Nagaland
Naga peace talk turning into ‘complaint syndrome’, says Nagaland legislator
MOKOKCHUNG — Advisor for Information and Public Relations and Soil and Water Conservation, Imkong L Imchen, has raised concern over the ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving the Naga political issue, saying that it is evolving into what he termed a “complaint syndrome.”
Imchen viewed that instead of trying to bring about a solution to the Naga issue, the parties involved are complaining about each other.
“So, it is not talk but it is a complaint syndrome,” he told media persons on the sidelines of a sports event in Mokokchung on October 23.
Recounting the Framework Agreement signed between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India in 2015, Imchen said that 8 years have passed.
“How many rounds of negotiations have taken place and why we did not know anything?” he asked.
“The things we know are press releases (PRs) and in their PRs, they only complain. Therefore, I am of the opinion that they are not interested in bringing about the solution; they are not making any progress; rather they are making complaints,” he maintained.
Imchen pointed out that when one party raises complaints, it naturally leads to counter-complaints by the opposing party.
When asked about his expectations from the ongoing negotiations, Imchen replied in the negative. “No, I don’t expect anything because the given situation shows that they are not interested in bringing a solution. So, I am rather pessimistic,” he said.
So far, the government of India (GoI) has stated its position that it is willing to concede “anything and everything except the flag, constitution and boundaries,” Imchen claimed.
Regarding the issue of altering state boundaries, he said that unless the three states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur – agree to redraw the boundaries, GoI cannot just impose changes because it would invite more problems than solutions.
In regard to the “Agreed Position,” Imchen noted that the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) has not complained about its agreement with the GoI.
On the subject of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) demand and draft agreement, he clarified: “I am not in the cabinet, so I do not know what is the exact line of discussion about the ENPO issue.”
“Actually, the people of Nagaland want to stay together. There should not be or cannot be eastern and western. Nagaland is only one, but if they want to go away, then nobody can stop them, except the GoI. It is their decision. But the name Nagaland should be here. There cannot be two Nagaland,” he maintained.
On the issue of delimitation in Nagaland, Imchen was of the opinion that the exercise is very “doubtful” in the case of the state.
He, however, maintained that the outcome concerning any changes in the number of assembly seats would depend on the results of the ongoing political talks.
Earlier, addressing the inaugural programme of the sports event, the advisor said that the Naga political issue is one of the most important agenda in the minds of the public.
He claimed that 100% of Nagas want a political settlement, and different social organisations have been voicing their opinions that this long-standing political issue should be settled, once and for all. He, however, alleged that “our negotiators/top team leaders wanted to prolong it,” which, he said, is “very unfortunate.”
“They want to prolong it, sustain it at the expense of our progress, advancements and development,” he alleged that “when they are not capable of taking decision, they should admit it”.