Naga peace talks have failed to live up to the hype, hanging in balance, says NSCN (IM)

Dimapur, Oct. 23 (EMN): The NSCN (IM) on Saturday said the resumption of formal Indo-Naga talk with the new interlocutor AK Mishra has generated much hype that the final solution to the Naga political issue could be around the corner and come as a Christmas gift to the Nagas but the reality is different.

The group said in a press statement that the talks have “failed to live up to all the hype as the government of India (GoI) continues to indulge in political escapism on the very issues that is holding up the road to the Naga solution”.

It stated that the GoI has come to terms with the sentiment of the Naga people on the Naga flag and the Yehzabo (Constitution), the two core pressing concern of the NSCN.

The group said that the Framework Agreement was signed in 2015 after the Government of India officially recognised the unique history, which is “no less than the recognition of the political identity of the Naga nation”.

“Ironically, the Government of India is still pretentiously acting stubborn as the crucial rounds of talks that focused on the Naga flag and the Constitution is driven to hang in balance. The stalemate created is unfortunate,” read the statement.

It said the Naga flag is not just a piece of cloth to the Nagas but a feeling of pride.

“Interestingly, the Government of India is talking in different language to different negotiating Naga groups in the matter of the Naga flag. But NSCN is not impressed when the offer was made to accept the Naga flag as a cultural symbol. The Naga issue is not a cultural issue that the GoI should change the Naga flag as a cultural symbol and forego the Naga political identity as symbolise by the Naga flag,” it said.

“Where is the need for the Indo-Naga ceasefire if the Naga issue is a cultural problem and where is the need to drag on the Indo-Naga talks for more than two decades if the issue is something to do to solve cultural conflicts? Where is the need for Nagalim to get admitted as a bona fide member of the UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation) if the Naga issue is a cultural based problem?” it asked.

On the flag, the NSCN said that it “will take the stand to defend it to the last man standing and not succumb to the flattering ‘post solution’ offer”.

“NSCN cannot drag the Naga people to make another blunder by falling into the trap being machinated by the GoI,” it stated while citing the failed past agreements.

“Christmas may come and go but the NSCN will not stop fighting to defend the Naga political identity,” it added.