A peace plan for the northeast

THE PROBLEMS OF insurgency or militancy in the northeastern States continue to disrupt normal life and development activities in the region. There has been a sudden spurt in killings in Assam, a kind of ethnic cleansing exercise. The talks with the Naga rebels, notably the NSCN, have not really taken off. And there is a fresh crisis in Manipur, with the Centre keen on clamping President's rule, at least for a brief period. Assam will be going to the polls around April 2001. After unveiling a massive package for the northeast, the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, has not been able to follow up on that generosity. A few projects in communications and IT have got off the ground, but investors are not willing to take chances when the climate on the law and order front remains far from satisfactory. Unfortunately, the State Governments are not doing enough to stabilise the situation and make it attractive to the private sector. They are content with blaming the Centre for not releasing more funds to contain militancy. This is a syndrome that needs to be checked. There has to be a partnership between the Centre and these eight States to work together and shift the focus from insurgency to development.

Since the Congress was not very supportive of President's rule, the BJP has managed to split the Manipur Congress Legislature Party in a bid to form a new Government. In November, the Centre, particularly the Home Ministry, appeared to be taking a fresh initiative on the Naga front. Having extended the ceasefire, Delhi dispatched the rebel-turned-Chief Minister of Mizoram, Mr. Zoramthanga, to Bangkok to meet the NSCN general secretary, Mr. Thuingaleng Muivah. Some progress was reportedly made at these talks. Mr. Muivah has taken the view that such delicate negotiations are better handled by seasoned politicians who can understand the socio-political problems better than bureaucrats. Apparently, the former Home Secretary, Mr. K. Padmanabhaiah, was not able to achieve a breakthrough in his negotiations and the talks broke down on the controversial issue of a larger Naga homeland. Politicians like the late Rajesh Pilot and then Mr. Swaraj Kaushal had taken the talks forward. The problem is both sides do not always keep their commitment and there seems to be no urgency about solving the problem. Mere agreements are not going to end the decades-old insurgency.

It is unfortunate that the national parties are steadily losing ground in the northeast. In the era of advancing regionalism, these States are also coming up with their own local parties and politics, because the national parties failed to deliver on local promises. Regional identity and local issues have gained such significance these days. But the track record of most of these State Governments does not inspire much confidence. They have failed to deal with insurgency both politically and socially. In Assam, there was a farcical statement that the ULFA chief, Mr. Paresh Barua, was shot at in an internal flare-up. The State Governments have been tardy in implementation of projects and inefficient in administration. Given the high rate of literacy, there can be no valid reason for the lack of development of the region. The incidence of AIDS and drug trafficking is also the highest in the northeast. Just as the Centre must guide the States with a firm hand, the State Governments must realise their responsibilities. Unless they start working together, there can be no end to the insurgency and no thrust for development. With the help of the Northeast Council, the Centre must evolve a policy framework for peace in the region. Neither peace nor development can be imposed.

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Section  : Opinion
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