DIMAPUR, Oct 12 - The NSCN-IM has accused the Government of India of trying to backtrack on its commitments after 22 years of intensive negotiations so that the hard-earned Framework Agreement is nullified on some 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 �ministry of information and publicity� of the Naga outfit said in a release today.
The statement said any proposed solution that betrays the Naga national issue would be a repetition of past mistakes.
�We are sure it will be a great loss for both the two 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.
The statement said that talks between the Centre and the NSCN first led to the signing of a ceasefire agreement on August 1, 1997 following recognition of the fact that the Naga issue is political and not a law-and-order problem of India.
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, the release added.
The NSCN-IM said the Government of India and the NSCN signed the historic Framework Agreement on the basis of the recognised unique history and situation of the Nagas.
The outfit added that the BJP Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a bold and positive step and recognised the �sovereignty� of the Nagas. 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.
The NSCN-IM stated that it was deeply committed to the Framework Agreement, and that it would stand by it at all costs. It is strongly opposed to to imposition of one�s will on the other.
It may be mentioned here that the latest round of formal talks between the Centre and the NSCN-IM in New Delhi on Thursday reportedly witnessed heated arguments between the two sides over inclusion of the 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.
Both the Centre and the NSCN-IM have maintained their respective stands on the latter�s demand for a separate Naga national flag and constitution and the talks have remained inconclusive.
