Framework Agreement recognises Nagalim’s sovereignty, says NSCN (IM)

DIMAPUR — As the 9th anniversary of the Framework Agreement (FA) approaches, the NSCN (IM) stated that the agreement is a “testament of GoI recognising Nagalim as a sovereign state”.

“Therefore, Nagalim national flag and constitution are an integral part of the FA and duly recognised and acknowledged in the letter and spirit of FA,” it said.

In the press statement issued on Wednesday, the NSCN (IM) asserted that “Naga nationhood is a conscious decision. Nagas never ever consented to be a part of any other nation and resisted every invasion”.

Drawing attention to a long history of asserting their independence, it cited the Naga Club’s 1929 memorandum to the Simon Commission, the Naga National Council’s declaration of independence in 1947, and a 1951 plebiscite in which “99.9% of the Nagas voted to be independent”.

It also said that the Nagas were not signatory to the Panglong Agreement of February 12, 1947 which paved the way for the formation of Myanmar (erstwhile Burma) on January 4, 1948.

“It is a historical that the occupational military forces made use of every means available and desperate attempts have been made to crush the Nagas,” it said, adding that the Indian state sent thousands of heavily armed troops empowered with Armed Forces (Special Power) Act (AFSPA) into Nagalim, and so also the military junta of Myanmar.

“However, Nagas do not accept forcible occupation of their territory including arbitrary bifurcation of Naga territory between India and Myanmar, and further placing of Naga territory into different administrative set-ups either in India or Myanmar,” read the statement.

While this rejection “cost us heavily”, the Government of India has officially admitted for the first time that military solution was not possible, it said.

“It is a political conflict between India and Nagalim, and not internal problem of India which required a political solution. Subsequently, GoI has officially invited the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) for political talks and as such a ceasefire was declared on August 1, 1997 on the following principles; that the talks should be without precondition, at the highest Prime Minister level, venue should be in a third country outside India and an involvement of a third party is kept open ended,” it recalled.

Subsequently, Framework Agreement, signed in 2015 between the Government of India (GoI) and the NSCN (IM), “wherein the GoI has duly recognised and acknowledged the unique history and sovereignty of Nagalim,” it maintained.

The group credited the FA for replacing all previous agreements, including the 16 Point Memorandum of 1960 and the Shillong Accord of 1975.

It went on to state that the Nagas should treasure and hold on the FA unsparingly, “lest we miss the sure promise of God”.

“Why should we allow doubt and confusion to seal the doom of our fate? Our course is set: we are very sure and certain of what is ours and what we must be”, it said, affirming its commitment to “march forward holding on Nagalim national flag and constitution to the last man standing, come what may”.