Dimapur, December 15 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) on Tuesday asserted that it would stick to the Framework Agreement (FA) and would not accept any “imposed solution” to the Indo Naga Peace Talks.
Stating this during the ‘Winter Parliament Session’ of the NSCN (IM) on Tuesday, the group’s Yaruiwo (Chairperson) Q Tuccu said that freedom to decide the future of a people by themselves is their inherent right. “In keeping with the spirit and letter of the Framework Agreement it is reiterated in the competencies stating, ‘In matters of her own affairs as mutually agreed upon, Nagaland shall be sovereign,’” Tuccu said in his speech, a copy of which was released to the media.
Naga politics, Tuccu said, “is about sovereign power that makes and unmakes things and makes and unmakes laws.”
“It is about sovereign power that will develop the Nagas materially, mentally and spiritually; it is about rebuilding psychology of the Nagas- young and old, male and female damaged by the bloody war; it Is about rebuilding and reconnecting the damaged relationship with our neighbours; it is about building a new relationship with the Indian and Burmese people for a lasting harmonious and peaceful co-existence as unique entities. And above all, it is about rebuilding the broken faith of the Nagas through the Church,” he added.
Tuccu went on to state that the Naga people have been looking for a solution that “protects their sovereign right, their future, their history, their territory, their identity, their culture, their religion and their state,” and are strongly opposed to any kind of “military solution or solution through coercion.”
“Therefore, imposed solution or solution with an unmandated group of people who don't represent the issue of the Nagas is not acceptable to the Naga people,” he asserted, while noting that the Naga people, in the past, have rejected accords that were ‘imposed’ on them.
According to Tuccu, the FA is the meeting point for the Indians and the Nagas.
“This Framework Agreement is based on 'equality and mutual respect' and the recognised unique history of the Nagas. This is the Magna Carta of a new relationship of the two people. We will always stick to the Framework Agreement and abide by it,” he underscored.
“Early solution or delayed solution is not the point, but issue-based solution is the point that matters. The past accords could not bring solution because they were not issue-based solution because they were not issue-based solution,” Tuccu maintained.
Further stating that the Naga people have reason to thank Indian Prime Ministers—PV Narasimha Rao, Inder Kumar Gujral, HD Deve Gowda, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani (Deputy PM), Dr Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi and Naga leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Th Muivah, “for laying down the foundation for solution to the Indo-Naga political problem,” Tuccu said that the FA is the end result of their committed efforts.
“I believe solution is not far off if it is worked out in keeping with the spirit and letter of the officially agreed Framework Agreement,” he added.
