agree ment between the Government and NSCN IM was signed in 1997 after which several rounds were talks between held.
However questions are being raised on the inclusiveness of the Naga talks especially with outlawed militant outfit Khaplang faction of NSCN-IM is still maintaining defiant posture and shown reluctance to rejoin the peace process. A 15-member delegation of Nagaland GB (Gaon Burahs) Federation (NGBF) met Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in New Delhi recently and urged him to take on board all Naga national political groups to the negotiating table so as to find a lasting and peaceful solution. NGBF is the forum of the village headmen.
The delegation before meeting the Prime minister had met Government of India’s Interlocutor for Naga Peace Talks, R.N. Ravi urged upon the latter to include all stakeholders in the peace process. NGBF expressed concern over abrogation of cease-fire between government of India and NSCN (Khaplang) and requested to “revive” the cease-fire with the group. Chuba Ozukum, President of Naga Hoho, the apex body of Naga people told ET, “It is a desire of Naga people that talks must be inclusive and all the groups must be included and in absence of Khaplang faction or any other group talks cannot be inclusive.”
Credit: Wikipedia
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