The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) on Thursday issued a detailed statement reaffirming its position as the “only authentic political organisation” representing the Naga people in peace negotiations with the Government of India.
The statement, released by the group’s Tatar Hoho, said that the organization’s mandate derives from the Naga National Assembly, which endorsed the NSCN after what it described as the “fall” of the Naga National Council (NNC).
The NSCN said that it continues to represent the Naga national movement politically, militarily, and institutionally through the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim (GPRN), its armed wing, and affiliated bodies including women’s and church organizations.
According to the statement, “NSCN is recognized by the Government of India as the only authentic political organization of the Naga people,” which the group cited as the basis for the ongoing negotiations at the Prime Minister’s level.
The NSCN also highlighted its engagements with the international community over the decades, noting that its leaders have met various foreign dignitaries across continents. It recalled its membership with the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), participation at United Nations human rights sessions, and its signing of the Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment on humanitarian norms during conflict.
These references appeared aimed at reinforcing the organization’s long-standing assertion that the Naga political struggle has international visibility and legitimacy.
Responding to recent suggestions from civil society groups including the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) that a “common platform” of Naga political groups might help break the deadlock, the NSCN said such ideas were “irrational” and undermined the existing political architecture.
The statement warned that creating a parallel structure outside the NSCN would “infect the minds” of the people and weaken the movement. It compared dissent within its ranks to a “virus” that could “eat deep into the vitality of the organization” if not addressed.
The NSCN assured that the Framework Agreement talks about recognition of the unique history of Naga independence, recognition of sovereignty of the Nagas and recognition of Naga identity.
“It talks about recognition of land of the Nagas. It talks about recognition of the legitimate right of the Nagas to integrate all Nagas territories. It also talks about recognition of NSCN as the authentic political organization of the Naga people. It also talks about coexistence of the two entities sharing sovereign power. We no longer view India as our enemy, but our potential partner,” it stated.
However, it warned that a retraction by the Centre would destroy trust and raise questions about India’s credibility among the Nagas and the international community.
The NSCN also said that any attempt by the Government of India to dilute or reinterpret the Framework Agreement would amount to “murder of human rights and murder of history.”
The NSCN took particular exception to the FNR’s recent use of the phrase “Beyond Framework Agreement”. Calling it an “antithesis” of the 2015 accord, the group accused the FNR of attempting to “murder” the Agreement and destabilize the negotiations.
