NSCN (IM) commemorates 9 years of ‘Indo-Naga Framework Agreement’ at GHQ Church Hebron
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
In commemoration of “historic” Indo-Naga Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, signed between the government of India (GoI), and the NSCN (IM), a thanksgiving programme was held on Saturday at the GHQ Church, Hebron, in the presence of its “Yaruiwo” Q Tuccu.
It was nine years ago, the same date and month that the NSCN (IM) made a tryst with destiny when the historic “Framework Agreement” was signed between the Government of India (GoI) and National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM), which aimed to define the political and national identity of the Nagas as supported by its historical and political rights and with due recognition given by the Government of India.
Addressing his comrades, Tuccu said that the day has once again come before them to redeem, pledge, and to stand by its rights and cited that the agreement bears immense political values as it was done in the manner to correct or rectify the past mistakes.
However, he said that it was unfortunate that the GoI’s stand was getting more unsteady with the passage of time, desperate to interpret the “Framework Agreement” according to their interest and convenience, which had become the “crux” of the issue and the reason for the inordinate delay in the implementation of FA as agreed upon.
Appreciating every of his comrades for their “resilience and fortitude” in sticking to “our guns” as dictated by conscience spirit of sacrifice, Q Tuccu mentioned that “political chicanery” Nagas have had enough in the hands of India for which the NSCN (IM) are being “extra cautious” not to allow another such treachery to happen again for which the “Framework Agreement” was given so much political significance as it would lead to Indo-Naga political solution where Nagas pride as a nation is well safeguarded.
Stating that the NSCN (IM) was successful in making the GoI understand and admit that Naga issue is a “political issue” and not “law and order” problem of India, Q Tuccu also went on to add that it strengthened its position to start the political talks to discuss pure politics of Indo-Naga relationship as supported by correct historical perspectives.
Reminding that when the Indo-Naga political talks started, the first five years involved tough talking by NSCN negotiating group led by its chief negotiator, Th Muivah, putting India in defense of the indefensible and asserted that its rights in no uncertain terms after doing away any cloudy vagueness on the historical and political rights of the Nagas.
By doing so, he added that the NSCN (IM) aimed not only to enhance the understanding of the Naga political issue but also to hammer out an agreement that is honorable and acceptable to both the Nagas and India with deep mutual and understanding.
Further he said that finally the political talks reached the most exciting and revealing point when the “Amsterdam Joint Communiqué of July 11, 2002” recognized and acknowledged Nagalim’s unique history and the situation, which was the official recognition of the unique history and led to the signing of the historic Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, under the watchful eyes of the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, where the later also delivered an impressive speech expressing his excitement for having solved the longest freedom movement in South Asia.
‘Nagas must understand how FA entails a huge political significance for them and for the GoI’ NSCN (IM)’s “Yaruiwo”, Q Tuccu, while highlighting on the Framework Agreement stated that the government of India (GoI) had recognized the unique history and position of the Nagas which meant that by unique position, it means- position and situation of Nagalim is political, because Nagas were never Indian either by conquest or consent.
He said that Nagas had not accepted the Indian Constitution and joined the Union of India and significantly it was mutually agreed that the violent conflict was not intentionally started by the Nagas.
The Nagas started the resistance movement to defend the forcible occupation of Nagas by India. The historical mistake of India in looking into the Naga issue as “law and order” problem of India was finally set aside for good.
The Framework Agreement says, both sides have understood each other’s respective positions and are cognizant of the universal principle that in a democracy sovereignty lies with the people. And inherently, it is an acknowledged fact that the sovereignty lies with the Naga people.
As the Government of India admits the historical fact that sovereign Naga people had not given the their consent to join the Indian Union, the question of accepting the Indian constitution does not arise.
Thus, acknowledging the position of the Nagas and appreciating the intricacies of the Indian system, the government of India, during the tenure of the then Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, proposed the option of solving the problem on the basis of the principle of shared-sovereignty, which was subsequently signed under the leadership of the present Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on August 3, 2015.
He said that there should not be confusion about shared sovereignty as it meant that the sovereign Indian and the sovereign Naga people would share sovereign power in some areas as defined in the competencies.
How it protects the pride of the Naga people as a sovereign nation will be unfolded once the Framework Agreement is implemented in spirit and action.
Recognising the national identity of the Nagas and admitting that the Naga people had rejected Union of India offered to them by the Constituent Assembly of India, the government of India proposed for an enduring inclusive new relationship of peaceful co-existence of the two entities, he added.
By inclusive, it means- it embraces all Nagas wherever they are including all political groups. This also includes those forest lands transferred arbitrarily out of Nagaland.
By new relationship, it means a new relationship based on the Framework Agreement.
By co-existence of two entities, it means — co-existence of two peoples — Indian and Naga people with their respective political system and governance.
On the question of Naga National flag and constitution, it is a matter of universal custom that flag and constitution are constituent parts of sovereignty. There should be no ambiguity about it. Hence, competencies are being worked out on the principle of the Framework Agreement.
He further went on to add that nine years down the lane, the waiting game never seems to end, however, notwithstanding this deviation from what has been agreed upon with the world as the witness, NSCN is still standing fast and simply refused to be cowed down into submission.
“We shall not allow anything to dampen our spirit to forego our God-given sovereign identity as reflected in the Framework Agreement. We shall be failing our historical responsibility as the torchbearer of Naga political movement if we became vulnerability for others to exploit”, “Yaruiwo”, Q Tuccu said.
Time and again the NSCN IM) had made its stand very clear that the “Framework Agreement” should be the basis for Naga political solution, he said that these demands must stand guard against any attempt to cause dilution or misinterpretation to undo the very meaning of Framework Agreement, and above everything, NSCN acknowledged the Almighty God who is in control of all things and the true authority over its struggle for justice and identity as a people and as a nation.