Imphal, Aug 31: NSCN-IM today said that the framework Agreement put in place today between the Nagas and Government of India is a result of prolonged, dedicated and prayerful outcome between the two parties who have submitted themselves to settling down the final question of the Naga people, not this current Nagaland state.
The statement said that when GoI leaders say they now well understand the ‘Naga’s situations’, they do not mean the present Nagaland State.
It said the when successive Indian Prime Ministers say the case of the Naga people is ‘UNIQUE’, the term ‘Law and Order’ has been completely ruled out now. The realization that seeking military settlement has proved its own futility explicitly asserts that the case between the Naga people and GoI need be settled politically.
The NSCN-IM statement also reminded the history of the Naga movement. It said Nagaland State is already an abrogated agreement. In the first place this 16th state of India is a brain child of an arrangement which was severely condemned by the then NNC saying, “Who are this people (the then NPC) to inter into agreement with the Government of India”, Said Late AZ.Phizo. ‘Who mandated these people? We have come this far involving sacrifices of thousands of precious lives therewith’. No matter such a benevolent provisions in the form of 371 (A) there are vital clauses which have already been knocked out. It doesn’t demand further explanation. Secondly, people who have the least knowledge of how much efforts the Government of India and Naga leaders in collaboration with internationally re-knowned legal experts, constitutional experts, on legal matters and conflict resolutions, people who are so much committed to peace around the world, have work this far to allow permanent settlement between the GoI and the Naga people wherever they are today. Series of collective and wide ranging consultations that have taken place right from the start of the on-going peace talks have never failed to garner the wisdom and strength of the Nagas wherever they are. Nagas who were forced to live under politically tormenting situations inside different political structures of India and Myanmar are not as happy and comfortable as those who have aggressively reaped the fruit from the quick-fix 16th states of India. These group who have incessantly asserted on safeguarding the sanctity of Nagaland state had also at the same time ridiculed the framework agreement as being devoid of Naga sovereignty and Naga integration. What exactly do they want? Naga integration or protecting the 16th States of India? The so called NPGs should be bold enough to dare and officially declared themselves that they stand for safeguarding the 16th state of India and refrain themselves to talk about the Naga issue. We do appreciates the unsparing and immense efforts put forward by the Nagaland state Government, Naga civil societies, Church groups, Senior citizens and all who are deeply dedicated to bringing about an inclusive settlement and to whom the framework agreement put in place is accredited to the statement added.
(full text on tomorrow’s issue)
