GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF NAGALIM
Ministry of Information and Publicity
PRESS STATEMENT
Council Headquarters (CHq) Hebron, the 10th April, 2022
Was the Indo-Naga talk really concluded on 31st October, 2019?
The Nagas at large appeared to be still haunted by the misadventure of Mr. RN Ravi with his confusing handling of the Indo-Naga talks. The 33rd President of the United States of America (USA), Mr. Harry S Truman said, “If you cannot convince them, confuse them”.
Ravi could not convince the NSCN to sign an agreement without the Naga flag and the Yehzabo (constitution) and, therefore, he adopted “Truman’s policy”. This is exactly what Ravi had insinuated to bring confusion in the mind of the Naga people as he took malicious pleasure going through the unfolding development among the Nagas.
The 31st October, 2019 was actually a day of ultimatum served to the NSCN to sign the agreement under the Indian constitution without the Naga flag and the Yehzabo (constitution). Ravi threatened the NSCN with dire consequences and declared that with or without NSCN, an agreement has to be signed on or before the 31st October, 2019. Otherwise, what agreement was Ravi talking about when nothing was finalised.
What followed were the tacit pressure put on the NSCN in particular and the Naga people in general. Ravi resorted to psychological warfare. There were military exercises- jet fighters flying in Naga areas and bombing and big tanks and rocket launchers were brought as if a real war is coming. Unaccountable Indian security forces were poured in and stationed in the Naga areas. Even the Nagaland state police were instructed to keep rations in stocks for at least two months and Special Branch (SB) department of Nagaland state police were instructed to identify NSCN members and their residents. NSCN were nevertheless unnerved at the sight of this development and firmly stood their ground. Unfortunately, the Naga leaders who were on the side with Ravi were carried away by Ravi’s deceitful tactics and started shouting with undue zeal and attention that the Naga talk has concluded.
The Framework Agreement of the 3rd August, 2015 has to be examined very carefully to avoid getting confused with grounded implications. The agreement was signed based on the principle core issues between the Government of India (GoI) and the NSCN.
In the Framework Agreement it is clearly mentioned that “It is with great satisfaction that dialogue between the Government of India and the NSCN has successfully concluded and we are confident that it will provide for an enduring inclusive new relationship of peaceful coexistence of the two entities.” In the true political interpretation, it means a relationship between India and Nagas to begin a new and a fresh unlike the present arrangements with oppressive nature but to co-exist as two friendly entities under the principle of shared sovereignty.
However, the more crucial point for final settlement was inserted in the next paragraph. It read, “The two sides agreed that within the Framework Agreement, details and execution plan will be worked out and implemented shortly.” It refers to the competency that Ravi miserably find difficult to formulate the details as agreed upon.
In fact, he misinformed the Parliament Standing Committee on the Framework Agreement stating that earlier the Naga’s stand was to be “with India” and not “within India”. But Ravi claimed that understanding was reached to be “within India” and accordingly the Framework Agreement was signed.
Thus, Ravi misinformed and misled the GoI as well as the Naga people. This way he was able to divide the Nagas successfully. Ultimately, he fulfilled Truman’s policy as he masterfully crafted another agreement known as “Agreed Position” with the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) and started attacking the Framework Agreement and NSCN. That was certainly hitting below the belt.
In total contrast to the Framework Agreement, Ravi informed the Parliament Standing Committee led by Mr. P. Chidambaram that for Nagaland state there is already Article 371 (A) and solution for other Nagas in neighboring states can be solved with little variation.
This is how he had totally misinterpreted and misinformed the GoI authorities on the content of the Framework Agreement.
The Indo-Naga talk was never concluded on the 31st October, 2019. It was nothing more than an ultimatum given to the NSCN to toe his line of Naga solution. As seen today, we have been witnessing the negotiations that are still going on to resolve the core issues without which there is no foreseeable agreement.
The Nagas cannot afford to dance like a fool to the musical tune of the enemies with habitual betraying eyes on the Naga people.
Significantly, as the Framework Agreement was signed in the presence of the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and other high dignitaries who matters in running the government affairs, unnecessary confusion should not be made an issue and should keep away the Framework Agreement from becoming another betraying agreement as testified by the Indo-Naga history.