KOHIMA, Dec 18: The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), which has long advocated for the creation of a separate state comprising six eastern districts of Nagaland, announced on Monday that it has “temporarily” accepted the Centre’s proposal for the establishment of the Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT). This proposal, which offers a certain level of autonomy to the region, was presented to ENPO representatives during a tripartite meeting in New Delhi on December 13.
While ENPO has consistently demanded the creation of a separate state, known as Frontier Nagaland, the organisation clarified that it decided to temporarily accept the FNT proposal due to the challenges the Government of India is currently facing. “The ENPO delegation made its unwavering stand very clear that the demand of the people of Eastern Nagaland is for a separate state ‘Frontier Nagaland.’ However, having considered the difficulties of the Government of India at the present juncture, the ENPO has decided to temporarily accept the offer of the Centre for FNT, a unique arrangement with executive, legislative, and financial autonomy,” the organisation stated.
In a joint statement signed by ENPO President Chingmak Chang and General Secretary M Honang Konyak, the ENPO reaffirmed its demand for a separate state but expressed hope that the central government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will implement the FNT proposal in the best interest of Eastern Nagaland. The ENPO also announced that a second round of tripartite talks between the Centre, the state government, and ENPO will be held by the second week of January to address unresolved issues. This follows a previous meeting in Guwahati on August 13, where the ENPO discussed the matter with a Home Ministry committee.
The ENPO expressed confidence that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio would honor the commitments made last year regarding the issues of the six districts in Eastern Nagaland, which include Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang. These districts are home to eight tribes: Chang, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam, Yimkhiung, Khiamniungan, and a section of Sema.
The ENPO has been pushing for statehood since 2010, citing the region’s historical neglect since the creation of Nagaland in 1963. The organisation recently intensified its efforts, including a boycott of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Urban Local Body elections. Discussions on the creation of the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territory were also held by the state Cabinet on October 30, with further deliberations ongoing.
