Kohima: Alleging that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued directives to the Assam Rifles (AR) to intensify operations against NSCN, the group on Tuesday said that this development has come as “rude shock” for them.
The NSCN-IM said that the1997 Indo-Naga ceasefire for political negotiation was signed with “high hope and excitement” by the Centre and the NSCN-IM.
“Ironically, when it comes to jurisdiction of ceasefire, GoI continues to speak in ambivalent terms even after more than twenty three (23) years of political talks. Naturally, this has become the boiling point of conflict that GoI is simply making an escapade,” the group said.
With the MHA issuing directives to intensify operations against them, the NSCN-IM said that the Naga political issue cannot be undermined in a manner that contradict the well established historical and political rights of the Naga people who are spread across Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar.
Adding that the political right of the Naga people is no longer an issue that necessitates any review, the NSCN-IM said that the signing of the historic Framework Agreement on the August 3, 2015 is a “living document” to take the Centre and NSCN-IM through for the final solution.
“To push the Indo-Naga political solution for the final deal what really matters is the political will to be exercised by GoI. The Nagas have come this far in search of peaceful solution. But GoI still continue to waver. This is a sign of weakness and insincerity,” the group said.
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While the Framework Agreement is a symbol to co-exist peacefully as good neighbors, group said that this has not been reciprocated with the correct political step. According to them, the “Naga people’s sincere approach and search for permanent peace has been touted time and again to suit India’s colonial divide and rule policy” which is “evidently seen in the ongoing Indo-Naga political talks”.
They added saying “Naga people believe in solution based on mutual respect of each other’s position. But we do not believe in force union bereft of any political wisdom. Nor do we believe in carrot and stick policy that will only complicate what has been achieved all these years of negotiation”.
The NSCN-IM said that the Government of India must handle the situation with “great sensitivity and not prodded the Indian security forces and other security agencies to run amok against the NSCN”.
NSCN-IM also said that their “patience should not be translated as weak and helpless”. “The consequences, therefore, will be disastrous for both the parties. This is never in the interest of ceasefire across Naga areas,” NSCN-IM added.
