Solving North East Issues

NE still has many problems

• Conventional wisdom says India has plenty of experience in the effective management of conflicts in the Northeast. But results are not satisfacotry
• 75% of NE is  perpetually declared disturbed and dangerous under AFSPA; 
• ~ 4,00,000 troops in NE; 
• Rule of law has virtually collapsed; 
• there is rampant trampling of human rights. 

Some solution to North East Problems

• Honourable settlement
• Give Nagas Honourable Settlement and that can only take place when the peace dialogue is among equals.
• Framework Agreement --> Peace deal


• Framework Agreement between National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) [NSCN (I-M)] and Government of India. 
• It will lead to a process where not just the NSCN (I-M)’s terms will be included but also the terms of other stakeholders in what could finally become a peace deal. The others include elected representatives of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Assam; civil society groups; and factions of the NSCN, and other militant outfits in Nagaland. 
• Resolve and not just manage the problem
• Framework Agreement is a paradigm shift from ‘management’ to ‘resolution’, by enlarging the spectrum of engagement. At no point have so many disparate groups expressed their desire to be part of the peace dialogue.
• Have faith in integrity of citizens of the Northeast. 
• Kashmir has its inherent contradictions, but the people of the Northeast are, by and large, reconciled to the idea of nationhood even though they still battle with a past that privileges ethnicity over nation.
• Except for Nagaland and Manipur, the other five States are moving on 
• Ordinary people in this region want a climate of peace where they can pursue their education and livelihoods without having to pay the militants an undue share of their hard-earned profit.
• Reconsider AFSPA
• As according to many people including Patricia Mukhim, former member, National Security Advisory Board and many others the disturbed condition does not exist anymore. It is same as in Maoist areas and Maoist areas do not have AFSPA.
• ‘Sovereignty’ 
• If the States have, in the past decades, ceded much of their powers to a willing Centre because they find it convenient to do so, then they have themselves to blame. 
• When the framers of the Indian Constitution cogitated on the idea of federalism, they perhaps envisaged that strong States actually make a strong Centre and not vice versa.
• Integration and redrawing boundaries
• On the issue of integration, it has been reiterated by the interlocutor that re-drawing the political boundaries of the Northeastern States is not on the agenda. He seems to be suggesting a safety valve for fulfilling the political aspirations of Nagas to live together in future through a democratic process and not by effecting integration under the shadow of the gun.
• Naga Hoho
• Some wrongly say that Naga Hoho the apex body of the Nagas, has not endorsed the peace framework. The Naga Hoho has repeatedly endorsed it. Even the Nagaland Legislature has adopted unanimous resolution in its support.