Angeline Kez
Kohima, Jan 9: Even as all eyes are on the finalization of the Naga Peace Accord, which will effectively end decades of insurgency in Nagaland, a new demand is on the horizon and one that has garnered quite some attention. It is the demand for a separate state called the ‘Frontier Nagaland’, to be carved out of the present-day Nagaland, comprising of the Naga tribes inhabiting the six districts of eastern Nagaland – Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator and Tuensang.
The demand is spearheaded by the Eastern Naga People’s Organisation’s (ENPO), which was formed in 1997, after the Eastern Nagas walked out of Naga Hoho. ENPO’s demand for the ‘Frontier Nagaland’ dates back to 2010, but public rallies and meetings have been on for even longer.
ENPO represents the six Naga tribes viz., Konyak, Sangtam, Chang, Phom, Khiamniungan, Yimchungru from six districts of Eastern Nagaland: Mon, Tuensang, kiphire, shamator, longleng and Noklak.
The beginning
Before the Britishers came to Naga country, there was no nomenclature in the like of NEFA or NHTA, but the people living in the present area of ENPO were known as free Nagas. Only after the Britishers came to Naga country and the spread of Christianity through the American Missionaries, the practice of Head Hunting was almost controlled and most of the Nagas accepted Christianity as their religion. The idea of oneness as Nagas started after the acceptance of Christ. After communications with the different sections of Nagas, the Nagas realised they are no less than a country and started their demand for Independence from India through a 1951 plebiscite based on 9 points memorandums of 1929 submitted to the British-Indian Government by the Nagas Club, whose nomenclature had been later changed as NNC (Naga National Council).
Eastern Nagaland then was known as NHTA (Naga Hills- Tuesang Area), it was only after the demand of Naga Independence did the Nagas, who are living in the present ENPO area joined the rest of Nagas and named the Naga inhabited area of Nagas as “Nagaland”.
Grounds for the demand of ‘Frontier Nagaland’
The leading cause of this demand has been the lack of socioeconomic development in the area. Lack of schools, good roads, electricity, proper supply of water, hospitals, to list a few are the main points of interest in the argument for a separate state.
The ENPO argues that they feel like their Fundamental Rights of equality with the ‘Advanced’ Nagas have been denied.
‘Statehood demand is a people’s demand’
Rallies for the demand of ‘Frontier Nagaland’ has been going on for over a decade now, and the lines “We Demand Frontier Nagaland” gives a clear message of their want. The mass public rally at Tuensang gained significance because this is the first public rally organized in the state after the ENPO submitted a memorandum to the Indian Prime Minister on December 14, 2010.
ENPO officials disclosed that rallies were organized at other eastern districts – Mon, Longleng, Kiphire – and the then sub-divisional headquarters of Noklak and Shamator under Tuensang district. The speakers also strongly maintained that the demand of a Frontier Nagaland is to address the problems afflicting the eastern Naga people, especially with regard to development, employment and social, economic and political.
Fast-forward to 2022, a few rallies were held regarding the ongoing demand for a separate state. Public rallies under the aegis of ENPO were held in the eastern districts of Nagaland – Tuensang, Shamator, Mon, Longleng, Noklak, and Kiphire, to express solidarity with the ENPO’s demand for a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland’ state.
News agency PTI quoted ENPO general secretary Manpang Phom stating, “ENPO will continue pressing for Frontier Nagaland till it is achieved.”
ENPO’s memorandum to Prime Minister of India
As unanimously resolved and scheduled, a democratic public rally in total solidarity to the demand for a separate statehood by the people of Eastern Nagaland under the aegis of Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO) was successfully held at Mon HQ on August 9, 2022.
As per the desire of the public from the grassroots, the rally concluded with adoption of the following public resolutions: –
a) The public of ENPO of the erstwhile Tuensang Frontier Division of the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) i.e., the present Eastern Nagaland of Nagaland state shall continue to wholeheartedly pursue the demand for Separate State based on ENPO Memo vide No. ENPO/MEM0-02(Statehood)/PM/GOI/01 dated the 25th November 2010 at all cost unless and until it is attained.
The demand is based on popular “Grass-root” “Resolution and Mandate” encompassing every Village Council (Gram Panchayats) and Tribal Councils of Eastern Nagaland.
b) In the light of what have been stated by the ENPO during the last four rounds of bilateral meetings and a recent tripartite meeting of Govt. of India, Govt. of Nagaland and ENPO, the Govt. of India is now updated with ample knowledge about the untold difficulties of the people of ENPO.
And thus, resolved to request the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India for taking up the issue based on Shri Nitin Gadkari, the then BJP National President’s assurance “BJP would carve out a separate state of Frontier Nagaland if BJP comes to power in Lok Sabha Election in 2014 (Dated: 14th Dec. 2012)”.
c) The Govt. of India would be requested once again to respond to ENPO’s Public Representation VIDE NO.ENPO/PM/STATE DEMAND/53, DATED, the 13TH OCTOBER, 2021 addressed to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, in which letter the ENPO had requested that, in the event of much anticipated Naga political solution, or the event of any unexpected prolonged delay in the talks, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India is requested for creation of separate Statehood for the people of Eastern Nagaland. Copy had also been endorsed to all concerned including NSCN(IM) Chief Negotiator, and NNPGs (WC) Convenor for kind information and necessary action.
Amit Shah assures redressal of grievances of far-flung areas
On Dec 6th, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held the much-awaited crucial meeting with the ENPO leaders in presence of sitting BJP MP S Phangnon Konyak and two former MPs — Asungba Sangtam and Wangyuh Konyak.
It is to be stated that the Union Home Minister had appreciated the Eastern Nagaland people for being a part of the nation-building thus far, which, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also aware. The Union Home Minister said that the grievances and request for a separate entity is understood, a statement from the ENPO said.
“The Union Home Minister highlighted a clear Roadmap for an amicable, legislative and sustainable solution for Eastern Nagaland, which will include consultation with the people of Eastern Nagaland and the Nagaland state government. Shah also assured to visit Eastern Nagaland personally by January 2023; for which, the ENPO eagerly awaits his visit,” the ENPO statement said.
On Dec 16, a 3 membered committee, a fact-finding team, constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs arrived in Tuensang district to study their demands and held its first meeting with the ENPO. ENPO’s president R. Tsapikiu Sangtam had firmly stated that they will abstain from any central or state elections until their demand for a separate state is met.
He also stated that the eastern Nagaland’s six districts will not accept special economic packages or other proposals.
Minister of Planning and Co-ordination of Nagaland, Neiba Kronu said, “The cabinet has taken a decision while expressing our sympathy to ENPO people and has decided to ask ENPO to reconsider its demand for the frontier state.”
Further, Kronu claimed that ENPO must rethink in the greater interest of the people of Nagaland.
The way forward
With Assembly elections certain in February 2023, the ENPO has upped its efforts to ensure its demand is realised. It has also threatened to boycott the 2023 Assembly elections.
It is to be mentioned that 20 of Nagaland’s 60 constituencies fall in the 6 districts of eastern Nagaland. A boycott in the region would certainly be a disastrous for the state as a whole.
However, when, and if at all, the Centre will heed to the demand for a separate state is anyone’s guess.
