Newmai News Network
Dimapur, Nov 20: The NSCN-IM said today that it “cannot consider seeking Naga political solution under the Indian Constitution and destroy Naga national identity in the process”. The NSCN-IM added by saying, “May God forbid such ‘sell out solution’”.
This statement of the NSCN-IM as a response to a newspaper article written by Z Lohe entitled “The Art 371(A) is the anathema to NSCN-IM.”
In its response, the NSCN-IM said, “The question of NSCN anathema to Article 371(A) or Z. Lohe anathema to Framework Agreement is absolutely unnecessary. The narrative is counter- productive and creates more hatred. To make fair treatment, Article 371A and Framework Agreement should be seen with deep political insight”.
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According to the NSCN-IM, no person worth the Naga blood would deny that Nagas have been defending its sovereign right for more than 75 years and much blood have been shed while defending the legitimate rights based on the principle of 1929 Simon Commission, August 14, 1947, Naga independent declaration and 1951 Naga plebiscite. “The NSCN under no circumstances will take the steps that are tantamount to betraying the heroic death who dearly paid with their life for the righteous cause”.
The statement of the NSCN-IM then asked, “The crucial question that confronted the Nagas today is, how the Article 371A of Indian Constitution resolved the Indo-Naga political issue and in what manner?” It said that the historical record of Indo-Naga political conflict denies that Article 371A has taken the Naga issue nowhere towards solving the Naga issue. “If it has resolved the Naga issue, why the GOI declared the First Indo-Naga 1964 ceasefire and go for political negotiations again or why the infamous Shillong Accord was necessary and finally, the Second Indo-Naga ceasefire of 1997 with more than 26 years of political dialogue?”
According to the NSCN-IM, Indo-Naga history is not blind to the historical fact who drafted the 16 points memorandum to which Imkongliba signed. “It was craftily prepared by Indian Intelligent agency(IB) backed by a bunch of willing Naga collaborators and imposed upon a section of the Nagas that never represents the democratic voice of the Nagas. It is a matter of exigency to understand how and why Article 371A is a roadblock to Framework Agreement”, the NSCN-IM added.
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The NSCN-IM statement then said the Framework Agreement is a political agreement and executed outside the purview of Indian constitution or Article 371A. Points to be noted in this regard: (i) The Framework Agreement recognizes the unique history and position of the Naga people.
(ii) In consonant with the genius of the Naga people
(iii) Sovereignty lies with the Naga people.
(iv) Sharing sovereign power as defined in competencies.
(v) New relationship.
(vi) Peaceful co-existence of two entities.
The NSCN-IM then said, “No wonder, the intellectuals and scholars are saying this is the work of the invisible hand of God”. The irony is, according to the NSCN-IM, the government of India is regretting having signed the “historic” Framework Agreement (FA) and desperately trying to disown it now. “Interestingly, the man who signed the FA started giving different interpretations quoting the phrase ‘the NSCN understood and appreciated the intricacies of the Indian system’, and giving his own interpretation that NSCN has accepted the Indian constitution”, the NSCN-IM statement alleged.
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The NSCN-IM said it considered this as something very wild and weird. “Take for example, ‘If I say that I understood the complexity and difficulties of Z.Lohe, will this be considered that I am under Z.Lohe?”, the NSCN-IM further asked. According to the NSCN-IM, there is another phrase, “with due appreciation of the contemporary reality”. The NSCN-IM said this has been misinterpreted only referring to the Indian existing system, whereas it is a universal reference in consonant with the genius of the Naga people.
The statement then said that one can easily understand that 371A cannot accommodate the ingredient components of Framework Agreement of Nagas’ sovereign right and its national identity. The NSCN-IM further said the Framework Agreement solution will cover all the Article 371A points, and in addition, realises the Naga people’s sovereign right. “Until such time the Article 371A shall be kept in ‘status-quo’ till the final inking of the Naga issue. This should not be considered as a problem for the Nagas if we are to look for honourable solution with our political identity intact.
There are enough rooms to appreciate each other’s difficulties and work together, provided the Article 371A be considered as ‘stop- gap’ arrangement and a stepping stone towards the principle of greater height,” the statement also said, adding, “. But if is taken as the bedrock of Naga society, the alpha and omega of Naga political journey, then naturally it comes under ‘treason’. The matter is thus sensitive and requires dealing with expediency”.
Unfortunately, the NSCN-IM said that “we” have witnessed organisations based on present Nagaland state under Article 371A demanding solution for “Nagas of Nagaland” and submitted memorandum to the Indian Prime Minister supporting the NNPGs Agreed Position. “So they have created that Article 371A became a roadblock to solution”, it further added.
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The NSCN-IM then said the Naga resistance movement engulfed all the Naga people and areas. “It was/is a common journey for one objective. Some people might have suffered more and some people might have suffered less. This is a natural phenomenon in political struggle. Some may sacrifice more and some less. But the common goal is the same”, it stated.
The NSCN-IM then asked, “Does the so called Naga People Convention (NPC) headed by stage manage president Imkongliba represent the Naga people of Assam, Arunachal, Manipur and Myanmar?” It added by saying, “This is a question that all Nagas must ponder seriously”.
The NSCN-IM statement then said that any Naga National workers seeking Naga solution under the Indian constitution of Article 371A (Nagaland) or 371H (Arunachal) or 371C (Manipur) or 371B (Assam) should be considered as traitors and Indian citizens. “Where is the choice? But NSCN cannot consider seeking Naga political solution under the Indian Constitution and destroy Naga national identity in the process. May God forbid such sell out solution”, it concluded.
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