DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 8 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) today issued a statement on the position of its talks with the Government of India with regard to the Indo-Naga political issue. A press release from the MIP of the NSCN (IM) informed that the last round of formal Indo-Naga talks that took place on November 14, 2023 in Delhi was "not conclusive but not a deadlocked."
The NSCN (IM) said that 16-point memorandum and the Shillong Accord "could not solve the problem because they were not issue-based solutions," and listed out the peacemaking efforts that led to the signing of the Framework Agreement in 2015 between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India.
It said that the Framework Agreement reiterates the unique history and position of the Nagas. With regard to the concepts of shared-sovereignty and co-existence, the NSCN (IM) said that "in democracy, sovereignty lies with the people which implies that sovereignty of the Nagas is with the Naga people."
The NSCN (IM) cited the clause mentioned in the draft prepared by the Government of India which states that "In the matters of her own affairs, as mutually agreed upon, Nagaland shall be sovereign. The agreement shall cover all Naga areas."
It informed that the incumbent representative of the Government of India once said "wrong chapters took place in the past." "He assured us that solution would be worked out on the basis of the Framework Agreement. He leaves no room to doubt that Framework Agreement is the corner stone and the right time has come to work out solution," the NSCN (IM) said.
However, it stated that "contrary to his commitment, he changed colour as he tried to interpret the Framework Agreement without any political depth considering the historical and political rights of the Nagas." His interpretation is only from the perspective of the Indian Constitution and interests, to which NSCN talk team strongly opposed, it added.
With regard to the Naga national flag, the NSCN (IM) quoted the Indian representative as stating that "The Government of India has acknowledged/recognized the Naga national flag." It however expressed disappointment that he "backtracked later." "Notwithstanding this, we submitted our draft on the subject matter of flag," it informed.
Despite the Government of India’s "wavering stand," the NSCN (IM) said "nothing could be further from the truth as flag and constitution are integral parts of sovereignty." "Sovereignty without flag and constitution is a form without content. Nagas have been in existence for thousands of years in their own land in accordance with our own sets of law," it asserted.
It reiterated that the NSCN (IM)'s Chief negotiator Th Muivah had unequivocally stated that solution without Naga national flag and constitution will never be acceptable to the Naga people.
Regarding Naga territorial integration, it mentioned Muivah as stating that "Nagas were divided by the colonial power and placed them under different units for their administrative convenience. The Nagas are the victims of that divide-and-rule policy. We are the aggrieved, not the aggressors."
To this, the NSCN (IM) said that the Interlocutor of the Government of India had concurred, saying that integration of all Naga areas is the legitimate right of the Nagas, to be materialized through political process. It is also mutually agreed that the ownership of land and natural resources including minerals on and below belongs to the Nagas, it added.
Apart from the government and Tatar Hoho, a statutory body that may be called Pan Naga Hoho (PNH) comprising all Naga tribes, wherever they are, will also be established to safeguard and promote Naga identity, integrity, and interests including social, cultural and customary practices, language and dialects of various tribes, the NSCN (IM) said.
The NSCN (IM) stressed that "we no longer view the Indians as our enemy in the light of peaceful coexistence. But we cannot sacrifice our national principle for the sake of buying friendship." It made clear that the Framework Agreement mentions "co-existence of the two entities sharing sovereign power." "It means-Indians and Nagas will coexist as two entities on the basis of equality and mutual respect of rights as clearly stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," it stated.
The Framework Agreement, the NSCN (IM) said addresses the sovereign rights of the Nagas and their future as well as the security and commercial interests of India. This historic agreement is seen and appreciated by many international peacemakers as the roadmap to a lasting peace in the Indian sub-continent, it noted.
However, the NSCN (IM) rued that "what begun with much fanfare is now going the way of betrayal of trust because of the lack of sincerity on the part of the Indian government." "This has created huge trust deficit and disillusionment among the people. Friends and critics often said the Government of India is playing with time to diminish the hard-earned Framework Agreement. But that will be too costly. The ball is in the court of the Government of India," it stated.
Stating that the Naga national movement “is blessed with divine presence that no power on earth can uproot,” the NSCN (IM) reposed their “faith in God’s grace,” and “handle our struggle of destination no matter how daunting may be the task."
