Concerned Naga Forum of Nagaland submitted a memorandum to Nagaland Governor Nand Kumar Yadav on April 18. (Photo Courtesy: CNFN)
Dimapur, April 18 (MExN): The Concerned Naga Forum of Nagaland (CNFN) on Saturday submitted a memorandum to the Nagaland Governor Nand Kumar Yadav, urging him to direct the state government to implement the already-concluded peace agreements rather than seeking fresh rounds of negotiations on the long-pending Naga political issue.
The memorandum, submitted by CNFN Convenor H K Khulu and Secretary Theja Therieh, highlighted what the forum described as an “inordinate delay” in implementing the Framework Agreement signed with the NSCN (IM) in 2015 and the Agreed Position reached with the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) in 2017.
The CNFN reminded the Governor that the Naga political issue has remained unresolved for nearly a century, dating back to a 1929 representation to the Simon Commission. While the 16-Point Agreement led to the creation of Nagaland state within the Indian Constitution, the CNFN highlighted multiple unresolved concerns including the integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas across Manipur, Arunachal, Assam and even Myanmar, despite repeated resolutions by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
“The Naga people in such areas, especially Manipur, do not seem to want such integration and have even declared that ‘not an inch of Manipur’ will be parted with. The Government of India is also very clear that the boundaries of states cannot be changed,” the memorandum stated.
29 years of negotiations
The forum noted that the Government of India initiated a ceasefire with the NSCN (IM) in 1997 and with the NSCN (K) in 2000, followed by 18 and 16 years of negotiations respectively, culminating in the two landmark agreements. The Framework Agreement with NSCN (IM) in 2015 (11 years ago), and the Agreed Position with WC,NNPGs in 2017 (nine years ago). Negotiations with NSCN (IM) have been ongoing for 29 years.
“The number of years speaks louder than words can that there has been an inordinate delay in the implementation of the Agreement,” the CNFN said.
The forum recalled that former Governor RN Ravi, also the last interlocutor appointed by the Centre, had announced on the floor of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly in 2020-21 that all negotiations were completed on October 31, 2019. The Assembly had unanimously passed a vote of thanks to the Governor’s address. However, the state government subsequently demanded the removal of Governor Ravi. “They cannot transfer or erase the vote of thanks to his address,” the CNFN asserted.
Opposition to fresh talks
The CNFN expressed objection to recent demands by the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the state and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for upgrading negotiations to a “political level,” calling such demands “unconstitutional” and contradictory to the Assembly's own unanimous vote.
“Asking for continuation of talks appears to be with a pure intention to retain their precious chairs and positions in the government with no care for the welfare of the people,” the memorandum alleged, adding that some legislators had spoken of solutions “beyond the state” and raised concerns about “conflict of interest” in the signed agreements.
“He forgets that he is talking in a state created under the Constitution of India and of a document signed in the presence of the Prime Minister of India,” the forum noted.
Proliferation of armed factions
The CNFN highlighted a deterioration in law and order, noting that over 30 armed factions have mushroomed, with ceasefire monitoring offices in Dimapur, licenses issued by the Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Board (CSFMB), and each faction running “self-styled governments.”
“Under the banner of the unresolved Naga political issue and the continuing talks, the factions are free to recruit, extort, organise mafia-like syndicates and tax all supply chains. The organised syndicates are reported to be receiving over Rs 400 crore annually, besides extortion from all supply chains. State government departments and DDOs are allegedly paying systematically to all factions,” the CNFN alleged.
The common people are groaning under a seemingly legalised mafia operation of pillage and institutionalised extortion, the memorandum stated, warning of a “total breakdown of law and order” and a collapse of constitutional machinery in the state. The forum alleged that entrepreneurs face intimidation, kidnapping for ransom, and even assassination, while corruption cases remain in “cold storage.”
Citing “reliable sources,” the CNFN said the Prime Minister had told a chief minister’s delegate, “He is ready, if they are ready,” and that the CM’s response was still awaited. Instead, the CM is calling for extension of talks at a political level. The forum also noted that the Union Home Minister had asked the Nagaland CM to convince Th Muivah.
“These statements indicate some amount of frustration that the Centre is not getting the kind of support and cooperation from the CM and the Government of Nagaland,” the memorandum observed, contrasting this with the CM’s repeated public assurances of working towards “an early solution.”
Key demands
The CNFN urged the Governor to direct the State Government to shoulder its Constitutional responsibility of maintaining the law & order in the State and immediately review how to curb the situation of lawlessness in the State and curb the mushrooming of factions and various illegitimate groups.
“Direct the State Government to stop speaking of fresh talks and new issues bur instead, review with the Government of India the talks that have already been concluded, outline the outcomes including the competencies and work out how the solution as agreed upon can be implemented,” the forum urged.
“In this manner, rationality and sanity can be brought to the land. The people cannot be allowed to exist in such confusion and misery. In doing this, you will be doing the greatest justice to the people of Nagaland and bringing about an immediate solution to the vexed Naga problem,” the CNFN said.
