Tripartite talks regarding the formation of Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT), which will encompass six eastern districts of the State, were held on Wednesday in Chumoukedima district. The nearly five-hour closed-door meeting took place at the Nagaland Police Complex, Chümoukedima, with representatives from the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), the Centre, and the State Government.
The discussions were led by former Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau, AK Mishra, who is also the Government of India’s representative in the Indo-Naga political talks. Mishra headed the three-member Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) team. The state government delegation was led by Chief Secretary J Alam and Additional Chief Secretary & Finance Commissioner Sentiyanger Imchen, while the ENPO delegation was led by its president A Chingmak Chang.
Following the meeting, the ENPO expressed satisfaction, stating that the talks were progressing positively. ENPO president A Chingmak Chang confirmed that several critical issues were discussed, though details could not be revealed immediately. He, however, reiterated that without financial, executive, and legislative autonomy, his organization could not sign any agreement.
Chang also mentioned that ENPO had proposed the formation of a “Central battalion” within the security forces to address unemployment in Eastern Nagaland and to modernize the Village Guards. This proposal, according to Chang, was accepted by the Government.
However, Chang pointed out that certain issues remained unresolved and hoped that the Government would take the matter seriously, ensuring solutions that would be acceptable and honorable to the people of Eastern Nagaland. He expressed optimism that the next meeting regarding the FNT would be scheduled “very soon.”
The ENPO, which has been advocating for the creation of a separate state for Eastern Nagaland since September 2010, has long claimed that the region has been neglected in all sectors since Nagaland’s formation in 1963. As the apex body of the Naga tribes in six eastern districts—Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak, and Shamator—the ENPO’s demand for a separate state gained momentum, especially following its boycott of last year’s Lok Sabha and Urban Local Body elections. These districts are home to eight tribes – Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Tikhir, Yimkhiung and Eastern Sumi. (With inputs from agencies)