Framework Agreement embraces Naga flag and constitution, says NSCN (I-M)

Dimapur: The Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isaak-Muivah) on Friday said the government of India is sending a wrong signal by having a separate talk on flag and constitution which is not in sync with the Framework Agreement.

It asserted that the Framework Agreement has not provided any scope to have separate talk on Naga flag and constitution.

The outfit in a release issued by its ministry of information and publicity said it should be understood that the Framework Agreement that speaks of the unique history of the Naga people and their sovereign independence identity embraces the flag and constitution.

It said the Centre should not undo its commitment and backtrack from the Framework Agreement by "distorting what has been agreed upon."

The outfit issued the statement saying it has become an exigent concern to dwell deeper on the Framework Agreement lest reckless interpretation comes into play to find an escape route, especially at a time when the focus of the talks with the government of India is now mainly on the Naga flag and constitution.

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The NSCN (I-M) alleged that even the appointment of the then interlocutor RN Ravi as Nagaland Governor is believed to have been deliberately done with the sinister design to undo his own signature from the Framework Agreement.

The outfit said it is committed to stick to the agreement to solve the Indo-Naga political issue.

“The sticking point is, in total contradiction with the Framework Agreement, Ravi gave a misleading report to the Parliamentary Standing Committee,” the outfit alleged. It viewed that such reports that are not connected with any agreement with the NSCN negotiating team have now become the source of soreness in the Indo-Naga political talks.

It described the recognition of the unique history and situation of the Nagas by the government of India on July 11, 2002, as a political milestone in the Indo-Naga political negotiations. The outfit said the recognition came after five years of tough talking for the NSCN negotiators to drive home the point from the historical perspective.

The outfit claimed that in the talks that followed, an understanding was reached that “enduring inclusive” was for lasting relationship of all the Nagas, including other factions, to be included in the Framework Agreement.

It said it respects the government of India for accepting the historical fact in order to take forward the Indo-Naga political talks to a meaningful level.

“Respecting each other’s position, shared sovereignty was defined in the competencies. Accordingly, how certain part of Naga sovereignty and vice versa was to be shared with the Union of India was defined in the competencies,” the NSCN said. 

It exuded confidence that this arrangement will provide for an enduring inclusive new relationship of peaceful coexistence of the two entities.

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