No compromise on Naga National Flag and Constitution: NSCN-IM

Article 371(A), 16 Point Agreement no longer relevant; FA to nullify past injustices faced by Nagas, says NSCN-IM

The NSCN-IM stated today that the core issues of Naga National Flag and Constitution (Yehzabo) that symbolized the Naga national identity will not be compromised under any circumstance. It also said that Article 371A and the 16 Point Agreement “no longer bears any political meaning” after the signing of the Framework Agreement.

The NSCN-IM in a press release from its MIP said that “spearheading the Naga political movement, the signing of 1997 Indo- Naga Ceasefire and the starting of political talks as invited by the Government of India had huge political implications.”

The NSCN-IM highlighted the impact of the 1997 Indo-Naga Ceasefire and subsequent political talks between the group and the Government of India. “It was meant to make redundant the past political decisions and do away with factors extraneous to the Indo-Naga political issue,” it said.

The NSCN-IM stated that political decisions such as Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution and the 16 Point Agreement of 1960 no longer hold political relevance due to the “historic Framework Agreement signed between the Nagas as represented by NSCN-IM and the Government of India on August 3, 2015.” The Framework Agreement, it said, “has come into existence to nullify all the past acts of injustice to the Nagas and bring new solution/agreement that is honorable and acceptable.”

Contrary to claims of secrecy, the NSCN-IM said that the Framework Agreement emerged after 13 years of rigorous negotiations following the Government of India’s official recognition of the unique history and situation of the Nagas in 2002.

“The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi was so much carried away by such political achievement that he made the arrangement to make the world bear living witness to the signing of the Framework Agreement as the high profile signing ceremony was live-telecast worldwide,” it said. The NSCN-IM also said that the Prime Minister called up all top political leaders of different political parties to share with them that he had solved the “longest insurgency issue in Southeast Asia.”

However, the NSCN-IM expressed disappointment that Prime Minister Modi is “still not around to implement his brainchild Framework Agreement even after more than seven years.”

In response to the “unpredictable situation” which according to them is reflected by the attitude of the Government of India “indulging in delaying tactics under one pretext or the other, without any demonstrative commitment to implement what has been agreed upon at highest level,” the NSCN-IM said it called for Naga National Assembly on 31 May 2022 wherein “a resolute stand was taken that it shall never deviate from the Naga National Principle at any cost and uphold and protect the unique history.”

The NSCN-IM emphasized that under no circumstances the core issues of Naga National Flag and Constitution (Yehzabo) that symbolized the Naga National identity will be compromised in the name of Naga political solution.
The NSCN-IM underscored the clarity of the Framework Agreement’s letter and spirit. The agreement, it said, states that “the government of India recognizes the unique history and position of the Nagas.”

“By unique history, it means – the Nagas have the history of independence. The Nagas have neither been a part of the Union of India nor that of Burma (Myanmar), nor any other powers by consent or by conquest,” the NSCN-IM said.

Furthermore, the NSCN-IM highlighted the inseparable connection between the Naga people’s sovereignty, their flag, and constitution.

Emphasizing the inviolability of Naga political rights, the NSCN-IM said that “any Naga political group seeking a solution under the terms of the Indian constitution, would be repeating the past mistakes and tantamount to violating the sanctity of God given Naga political rights.”

Mokokchung Times