Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 26
The NSCN (IM) adopted a resolution on August 26 reaffirming commitment to the Framework Agreement signed with the Government of India (GoI) on August 3, 2015. Clearly a counter to the stand of the NNPGs and the Nagaland People's Action Committee (NPAC), the Naga Political Group led by Th Muivah and Q Tuccu made the reaffirmation at a conclave of ‘Naga National Workers from Nagaland state’ organised at the Agri Expo, Chümoukedima. Around 7000 NSCN (IM) workers, including President Q Tuccu and Vice President Tongmeth Wangnao, from the ‘16 Regions’ of Nagaland state were claimed to have attended the summit, Friday.
Senior members of the group, led by Tuccu and Wangnao, took the stage before a 5-point resolution, reaffirming ‘One people, one nation’ was read out and adopted by the conclave. The resolution rejected “any kind of divisive and repressive policies” allegedly “perpetrated upon the Nagas by the adversaries and its collaborators on the basis of the arbitrary administrative boundaries,” while reiterating “inalienable political foundation laid down by the founding leaders on the basis of the Naga plebiscite of May 16, 1951.”
Reiterating commitment to the Framework Agreement and the “competencies” therein, as agreed with the Government of India (GoI), it maintained that the NSCN (IM) will not accept a repeat of the Naga Peoples’ Convention. “As necessitated by the situation,” it reasserted the May 31, 2022 decision of the NSCN (IM) National Assembly upholding the unique history and national principle of the Nagas “at any cost under the leadership of Chairman Q Tuccu, Vice Chairman Tongmeth Wangnao and General Secretary Th Muivah.”
The tone of the conclave was set by the Speaker of the Tatar Hoho, Hutovi Chishi, who stated that the NSCN (IM) was compelled to reassert its stand in the backdrop of the August 5 NPAC rally in Dimapur. While he concurred with the NPAC demand for early solution, Chishi said that it cannot be at the cost of surrendering the rights of the Nagas and accepting the Constitution of India. According to him, the intent and scope of the NPAC is confined to Nagaland state alone and that the Nagas cannot accept a solution worked out with a body formed by the GoI.
He further alleged that the NNPGs was formed by the GoI because the latter could not convince the NSCN (IM) into accepting the Indian Constitution.
President Q Tuccu said that the Nagas as one people, irrespective of political boundaries, must have one common goal and never abandon another Naga. According to him, the Naga flag is emblematic of the Naga identity, the legitimacy of which is not being recognized by the GoI.
He acknowledged the delay in arriving at a solution is upping public anxiety yet he held that the Nagas cannot afford to end up empty handed after decades of sacrifice. While cautioning against “copycat groups,” he said that there would come a time when many would resign or give up. Nevertheless, he said that it would serve as a great filter to sieve the committed from the phony.
Citing a “footnote” to the FA, handed out at the conclave, he asserted that solution will be based on it alone without removing a single word. It read, “It is a matter of great satisfaction that dialogue between the Government of India and the NSCN has successfully concluded and we are confident, it will provide for an enduring inclusive new relationship of peaceful co-existence of the two entities. The two sides agreed that within this framework agreement details and execution plan will be worked out and implemented shortly.”
Vice President, Wangnao said that the “talks” concluded on August 3, 2015 and not on October 31, 2019. On that note, he said that it would only grow towards an enduring and inclusive new relationship between India and the Naga people.
While stating that the Nagas must try to possess common sense and not be manipulative, he said that the situation demands the speaking of truth, if the Nagas desire freedom.
