The former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao who initiated the first move in 1995 to go for Naga solution made “an honest beginning” to solve Naga issue when he admitted that Naga issue has to be processed with the group who holds the issue, said NSCN (I-M).
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
NSCN (I-M) has put it on record stating that it is never opposed to early solution except to make it honorable and acceptable. The outfit says that if there is an early solution to the protracted Naga issue, there will be an end to the problems arising out of “multiple factions and taxations”.
The NSCN (I-M) in a statement clarified that the Naga armed factions were not created by “Nagas themselves” and alleged that it was the government of India “who created it” in order to burden the Naga public with the “sinister design to pull down Naga nationalism”.
“However, the Naga settlement must be permanent and honorable as the Nagas cannot afford to make another mistake in accepting a settlement which does not guarantee secured future of the Naga people as well as complete eradication of taxes in the name of Naga political struggle”, said NSCN (I-M).
The statement released by NSCN (I-M)’s MIP also stated that “with every passing day what is crucially important is to follow correct approach” and said that “the picture of SC Jamir appearing again and again is a sort of discomfort for NSCN”.
NSCN (I-M) also alleged that SC Jamir had “messed up the Naga issue” by bringing the 16 Point Agreement without consulting the stakeholders (Naga national workers) “who really matters at that particular point of time”.
“The bloodshed and killings that followed after the 16 Point Agreement is a matter of historical record. All the discords and factional clashes are rooted in this anti-Naga divisive agreement with Jamir as one of the architects and the only survivor architect today. He was also the person who denied Jawaharlal Nehru from meeting AZ Phizo. It was Nehru who sensed something missing in 16 Point Agreement that may ultimately obstruct Naga solution that reflects Naga people’s rights”, said the MIP release.
NSCN (I-M) said that if the Government of India is sincerely interested to solve the intricate Naga political issue, it would do “much good to avoid hobnobbing” with a person who no longer represents the voice of the Naga people. “The very person who has vouched strongly to defend the interests of India rather than Naga people’s political interest have no moral authority to speak for the Naga political rights as he doesn’t represents the Naga political interest anymore. This also goes against the essence of Indo-Naga political talks”, stated NSCN (I-M).
The Second “Indo-Naga Ceasefire of 1997” was signed to correct the political mistakes of the past like 16 Point Agreement and Shillong Accord by accepting to follow political process after having tasted “bitter and bloody military conflict” with the Naga political movement spearheaded by National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), said the MIP release.
“The NSCN leaders came back from abroad on the invitation of the GOI with all sincerity for political talks after they pointed out that the 16 Point Agreement was just a futile exercise except to generate bloodshed and wars between India and Nagas and need to be corrected by another agreement. The 16 Point Agreement that created Nagaland state covers only16000 sq kms leaving out the rest of the Naga areas covering more than 100000 sq.km”, stated the NSCN (I-M).
The outfit said that it is now up to the government of India whether it will choose to go with the condemned past agreements by taking the advice of the surviving architect of the 16 Point Agreement or to go with the Framework Agreement “that was loudly highlighted before the world and thereby finalize the Indo-Naga political issue once and for all”.
Recalling Narasimha Rao
It may be recalled that the then prime minister of India, Narasimha Rao who initiated the first move in 1995 to go for Naga solution made “an honest beginning” to solve Naga issue when he was good enough to admit that Naga issue has to be processed with the group who hold the issue, said NSCN (I-M).
“What is of critical importance is that what has begun well should not be made to flitter by leaning on the wrong people. This is no longer the 1960s to allow scheming people like Jamir to manipulate Naga issue. This kind of approach, instead of reaching permanent peaceful solution the situation will go from bad to worse”, warned the outfit.
“The habitual betraying character of SC.Jamir is on record and never forgotten. During the 1998 when the Naga people cried for Naga solution and not election, the Congress in Nagaland under SC Jamir went against the will of the people and put themselves in Nagaland Assembly without the mandate of the Naga people”, stated the NSCN (I-M).
Continuing with its tirade against SC Jamir, the outfit said that if he had obstructed the meeting of Nehru and Phizo, Nagas’ relationship with India would have been in a much better position. Jamir “defended the sovereignty and integrity of India in the ugliest manner by taking the lives of many Nagas and for which he was decorated with Padma Bhushan. NSCN abhor this type of insulting behaviour against the Nagas. And such people should not keep meddling in Naga issue as if it is his personal fiefdom” said NSCN (I-M)