Mokokchung, 15 April (MTNews): The NSCN-IM has clarified today that the Washington DC based Naga-American Council is in “no way connected” to the former in any manner and that the latter does not reflect their official policy and stand.
In a press statement, the NSCN-IM said the Indo-Naga political issue has come to be recorded as one of the oldest political issues in the world. “Naturally, it has drawn the attention and sympathies of many international organizations around the world” and that the Naga-American Council is one such organization that has shown keen interest on the Indo-Naga affairs.
“Though the organization’s objective is targeted towards establishing cooperation in socio-political issues for promoting peace and development in Nagaland, it is in no way connected to NSCN in any manner,” the NSCN-IM stated.
It then added, “While we appreciate the concern of Naga-American Council on the ongoing Indo-Naga political development, its comments and statements on the Naga issue dated April 14, 2023, doesn’t reflect the official policy and stand of the NSCN/GPRN.”
Clarifying further, the NSCN-IM said that the Naga flag is the identity of Naga nationhood and doesn’t have different meanings as mentioned by Naga-American Council press statement. The NSCN-IM also said that such “bewildering” understanding of the flag with respect to the Naga flag is highly regretted. “We understand that the Naga-American Council must have given their interpretation of the flag from American context and not from Naga context,” it further added.
The NSCN-IM also recalled that the 3 August, 2015 “Framework Agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN/GPRN recognizes the Indo-Naga conflict as political.” The NSCN-IM also said the FA also acknowledges the unique history and position of the Nagas and that it was signed on the “cornerstone of sovereignty.”
It also stated that there is no ambiguity in the Framework Agreement. “Therefore, in the Indo-Naga political agreement the Government of India must honor and implement in letter and spirit the FA and recognize the Naga national flag and constitution,” the NSCN-IM asserted.
