Peace Accord between UNLF and Centre

Context

In November, 2023 Union and Manipur governments have signed a peace agreement with the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), a Meitei extremist organization.

Factional differences

1. There are two factions of the UNLF. 65 cadres of one of the factions of the UNLF, led by K. Pambei, have joined the peace pact.
2. The other faction of the UNLF, led by R.K. Achou Singh alias Koireng, is still out of the pact and is said to be operating from Myanmar.
3. This is the first time a valley-based Manipur armed group has agreed to return to mainstream by abjuring violence.

Insurgency in Northeast India

1. Northeast India (NEI) today comprises eight states of India: Sikkim and the “seven sister states” i.e., Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya.
2. NEI is bounded by Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
3. NEI has been witnessing insurgency since the 1950s.

Reasons for Insurgency in NEI

1. Multi-Ethnic Region: The region is home to around 40 million people including 213 of the 635 tribal groups listed by the Anthropological Survey of India. The situation gets further aggravated due to inter-tribal rivalries, which fuel tribal/ethnic insurgencies.
2. Underdeveloped Region: Due to the difficult terrain, configuration of forests and mountains, infrastructural development in the region has been slow. This has increased a sense of disenchantment with the authorities.
3. Lack of Livelihood opportunities: In the absence of major economic opportunities the youth are easily lured by various insurgent groups to earn easy money.
4. Sense of Isolation, Deprivation and Exploitation: Distance from the center and meager representation in the parliament has further led to disillusionment in the dialogue process, thereby making call of the gun more attractive.
5. Demographic Changes: The influx of refugees from neighboring countries have led to a dramatic change in the demographic landscape of the region.
6. External Support: The insurgencies in the NEI have been supported by erstwhile East Pakistan, in the form of training of personnel of Naga Army and giving them weapons. Later, China also provided weapons and moral support to the insurgents.

Government steps for the development of NER

1. PM-DevINE Scheme: Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) aims to support infrastructure and social development projects along with enabling livelihood activities for youth and women.
2. Northeast Desk: A dedicated Northeast Desk has been set up within Invest India, which supports the Northeast States in their outreach activities to the investors as well as in facilitating and handholding select companies.
3. Mission Organic Value Chain Development (MOVCD-NER): The aim of the mission is to promote organic farming in the region. It seeks to replace traditional subsistence farming with a cluster-based approach.
4. Connectivity Projects: To create alternate routes to the region and decrease its dependence on the Chicken’s Neck, the Indian government has planned additional routes through South East Asia like Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project, Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Corridor, etc.
5. Separate ministry for the region: The Department of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) was created in 2001 and was accorded the status of a full-fledged ministry in 2004.

Way Ahead

1. Involvement of Civil Society: Engagement of civil society for rapprochement with the insurgent organizations for peace talks must continue.
2. Support from neighbouring countries: The armies of India and Myanmar carried out Operation Sunrise along the Indo-Myanmar border to counter insurgent groups in Myanmar.
3. Cultural Sensitivity: Respect the diverse cultural and ethnic identities in the region and incorporate local perspectives into policies and programs of the government.
4. Peace Agreements: Peace pacts such as the Bodo Accord, Bru-Reang Agreement, NLFT-Tripura Agreement, Karbi Anglong Agreement and the Assam-Meghalaya Inter State Boundary Agreement etc should be encouraged. The agreements are poised to give a fillip to usher in a new era of peace in the North East.

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