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Imphal, Oct 22 (IANS) The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) on Wednesday reiterated that the Naga national flag and Constitution are non-negotiable issues, while accusing the Center of “losing political will” to implement the 2015 Framework Agreement.
NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, who visited his birthplace in Somdal village in the Naga-inhabited district of Manipur’s Ukhrul district for the first time in 50 years, said in a message that for the Nagalim and Naga people, there cannot be compromise on the Naga National Flag and the Naga National Constitution, whether today or tomorrow.
“I reiterate that the only respectable negotiated political settlement will be in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Amsterdam Joint Communique and Framework Agreement which officially recognizes the unique history of the Nagalim, Nagalim sovereignty, sovereign Nagalim territory, the Naga National Flag and the Naga National Constitution,” the NSCN-IM supremo said.
The NSCN-IM general secretary is expected to stay in Somdal village for about a week, which is his first visit since joining the Naga movement five decades ago.
Several senior NSCN-IM leaders accompanied Muivah to Tangkhul Naga-inhabited district.
The entire Tangkhul Naga community is filled with excitement as they welcome one of the most important figures in Naga history to their motherland after decades of struggle for Naga cause.
Thousands of Nagas from all sections of the society, dressed in traditional attire and carrying NSCN-IM flags, welcomed Muivah after his helicopter landed at Bakshi Maidan of the district headquarters from Dimapur in Nagaland. From there he reached the specially built stage for his grand welcome.
A large number of Naga men, holding traditional spears and wearing traditional caps, came to the venue to welcome Muivah, the key negotiator in the Naga peace talks with the central government since the entry of the NSCN-IM into ceasefire in 1997.
Muivah in his message said that in the present prevailing situation, the July 2002 Communiqué and the August 2015 Framework Agreement signed by both entities on the foundation of sovereignty, duly recognizing the unique history and sovereignty of the Nagalim, the Naga National Flag and the Naga National Constitution, are the only basis for a respectful negotiated political solution between the Nagalim and India.
Both the Communiqué and the Framework Agreement are unifying and rallying points for all Nagas today, wherever they are, the veteran Naga leader said, calling upon all Nagas wherever they are to neither waver nor yield, but to join the National Liberation Line based on the letter and spirit of both.
He thanked the international community that “has stood with the Nagalim and the Naga people for so many years”.
“It is my prayer and appeal to all of you that you will continue to support and advocate the rightful political cause of Nagalim,” the Naga leader said.
He said the NSCN came to the negotiating table respecting international political norms for a dignified and acceptable political solution through political dialogue and patiently respected the letter and spirit of the political peace process for 28 years.
“However, India has lost its political will for letter and spirit implementation of the Framework Agreement, hence it is deliberately forcing Nagalim into the ‘battlefield’ through treachery and provocative ‘divide and rule’ tactics,” Muivah claimed.
“We will not betray the history and sovereignty of Nagalim and will strive to conclude a final negotiated political solution on the foundation of the letter and spirit of the Amsterdam Joint Communique and the Framework Agreement.”
He also declared that any national activist and Naga who violates and betrays the sanctity of the letter and spirit of the Nagalim by renouncing the unique history and sovereignty of the Nagalim, the Naga National Flag and the Constitution, will be considered a traitor to the Nagalim and the Naga people.
The central government has been holding political talks with the NSCN-IM and other Naga groups since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 1997, and also signed the Framework Agreement in August 2015.
The government entered parallel talks in 2017 with the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG), an amalgamation of at least seven Naga factions. They signed the Agreed Position in November 2017.
However, the NSCN-IM is adamant on its demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas as well as integration of the Naga-inhabited areas spread across four northeastern states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, apart from Myanmar.
These demands were rejected by the Center on several occasions.
–IANS
SC/VD