We strongly refute the Government of India’s (GOI) National Investigation Agency (NIA)’s wild allegation using the term ‘terrorist’ against National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN). This is a calculated act to sabotage the ongoing Indo-Naga political talks that is entering 15 years now. It must be viewed as a serious breach of trust and lack of sincerity on the part of the GOI. It has come as a great shock to the NSCN in particular and the Nagas in general.
Compelled by historical circumstances, the NSCN had carried forward the resistance against Indian aggression. NSCN was founded on the Naga national decision based on the universal human rights principle of the right to self-determination. Ours is a resistance movement. It is absolutely wrong to allege that Nagas are waging war against the Indian state as we still advocate political approach towards resolving the conflict with India and that is also the voice and conscience of the Naga people.
NSCN is not a terrorist organization at all. It has never adopted any kind of terrorist means to achieve their desired goals. It is a fact admitted even by Indian authorities including Mr. Murkot Ramuny, the then Indian Security Commissioner who stated that , “Nagas do not kill innocent civilians”. Another top police officer DGP Mr. Chaman Lal who stated that in Nagaland it is insurgency and not terrorism said: “And we have to distinguish between the two. We are here not to end insurgency. Nagaland’s is a political problem and it has to be solved politically.” Nagas have not attempted to kill any innocent Indian civilians even if more than 250,000 innocent Nagas have been killed or butchered by the Indian state allegedly on fabricated grounds. NSCN is an internationally recognized political organization of the Nagas. It was not included in the list of terrorist organizations published by the Government of India in the year 2000. The GOI had embarked upon political talks with us recognizing us as a political entity.
NIA cannot distort that history and undo the well meant political stand taken by various political leaders of India on one hand and the NSCN on the other who have been tirelessly giving efforts to bring honorable solution to the Indo-Naga political issue. Based on mutual respect and recognition of right and deep commitment a cease-fire agreement was reached between GOI headed by Mr. Narasimha Rao, the then PM of India and NSCN represented by its collective leadership Messrs. Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah in Paris, France in 12 June, 1995 on the mutually agreed three terms – talks at the Prime Ministerial level, talks without condition and in outside India (which means third countries). Subsequently, the cease-fire agreement was formally declared in the Indian Parliament by Mr. I K Gujral the then PM of India on 25th July 1997 where the house responded with thunderous applause. All the succeeding Prime Ministers had also enthusiastically endorsed the stance taken by PV Narasimha Rao, Prime Minister Deve Gowda said: “We believe in peaceful means. We must seek peaceful political solutions.” A B Vajpayee also assured : “I believe in peaceful political solutions. Use of arms and violence is ruled out.” The present Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has also given his deep commitment to solve the Indo-Naga political issue and he went even to the extent of stating that he would go extra mile and seek solution outside the box.
The GOI has acted to show its seriousness and commitment in the talks by lifting all warrant of arrest issued against members of NSCN to pave the way for their free movement during peace process. In this regard it is pertinent to state that as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by NSCN Chief Negotiator General Secretary Th. Muivah and Representative of the Government of India K Padmanabhaiah on 18th Nov. 2002, Milan, Italy the ban on NSCN under the Indian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was lifted. Therefore, it is ethically, legally and politically wrong for the NIA to level baseless allegations against NSCN as ‘terrorist’ organization.
Be it informed that NSCN is a member of UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and People’s Organisation) a parallel organization to UNPO. It is stated that the UNPO Covenant specifically disqualifies anyone who uses terrorism as an instrument of policy from its membership. NSCN is also a signatory of the Geneva Call “Deed of Commitment” wherein NSCN gave the commitment to non use of uncontrolled anti-personnel mines. It is also an associate member of the London-based PNSD (Parliamentarians for National Self-determination). The Collective leadership of the NSCN has also attended UN meeting on human rights a number of times.
NSCN has never forgotten the deep concern extended in the form of letter by the three former Prime Ministers (Mr. Chandra Sekhar, Mr. V.P Singh and Mr. HD Deve Gowda) to the government of India and Thai government in July 29, 2000 to intervene for securing the release of NSCN General Secretary Th. Muivah from Thai jail in order to save the Indo-Naga peace process that was placed at the point of breaking down. Besides them, a very good number of various civil societies, many prominent Indian intellectuals and human rights activists made similar appeals to the two governments. Significantly, the world knows that General Secretary Th. Muivah, the Chief negotiator of the NSCN for the current peace dialogue between India and the Nagas has been relentlessly pursuing for political solution through peaceful means.
After 15 years of political dialogue it would be unwise on the part of both government of India and NSCN to hurled false allegations at each other. Our people strongly feel that both the parties should not put road blocks to the peace process. NSCN is committed to seek solution through peaceful means. And therefore, no act of restraint will come too great for the NSCN and no price would be too big for the Nagas to pay if its helps bring solution. But NSCN can never accept the term ‘terrorist’ used against it. It is noteworthy to mention that the strength of the Naga political movement is derived from historical and political rights of the Nagas and guided by the vision of liberation from all kinds of bondages and never by ‘terrorism’ as alleged.
15 years of political negotiation is a long period by any standard. More than 80 rounds of political negotiation with the GOI since we are committed to seek political solution through peaceful means and we still have the courage and strength to endure the long wait to bring peace in the region and set a model of conflict reconciliation to the international communities. All along, patience has been the hallmark of the Nagas. But NSCN is totally surprised when all of a sudden the ‘terrorist’ tag has been placed on NSCN. The GOI had recognized the “Unique history and situation of the Nagas” in order to seek a realistic solution through peaceful means. Therefore, we seriously question the GOI whether the move of the NIA is directly or indirectly supported by her in order to revert the situation towards its containment policy or is it again its last desperate attempt to befool the international community against the Nagas.
It would be a great blunder if the GOI allows its Agencies including NIA to ruin whatever has been accomplished so far between the two entities in this past 15 years of peaceful political negotiation. We caution the GOI that the world’s attention may be drawn towards its insincerity and the unchecked activities it is giving to her Agencies like NIA in the name of countering the so called “Terrorism”. Our sincere counsel to the GOI is that such strategy on its part will eventually be self-defeating and a futile attempt to fool the international communities.
A Z Jami
Killonser, MIP
