NSCN (IM) cadres march during the Naga Republic Day celebration at Council Headquarter Hebron, Dimapur on March 21. Photo by Caisii Mao
NSCN (IM) Chairman Isak Chishi Swu says Framework Agreement will guarantee rights of the Nagas and address India’s security concern
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 21
NSCN (IM) Chairman, Isak Chishi Swu, today said the August 3, 2015, ‘Framework Agreement’ upholds the “recognition of unique history of the Nagas by the Government of India” and would guarantee the rights of the Nagas.
The NSCN (IM) chairman said the Agreement affirms the universal principle of democracy that sovereignty lies with people and that sovereignty of the Nagas and Indians lie with their respective people.
“However, it (Agreement) says that there will be ‘shared sovereignty of the two equals’ in some areas. It also speaks about ‘co-existence of the two entities’ based on the principle of interdependent relationship”, Swu said in his speech, which was read out by Convenor, Steering Committee NSCN (IM), Qhevihe Chishi Swu, on the occasion of the Naga Republic Day celebration at Council HQ Hebron.
Swu also said both the parties have agreed in principle to “building bridges between the two people, not walls.” The NSCN (IM) Chairman said since GoI has now recognized the “sovereign right” of the Nagas, including ownership of land and resources, unique history and identity.
“India and Nagas will be closely interrelated. We will be exercising maximum power for maximum development in all fields. This agreement will guarantee the rights of the Nagas and also address the security concern of India to a large extent”, Swu said.
He also said that both parties agreed that the Indo-Naga conflict is highly political and that it should be solved politically. “Fighting and killing did not solve the problem; rather they hardened the hearts of the oppressed Nagas. Physical oppressions and persecutions never touch the heart of man. Government of India should address to the hearts of the Nagas. We highly appreciate the bold step taken by the present leadership of India”, he said.
On the protracted Naga problem and search for peace and Naga political settlement under successive governments at the Centre, Swu said he believed that all MPs of the Indian Parliament, ruling and opposition, are well informed of these hard realities.
The NSCN (IM) chairman said the national Congress Vice President, Rahul Gandhi, cannot feign ignorance of what successive Indian Governments have done vis-à-vis the Indo-Naga peace process. “This is too big an issue to be overlooked”, he said.
NSCN (IM) Kilo kilonser (Home minister), Rh. Raising meanwhile said since the peace process has entered a crucial stage, it is time for Nagas to build bridges among themselves and with India and neighbours. “Let us give thanks to Him (Lord) who has given us an era. It is now the era of the Nagas”, the Kilo kilonser said.
Alluding to the NSCN (IM) Chairman’s comment of “building bridges between the two people, not walls”, the Kilo Kilonser in his address said Nagas cannot stay divided for long and that building bridges among the broken Naga family is “inevitable.” Raising also said building bridges between India and Nagas and with neighbouring people is a matter of “political necessity.”
“We cannot keep fighting our enemies; we must make peace with them through dialogue. We cannot say we have nothing to depend on others; we have many reasons to depend on others…We cannot keep criticizing each other; we must also learn how to cooperate and appreciate each other”, he said.
He said the Naga issue has reached a crucial stage- from confrontation to negotiation and presently to “nation building.”
“The Nagas have now come to the stage of building material, mental and spiritual developments. This demands us to change from our rural mindset to that of the urban. We must move out of the land of scarcity and un-productivity to greener pasture. Urbanization of people is the beginning of development...Let us rebuild our psychology, our faith, our land and our economy”, Raising said.
Supplementing the NSCN (IM) Chairman’s speech on “shared sovereignty and co-existence of the two equals/entities”, as reportedly contained in the Framework Agreement, Raising said, “We are Nagas and that is our natural as well as our political identity…Naga is now a recognized entity.”
Further, Raising said Chairman Swu has “proclaimed jubilee, stating that we have forgiven the past mistakes committed against the nation and us by others; let them also forgive our past mistakes.” He also said Swu had appealed to all groups to get on board the Framework Agreement. “Let us move forward together to finish the historic task”, the Kilo Kilonser added.
Representatives from various tribe hohos and NGOs, including the Naga Hoho, United Naga Council, NSF, GBs and others attended the celebration.
