What complicates the issue of Nagaland agreement, NSCN reveals

Much has been talked about regarding the settlement of the peace accord Nagaland and talks have been ongoing for more than 2 decades. In recent instances, however, developments have slowed down after Nagaland Peace Accord signed-in on 3 August 2015.

To explain the situation from the GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF NAGALIM's perspective in Nagaland talks, the Ministry of Information and Publicity has issued the following statement:

Twenty three (23) years of Indo- Naga political talks have come down in the history of the world as the longest period of political negotiations. Down the line, the significant achievement was made. But the complexity of the issue delayed the process of finalizing the agreement. Notwithstanding the exasperating time taken to strike the final deal, it was the most peaceful period in the history of Naga political movement spanning over seventy (70) years. However, taking advantage of the peaceful environment created by the Indo-Naga ceasefire there were offshoots of pseudo-nationalists tagged with high sounding names. But in the long run, they proved themselves nothing less than commercialized organizations least connected with Naga political issue. Nobody cried foul against such mushrooming of mercenary groups which is the root cause of the problem today that smears the ongoing Indo-Naga political process. NSCN is the recognized and legitimate national organization of the Naga people and not a gang.

It may be pointed out that the first Indo-Naga Ceasefire agreement was signed on 6th September 1964 for political dialogue. Mrs Indira Gandhi herself took up the issue as she sat together across the table with the Naga delegates led by Mr Kughato Sukhai, the then Ato Kilonser of Nagalim. However, the peace talks failed. It was after a gap of thirty-three (33) years that the Indo-Naga political talks resumed during the premiership of Mr. PV.

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So far the Indo-Naga political talks have passed into the hands of six (6) Prime Ministers of India. Finally, the light at the end of the tunnel got brighter when the historic Framework Agreement was signed on 3rd August, 2015, supervised and guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This agreement recognized the sovereign right of the Naga people on the basis of the unique history of the Nagas and stressed on peaceful co-existence of the two entities sharing sovereign power.

What is significantly important is the inherent right of any sovereign people and nation to collect taxes from the people and commercial establishments. This is the universal practice as seen all over the world. Taxes have been the sources of sustenance that has brought the Naga political movement this far. This was legitimately acknowledged by the earlier Interlocutors and Indian authorities and it was never an issue. What has complicated the situation as seen today is the madness of ‘extortions’ that are being carried out by some groups in the guise of freedom fighters. NSCN did not and does not commit extortion at any point of time but levies legitimate taxes from the people.

In the history of UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization) which is the parallel organization to the UN (United Nations) to which NSCN is a bona fide member, no gang has found its place as member. Only legitimate political organizations of peoples and nations are admitted in the fold of UNPO. Many pseudo-organizations tried to find their way into UNPO but failed to pass the final scrutiny.

Any Indian Interlocutor who represents the Government of India needs to prove himself as a man who stands committed to solve the longest political conflict in Southeast Asia. But if he finds pleasure to handle the Naga issue as a ‘law and order’ problem he is not the right person to solve the long-standing Indo-Naga problem. Such an Indian Interlocutor will rather complicate and prolong the process which is not the desire of both the Indians and the Nagas.

The outfit has also established a government-in-exile called the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland/Nagalim (GPRN) which, interacts with formal and non-formal world bodies and media.

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