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On the Indo-Naga Political Negotiation and the Letter and Spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015
Revolutionary greetings to my dear Naga people and Nagalim in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
My dear Naga people, this statement is my political testament on the Indo-Naga political negotiation and the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 signed between Government of India (GoI) and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) as two separate entities. This statement is a declaration of my commitment that Nagalim and the NSCN shall defend and protect the Nagalim unique history", "Nagalim sovereignty and freedom", "Nagalim sovereign territory", "Nagalim sovereign national flag" and "Nagalim sovereign national constitution", to the last, come what may.
I and my friend late Chairman Isak Chishi Swu went to the negotiating table respecting and acknowledging the international political norms for the resolution of conflicts through peaceful political negotiation and also honouring the commitment of India's Prime Ministers, including P.V. Narashimha Rao, H.D. Deve Gowda, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and others to resolve the Indo-Naga political conflict through peaceful political negotiation, leaving aside the military way solution. And accordingly, the Indo-Naga political negotiation began on August 1, 1997 between the two entities based on the following broad-based principles:
1) That the talks would be unconditional;
2) That the talks would be at the highest level, that is, at the Prime Ministerial level;
3) That the talks would be somewhere outside India in a third country;
4) The fourth point for a third-party witness remains open-ended.
Since August 1, 1997, more than 600 rounds of political negotiation have taken place between the GoI and the NSCN based on those principles, without any pre-conditions, at the Prime Minister level and outside India in a neutral country.
Later, in the ongoing political negotiation between the GoI and the NSCN, two significant official agreements have been signed between the two entities during the Prime Ministership of late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Shri Narendra Modi respectively. They are,
1) Amsterdam Joint Communique of July 11, 2002
2) Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015.
The historic and far-reaching landmark achievements of the Amsterdam Joint Communique of July 11, 2002 and the Framework Agreement of August 1 2015 are as follows:
1) The letter and spirit of the Amsterdam Joint Communiqué of July 11, 2002 officially recognised and acknowledged the unique history and situation of Nagalim. Hence, it is an official recognition and acknowledgement that Nagalim was/is never a part of India or Myanmar (erstwhile Burma) as the case may be, either by consent or conquest. Therefore, Nagalim is not the internal matter of India [neither the internal matter of Myanmar (erstwhile Burma) as the case may be].
2) The letter and spirit of the Amsterdam Joint Communique of July 11, 2002 has officially recognised and acknowledged Nagalim sovereignty since Nagalim was/is not the internal matter of India [or Myanmar (erstwhile Burma) as the case may be].
3) The letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 officially recognised and acknowledged that the Indo-Naga issue is a political conflict of two sovereign entities and therefore the Indo-Naga conflict is not the internal matter of India [or Myanmar (erstwhile Burma) as the case may be].
4) The letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 officially recognised and acknowledged Nagalim unique history and situation and, that sovereignty lies with Nagalim and the Naga people. Since sovereignty is constitutive of national identity, the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 has officially recognised and acknowledged Nagalim sovereign national flag and Nagalim sovereign national constitution.
5) The letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 officially recognised and acknowledged that the "sovereign powers" are concluded from the negotiated political agreement of the two sovereign entities and they are not accrued from the constitution of India [or Myanmar (erstwhile Burma) as the case maybe]. Therefore, the mutually agreed "sovereign powers" that are concluded from the negotiated political agreement shall constitute the constitution which shall be called the Yehzabo/Nagalim constitution.
6) The cornerstone for the honourable political agreement between India and Nagalim is respecting and honouring the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement, wherein, amongst others, the Nagalim sovereign national flag and Nagalim sovereign national constitution are duly recognised and acknowledged. And the sharing of "sovereign power" in a "new relationship" as agreed upon in the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 is of two separate sovereign entities. Hence, as two separate sovereign entities the sharing of "sovereign powers" in a "new relationship" shall be outside the Union and Constitution of India [or Myanmar (erstwhile Burma) as the case may be].
It is pertinent to understand that Nagalim and the NSCN have given India the finest opportunity to resolve the decades old Indo-Naga political conflict on the basis of the letter and spirit of the officially signed Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015. Therefore, in view of the betrayal of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 by the GoI, kindly allow me to state the position and the political steps Nagalim and the NSCN will pursue. They are briefly given in the following paras:
1. The NSCN and its leadership took the honourable step of resolving the decades old Indo-Naga political conflict by agreeing to have political negotiation with the GoI. However, it is the authorities and the leadership in the GoI who have deliberately betrayed the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 by refusing to recognise and acknowledge the Nagalim sovereign national flag and Nagalim sovereign national constitution.
