GUWAHATI, November 18 (agencies): Governments of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have urged New Delhi to clarify plans to offer a `supra-state body` to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland ( NSCN Isak-Muivah faction) to enable Nagasoutside Nagaland to preserve their identity.<\/p>\n
Reports in the local media about plans by the central government to grant Nagaland a special federal status by creating a `supra-state mechanism` for the Nagas to preserve, protect and promote their cultural, social and customary practices has led to angry reactions in the three states.<\/p>\n
“The question of allowing governing Nagas settled in Manipur simply does not arise. We don`t know about any such plans by the central government,” Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said.<\/p>\n
Similar views were echoed by the governments in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, the two other states that have Naga tribals residing for decades.<\/p>\n
The NSCN-IMand New Delhi entered into a ceasefire in August 1997. They have held more than 50 rounds of peace talks to end one of South Asia`s longest-running insurgencies.<\/p>\n
The NSCN-IM, led by guerrilla leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, had proposed `a special federal arrangement` which enables the Nagas to govern themselves.<\/p>\n
The NSCN-IM wants a special federal relationship with India, with a separate Naga Constitution, and would like the Naga guerrillas to jointly guard the international borders alongside Indian security forces.<\/p>\n
The NSCN-IM has been struggling for nearly six decades to have a `Greater Nagaland` by getting parts of three neighbouring states sliced off to unite 1.2 million Nagas. The demand is strongly opposed by the states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.<\/p>\n
Conceding their demands would be a tough proposition as any move to merge Naga-inhabited areas in the northeast or grant special status allowing Nagas settled outside Nagaland to be governed by a separate administrative structure could lead to a rebellion in the neighbouring states.<\/p>\n
“There is no question of allowing people residing in our state to be governed by a separate council or structure. There can be no compromise on this,” Assam government spokesperson and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.<\/p>\n
The NSCN-IM is on a sticky wicket, having climbed down from its demand for an independent Naga state outside the Indian union, the rebel leadership now harps on a Greater Nagaland and a special federal relationship.<\/p>\n
“It seems the central government is now trying to re-phrase the concept of Greater Nagaland and talking of something called the `supra-state` mechanism to please the NSCN. Under no circumstances will the people of Arunachal accept such a proposal,” said a senior state minister who didn`t want to be named.<\/p>\n
Media reports said New Delhi was contemplating granting a special federal status to the NSCN-IM on the eve of Christmas – in an attempt to seal an accord with the rebel leadership.<\/p>\n
“If a state government, in whose territory the Nagas live, loses control and a neighbouring state government interferes and governs their lives, it would surely lead to chaos and disorder,” said Sarma.<\/p>\n\n
Read more \/ Original news source: http:\/\/kanglaonline.com\/2011\/11\/assam-and-arunachal-also-raise-objections-to-supra-state-proposal\/<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"