A large number of cadres belonging to the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) are trudging through the difficult terrain of the Mizo hills towards Sesawng, a village in the Thingsulthliah block of Aizawl district, 39 kilometres away, for the 12 April historic “home coming”.  They will lay down their arms following the peace accord signed between the group and the Mizoram government on 2 April.

It took eight years to finalise the agreement for a “settlement” between the Mizoram government and the HPC (Democratic) thus ending more than three decades of political conflict. The peace talks began in 2010. After a series of dialogues, the final pact was signed on 2 April by state chief secretary, Arvind Ray on behalf of the Mizoram government and H Zosangbera, chairman of the HPC-D. This is the second time the Hmar underground rebels have laid down their arms to join the mainstream. The first was in 1992.

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Some Hmars (an ethnic group from North-east India) in 1986 formed the Hmar People’s Convention, a militant underground outfit. Significantly this group came into existence immediately after the historic 1986 Mizo Accord, the Rajiv Gandhi government signed with legendary Mizo leader, Laldenga, ending two decades of rebellion. The HPC felt that the Hmars were left out of the “peace accord” that saw several ethnic minorities in the new state getting “autonomous” district councils. The group took up arms against the establishment demanding autonomy and there have been many cases of bloodshed and violence since.

Over the years, the rebels gained in strength, acquiring sophisticated weapons and they reportedly got the support from other Hmars living in the neighbouring states particularly Manipur, where there is a substantial number of them in the hills. The HPC even demanded a “HmarRam”, a separate homeland for the community, claiming parts of Mizoram, Manipur and Assam.

A breakthrough came in 1992 when the HPC leadership headed to the call of the Mizoram government for talks. Several rounds of “ministerial level” talks were held between the rebel HPC and the Mizoram government. On July 27 1994, HPC chairman Hmingchungnung signed a memorandum of settlement at Aizawl on behalf of the group and the state’s chief secretary, Lalfakzuala on behalf of the Mizoram government. This was for setting up a “Sinlung development council”. Eventually, the HPC cadres, numbering over 300, surrendered along with their arms. They also agreed to take part in elections.

But, unfortunately, in 1995 a disgruntled faction of the HPC leadership once again regrouped and rechristened the new outfit the HPC (Democratic). They were apparently unhappy over non-implementation of the Memorandum of Settlement, which envisaged formation of “Sinlung Hill Development Council” under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.  No election to the council was held nor were there any socio-economic development. The Sinlung Hills Development Council comprised Hmar-inhabited areas of Mizoram, mostly in the north and also other neighbouring states.

Under the new agreement, the Sinlung Hills Development Council is being re-christened Sinlung Hills Council by an act of the state legislature. According to the 2 April Memorandum of Settlement, the Sinlung Hills Council will have administrative autonomy within the framework agreed upon by both parties in terms of socio-economic, political and cultural development of the people under the jurisdiction of the council. The Sinlung Hills Council will consist of 14 members, including two nominated one, to be headed by a chief executive member. This will initially function for six months as an interim arrangement.

The Memorandum of Settlement also stipulated that all the HPC-D cadres, who came overground, will be granted amnesty and get ex-gratia relief and rehabilitation.  There are more than a hundred cadres.  It also envisaged that the peace agreement signed by the then HPC and Mizoram government in 1994 stands superseded.

Many doubt about the success of the “peace accord” as there is nothing new in it. Given the backdrop of ethnic feuds and conflict so common in the North-east, the “peace accords” may not necessarily bring in “ethnic harmony”.

If the accord is to be implemented, there is need to move a lot of the Hmar population from one “administration” to others, something like the one that followed India’s Partition. It may be understood that an incident as terrible as that of India-Pakistan in this generation is unlikely to happen. That era is long gone and many in the establishment or the rebels too knew this very well. Moreover, citizens, civilians, the establishment, including the rebels, would not like that to happen.

It is still too early to comment on the success or failure of the just-concluded peace accord with the HPC-D. But surely this event leading to the settlement is an encouragement for other rebels who are in the process of “talks” particularly in the hills of Manipur, one of the key bases of the HPC-D outfits. The various outfits under the umbrella of the Kuki National Organisation and the United People’s Front are yet to hold serious political talks. The happening in Mizoram could well be the beginning of ushering in peace perhaps in the hills of Manipur as well.

Indeed, the impact of the “settlement” will be visible only after one sees how sincerely the government honours the accord, The response and willingness to cooperate and make the agreement successful will also depend on the leadership of the HPC-D and the Hmars. It calls for sincerity and commitment from both sides to make the “peace agreement” a success.

If the people could make the 1986 Mizo Peace Accord a success, there is no reason why the new deal with the HPC-D should not work. It could well be a litmus test for India’s most peaceful state.

(The writer is a freelance contributor based in Manipur)