The NSCN (IM) has accused the government of India of now starting to try to twist and backtrack on its commitments and words after 22 years of intensive negotiations so that the hard-earned Framework Agreement is nullified on any pretext.
“It is surprising to see that the government of India is trying to hijack the outcome of the talks by using a section of people who are not mandated and do not represent the Naga people and the Naga national issue,” the outfit said in a statement on Saturday.
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The outfit said any proposed solution that betrays the Naga national issue will be nothing but repetition of the past mistakes.
“We are sure it will be a great loss for the peoples if we miss this finest opportunity. After all, the truth never dies. No power in history has ever destroyed it,” it said.
The outfit explained the reasons leading to the signing of the Framework Agreement with the Centre on August 3, 2015.
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The statement said the talks between the Centre and NSCN began and resulted in the signing of the ceasefire agreement on August 1, 1997 following recognition of the reality that the case of the Nagas is political not that of law and order problem.
In the subsequent talks on July 11, 2002, the government of India recognised the unique history and situation of the Nagas, which means, the Nagas have never been a part of the Union of India nor that of Burma either by conquest of the two powers or by consent of the Nagas, it said.
The statement said the government of India and the NSCN signed the historic Framework Agreement based on the recognised unique history and situation of the Nagas.
The outfit added the BJP government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a bold and positive step and recognised the “sovereignty” of the Nagas, “in keeping with the universal principle of democracy, sovereignty of the Nagas lies with the Naga people”.
The decision is also inclusive of durable peaceful “co-existence of the two entities” based on the principle of “shared-sovereignty,” it said.
“By inclusiveness, NSCN emphasizes – inclusive of all Nagas in all areas and all aspects of agreed competencies, and it cannot be misconstrued/ interpreted as Union of India,” the statement said.
The NSCN-IM asserted that the Naga national flag is the symbol of the recognised Naga entity and the constitution of the Nagas is the book form of the recognised sovereignty and mutually agreed competencies.
NSCN is deeply committed to the Framework Agreement, and that it will stand by it at all costs in all events.
It is strongly opposed to imposition of one’s will on the other.
The latest round of formal talks between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) in New Delhi on Thursday reportedly saw heated arguments between the two sides over inclusion of Naga flag and constitution in the final agreement on the Naga issue.
Both the parties failed to break the impasse over the two demands even after several hours of discourse on Thursday.
Both the Centre and the NSCN (IM) maintained their respective stands regarding the latter’s demand for a separate Naga national flag and constitution and the talks remained inconclusive.