2. The benchmark for a political agreement between the GoI and the NSCN must be according to the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 wherein, amongst others, the Nagalim sovereign national flag and Nagalim sovereign national constitution must be an integral part of the political agreement.
3. Whether it is today or tomorrow, the "Nagalim unique history", "Nagalim sovereignty and freedom", "Nagalim sovereign territory", "Nagalim sovereign national flag" and "Nagalim sovereign national constitution" are non-negotiable.
4. Nagalim and the NSCN will not wait forever for the GoI to respect and honour the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, neither shall we wait for the GoI to recognise and acknowledge Nagalim sovereign national flag and Nagalim sovereign national constitution in the political agreement.
5. After betraying the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, the GoI will attempt to impose conditions and terms of surrender on the NSCN, whereby,
Firstly, the GoI will impose a political agreement that will not respect and honour the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015. Secondly, the GoI will force the NSCN/GPRN to sign a political agreement without the Nagalim sovereign national flag and Nagalim sovereign national constitution. Thirdly, the GoI will resort to brute military force in order to crush Nagalim and the NSCN when the latter refused to capitulate under the condition and terms of surrender of the GoI.
6. Nevertheless, even if the odds are against Nagalim and the NSCN, we shall take whatever steps that is necessary according to the decision mandated by Nagalim and the Naga people to protect and defend the "Nagalim unique history", "Nagalim sovereignty and freedom", "Nagalim sovereign territory", "Nagalim sovereign national flag" and "Nagalim sovereign national constitution", by whatever means including armed struggle.
7. In order to conclude and realise an honourable political agreement, we rule out peaceful means against the ignominious betrayal of the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 by the GoI. However, in the first place we propose a third-party intervention to resolve the betrayal of the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, but if such a political initiative is rejected by the GoI, the NSCN shall resume the violent armed resistance against India for defending the Nagalim unique history and her sovereign existence.
8. The violent confrontation between the India and Nagalim shall be purely on account of the deliberate betrayal and breach of commitment by India and its leadership to respect and honor the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015. Therefore, India and its leadership shall be held responsible for the catastrophic and adverse situation that will arise out of the violent armed conflict between India and Nagalim.
9. However, if India sincerely desires an honourable political agreement with Nagalim and the NSCN, the GoI must respect and honour the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, whereby, amongst others, the Nagalim sovereign national flag and Nagalim sovereign national constitution are officially recognised and acknowledged in the political agreement.
My dear Naga people, stand firm wherever you are and be resolute for Nagalim unique history and her sovereign existence. Waver not for the sacred commitment to our Lord God Almighty to uphold and protect, "Nagalim unique history", "Nagalim sovereignty and freedom", "Nagalim sovereign territory", "Nagalim sovereign national _flag" and "Nagalim sovereign national constitution".
In the leadership given to me for these past more than six decades by Jehovah, my Lord God Almighty, I have not betrayed the freedom and sovereignty given to me and Nagalim. I have honoured my Lord God Almighty for "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”. I thank and praise Jehovah who has been faithful to me in all my trials and struggles. I thank Him for He understood me and preserved me and Nagalim for these past many decades.
Nagalim and the NSCN are prepared and ready to defend and protect Nagalim unique history and Nagalim sovereign national existence. Gird yourself for any eventuality and remember that the battle belongs to God and He shall fight for us. I praise the courage and resilience of Nagalim and the Naga people, wherever you are. Blessed are the Naga people and the generation who believes and honour our God given unique history, sovereignty and freedom and, our nation commitment that Nagalim shall be for Christ.
In conclusion, I reiterate that for an honourable political agreement with Nagalim and the NSCN, the GoI must respect and honour the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, whereby, amongst others, the Nagalim sovereign national flag and Nagalim sovereign national constitution are officially recognised and acknowledged in the political agreement.
Finally, we give all the glory and honour and power and riches and wisdom to Jehovah, our Lord God Almighty for His faithfulness to Nagalim and the Naga people.
Kuknalim
Th. Muivah
Chief Political Negotiator,
General Secretary/Ato Kilonser, NSCN/GPRN