Moa Jamir
Right after the signing of the ‘historic accord’ between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India (GoI) on August 3, 2015, this column argued that non-disclosure and silence on the of specifics of ‘framework agreement’ has subsequently created a limbo filling the air with extreme anxiety and trepidation.
One year on, the scenario is no better, with various conjectures and postulations flying around supposedly on the counters of agreement with both the sides conspicuously keeping the dialogue closely guarded, albeit a teaser and clarification here and there.
The latest addition to this contesting narratives is the allegation by four Naga Political Groups (NPGs) that the Chief Minister TR Zeliang of playing “haphazard diabolical politics” on “Indo-Naga political issue.”
Why is the chief minister appealing the people to support the document when he “admitted clearly, that he does not know the contents of the 3rd August 2015 accord,” accused the NPGs further contending that it was “unwise to seek support in a non-inclusive talk that he is a stranger to.” The CM’s “obsession” with the Framework Agreement “clearly suggests that he is conniving to destroy Nagaland altogether,” the NPGs pointed out.
The charges were strongly refuted subsequently by the Chief Minister's Office through its Media Cell as “some serious but unwarranted allegations”, stating that “neither he nor the state government were in possession of the ‘Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015’ and that they trust the intentions of the negotiators that “the best interest of the Naga people would be ensured while evolving a negotiated settlement”.
The Nagas’ desire for permanent peace can be achieved only by “inclusive solution and not in piecemeal” and every Naga will be a stakeholder in the final solution, it said.
Clear any doubts or details directly with the Interlocutor R.N. Ravi rather than “speculating and interpreting as per one’s own understanding” instead of confusing people with “ambiguous statement”, the statement further retorted.
Such belligerent repartee regarding the ‘framework agreement’ has been a recurring feature in both mainstream and social media since its signing reflecting the acute apprehensions and expectations disquieting the various stakeholders due to the secrecy.
Secretiveness comes naturally to intelligence agencies and NPGs and this has been one of the most distinguishing features of the 18-year-long negotiation process between GoI and NSCN (I-M) opined Tapan Bose in Mainstream in December 2015.
While arguing that there may be many valid reasons for keeping the contents of the agreement secret, he posed, “Why publicise the signing of an agreement when you cannot disclose the content?”
It is creating doubts and suspicions about the nature of the agreement among relevant stakeholders, both amidst the Nagas and amongst the neighbours who have been excluded from the peace dialogue, he argued.
Although the framework is a ‘preamble,’ from where contours are sorted out accordingly and therefore a work in progress, did the participating parties err in prematurely publicizing the same creating a lacuna and a suspended animation?
Will the framework agreement accommodate the notion of a political relationship founded on genuine federalism? And will it cater to the aspiration of competing imperatives amongst the various stakeholders or will history repeat itself? This column has asked before. As observed from the ongoing state of affairs, these questions remain - as elusive and mysterious as the ‘framework agreement.’
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