Framework agreement details to be made public in due course of time, says NSCN (IM)

Dimapur, Sep. 11 (EMN): Amid mounting pressure from various quarters to publish the details of competencies contained in the ‘framework agreement’ (FA), the NSCN (IM) has maintained that it will do so in due course of time, once negotiations are finalised.

A statement issued by the convenor of the groups’ steering committee, ‘Maj. (Retd)’ Hutovi Chishi, on Friday read: “While appreciating the genuine concern of the Naga people to know the details of the competencies, we are constraint to inform you that some of the competencies are still under hectic negotiation as you all are aware of. Any agreement signed under Indian constitution can be openly published like others do. But the FA and the competencies being worked out with ‘outside the box’ solution needs caution till its completion. Therefore, we shall surely bring forth before the people in due course of time for wider consultations.”

The competencies ‘still under hectic negotiation’, as stated by Chishi, include the Naga flag and constitution.

The steering committee convenor made it clear that there is no other way to go forward in the parleys without the Naga flag.

“There has been much talk about constitution in the run up to finalising the Indo-Naga political talks. Without constitution as the principles and laws that determine the power and duties of the government and guarantees rights to the people, how can a nation run? Constitution is our soul without which we cannot govern,” he stated.

On the issue of Nagaland/Nagalim, he stated that they carry the ‘same meaning’. “Some got confused in the name between Nagaland the country, and Nagaland the 16th state of India, mostly to non-Nagas out of ignorance, and to a few Nagas deliberately,” the statement read.