Drill display by the Naga Army during the 40th Naga Republic Day celebration at the NSCN (IM) Headquarters, Camp Hebron on March 21. (Photo by Soreishim Mahong)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 21
NSCN (IM) general secretary, Th. Muivah, today reiterated that Nagas would never surrender or give up their rights for a separate Naga Flag and Constitution (Yezhabo) in the quest for a solution to the protracted Naga political problem.
“Come what may, we will stand for our rights till the end….our last word is we will never surrender on these two issues”, the NSCN (IM) general secretary said in his public briefing on the ‘political talks’ on the occasion of the 40th Republic Day celebration of the NSCN/GPRN here at CHQ Hebron.
Taking a hard line stance after the stalemate in the ongoing peace talks under the Framework Agreement, Muivah accused the Indian leaders of going back on their words after signing the Agreement.
He said the concept of ‘shared sovereignty’ was India’s proposal so also the latter acknowledged the ‘unique history’ of the Nagas and therefore admitted that Naga solution too has to be unique.
Now when talks under the Framework Agreement were in the final stages with key issues like Naga flag, Naga Constitution and integration of Naga inhabited areas left to be hammered out, Government of India is again upto its old tricks of playing divisive policies and trying to dilute the core issues, Muivah alleged.
On the reported comments of GoI representatives that the Naga flag and Yezhabo would be “problematic”, the NSCN leader asked whether Nagas should surrender their rights to ease India’s problems.
“Naga Flag is a covenant between God and the Naga people. We can never give up this demand”, Muivah said and added that in order to dilute the issue, GoI suggested that the Naga flag should be a “cultural” symbol. However, he said the NSCN did not budge and insisted that since talks were political, the Naga flag too should bear political connotations.
He also said that if there is no ‘integration’, then the Framework Agreement would be another 16 Point Agreement. Stating that the NSCN had made its position clear on these issues, Muivah said India too was cornered but the greatest problem lay with Naga people themselves as some groups and leaders are trying to betray Naga political rights for their own vested interests. And with vested interests amongst Naga people singing different tunes, GoI is again taking advantage and suppress the Nagas.
The NSCN leader said when God created the world, He also gifted the Nagas their due share. “What God has given us we should grasp our share and not let other people grab it… We are a lost people if we cannot hold on to what God has given us”, he said.
Asserting that if talks resume, the NSCN would stick to Naga flag and Yezhabo, Muivah who is the chief negotiator of NSCN (IM) side said if GoI still try to trick the Nagas, then the NSCN would tell India that the latter is not for solution.
He also hinted that the NSCN might never approach GoI again for talks.
