Working with rival groups dangerous: NSCN(I-M) on 10 years of peace pact

The National Socialist Council of Nagalim, also called the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN (I-M), said working with the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) to find “common ground for Naga political solution” was a dangerous proposition.

The NNPG is a conglomerate of at least six Naga extremist groups opposed to the NSCN (I-M). The Centre signed the Agreed Position with the former in 2017, two years after the Framework Agreement (FA) was inked with the latter on August 3, 2015.

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Q. Tuccu, the chairman of the NSCN (I-M), said the significance of the “historic” FA lies in the government of India’s recognition of the sovereign rights of the Nagas. He said the political importance of the FA defines the road to the final draft of the Naga political solution.

“…we are going to give up what has been achieved… to reclaim our rightful place with sovereign right as a nation. Though the government of India is going slow under various pretexts, we have waited with our enduring commitment to stand by FA overcoming numerous challenges,” he said in a speech marking the 10th anniversary of the FA.

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Mr. Tuccu said the Nagas should accept their bounden duty to defend the sanctity of the FA at any cost. “This FA symbolically acknowledged the existence of the Naga nation as testified by the recognition of the unique history of the Nagas by the Government of India on July 11, 2002, during the Indo-Naga political talks that took place in Amsterdam,” he said.

Division within

The NSCN (I-M) chairman said the Nagas were at the crossroads today because of divisive politics within. Calling for unity and reconciliation to achieve the common goal, he, however, said working with the NNPG was a dangerous proposition for the NSCN (I-M).

He claimed that the NNPG was created by the Government of India to counterweight the bonafide leadership of the NSCN (I-M) for the Naga political solution and signed the “deceitful” Agreed Position with them.

Mr. Tuccu explained why the NSCN (I-M) cannot imagine finding common ground with the NNPGs, which the Government of India controls to propagate a political solution under the Constitution of India and undermine the rights of the Naga nation.

“Thus, Framework Agreement and Agreed Position are poles apart and we see no meeting point whatsoever,” he said, insisting that such “treacherous” and divisive elements have been trying to make the Nagas settle for a political solution under the Constitution of India.

“Nagas shall be found wanting if we fail to defend the God-given national identity as testified before the world with the signing of the FA… Let us be serious and watchful as divisive elements are roaming around to undo the FA and thereby destroy the history of the Nagas altogether,” he said.

“We still have a long way to go before we convert the FA into something practical and not just as a political document and continue working on the competency to make sense of our responsibility for the agreement we have signed with much fanfare,” he said.

“After having given tireless efforts spanning several decades at the cost of blood, sweat, and tears, we cannot afford to waver but pledge allegiance to the FA,” Mr. Tuccu said, warning of “other options” to “keep holding our nerves” to protect the Naga history.