NSCN-IM is Not for Solution: Working Committee Naga National Political Groups

Ukhrul, August 11: The Working Committee Naga National Political Groups (WC NNPGs) has alleged that the NSCN-IM is not for solution, or Naga Flag or Naga Constitution or for Naga Integration. They are for Intangki Reserve Forest and to control Nagaland, Manipur and Assam corridor, the WC NNPGs alleged.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the WC NNPGs alleged that the real motive over NSCN-IM’s Flag and Constitution was more of an insurance policy, an emotional tool to continue transferring Nagaland’s wealth to acquire assets in Ukhrul and elsewhere.

It alleged that the NSN-IM’s motive over the Naga Flag and Naga Constitution is a bargaining chip for constitutional guarantee as part of a political solution. To transfer Intangki reserve forest stretch and surrounding areas, create a township for Nagas from Manipur only.

“They plan to administer the area by senior Tangkhul members welding political and administrative power through a new political arrangement. This layer of political discourse cannot be disclosed even to their very own civil and military workers from Nagaland state, let alone put out in the public domain,” the WC, NNPGs alleged.

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“With such elaborate future plans in the closet, the NSCN-IM leadership have every reason to accuse WC, NNPGs and AGREED POSITION as dangerous. Recently NSCN-IM chairman was made to sign and issue a press statement. Rightly said, Agreed Position and FA are poles apart in that the Agreed Position brought out a blueprint in future relationship between the Government of India and Nagas while the FA remains an undeclared document fully aware Nagas will not accept its inner details. Individual plans cannot be a part of an inclusive Naga plan. Those who think for themselves cannot think for the future generation Nagas,” the WC NNPGS said in its statement. 

It further stated that the WC NNPGs, officially or otherwise, had never expressed a notion or a desire to be a part of any agreement where NSCN-IM was a party to.

“There is a term going around called a “Common Draft” for convergence of all stakeholders. Let it be known that it is the initiative of the Government of India (Gol) for an inclusive Naga solution. The WC, NNPGs have acknowledged it in principle, provided the draft do not disturb the core fabric of AGREED POSITION of November 17, 2017 as it is the only historical Agreement which distinctly pinpoints the Nagas’ right to self-determine their future, while respecting contemporary political realities,” it stated.

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The WC NNPGs also alleged that the NSCN-IM leadership utilised the reconciliatory agreements among Naga groups under the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), including the Covenant of Reconciliation, June 13, 2009; Naga Concordant, August 26, 2011 and Lenten Agreement, March 28, 2014, only to reflect legitimacy and impress New Delhi.

It also claimed that no Naga tribe was consulted before the signing of the Framework Agreement. The Gol acted in haste too as NSCN-IM delegation flew to Delhi without a single stakeholder from the FNR, apex tribal bodies, the Church or civil society groups, and signed the infamous Framework Agreement (FA) on August 3, 2015, it alleged.

“There was absolutely no consultation with the Naga tribes prior to signing the document. The moral and emotional consent and approval of the Naga tribes never pricked their conscience. Even today, Nagas are not privy to their real political conversation. For this very reason the indigenous Nagas, the ancestral entities do not consider FA as genuinely theirs. Consider the word ‘NAGALIM’, it is a utopian term, irrelevant and non-existent in the Naga history pages, no wonder ‘NAGALAND’ and not NAGALIM was used in the FA headline!” the WC NNPGs stated, adding that the FA, from the beginning, was designed as an exclusive closed-door subject of select few within NSCN-IM set-up. The very idea of inclusive Naga political solution is an anathema to them.

It maintained that it had pointed out during negotiations and reaffirmed that under no circumstances should the Intangki Reserve Forest be disturbed post solution.

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“WC NNPGs corrected the wrongs of FA. Therefore, it is absolutely clear that NSCN-IM is NOT FOR SOLUTION! Not for NAGA FLAG. not for NAGA CONSTITUTION, not for NAGA INTEGRATION. They are for INTANGKI RESERVE FOREST, to control Nagaland, Manipur and Assam corridor! The rhetoric against the GOI with sentimental issues and the backtracking from numerous FNR guided reconciliatory declarations and resolutions have calculated reasons,” it reiterated.

It further added that the Nagas want an early honorable and acceptable political solution and the WC NNPGs have negotiated a clear roadmap in line with the desire of the Naga people. 

“GoI says they are preparing a “COMMON DRAFT” from both FA and AP. Now NSCN-IM says it is dangerous to work or sit together with NNPGs. Simply put, they are against the Naga people and want to sabotage the Naga solution. It is clearly visible that the Naga solution will jeopardize their (NSCN-IM) secret plan. Logically, NSCN-IM is blackmailing both the Naga people and the Gol,” the WC NNPGs added.

The WC NNPGs stated that it had to correct the political blunders committed by FA authors. NNPG entities went to the Naga people and sought what they want from the Government of India, the indigenous tribes in Nagaland, indigenous Naga tribes in Manipur, indigenous Naga tribes in Arunachal, indigenous Nagas in Assam are now a politically conscious Naga brethren and are privy to the contours of AGREED POSITION, it stated.

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“The negotiated Status Paper is with the Apex Naga tribal Hohos, village headmen, elected representatives, student bodies and church leaders in all Naga areas,” it mentioned while adding that the existing states and international boundaries within Naga ancestral lands are legacies of the past and a part of contemporary political realities. 

The WC, NNPGs put pen to paper and entrenched Naga history and identity. To the Gol, it is either the voice of the Naga people or the noise of the few, it added.