NSCN (IM) assures that no agreement would be entered into without the fullest understanding of the Naga people.

Shrugging off its initial reservations, the Issac-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) has endorsed the Naga reconciliation move initiated by the Naga Hoho, the apex body of various Naga tribes. The NSCN (IM) leadership has expressed its fullest appreciation of the Naga people’s reconciliation process.The NSCN (IM) disclosed its new stand at a five-day  meeting with a delegation comprising representatives of various Naga organisations and tribes, held in Thai capital Bangkok recently. The consultative meeting between the two sides was arranged to strengthen the ongoing peace process through people’s participation.

While expressing its support to the reconciliation move, the NSCN (IM) leadership has urged that it be persuaded to facilitate a reconciliation based on the true spirit of national principles for which any alliance with forces detrimental to the growth of the Naga nationhood should be severed with. For meaningful and sustainable reconciliation process to take place it is necessary to avoid past historical blunders, so that the Naga society may emerge renewed for the challenges of growth with other peoples and nations in the modern world.

The consultative meeting whole-heartedly supported the ongoing peace process. It expressed appreciation of the Government of India for trying to understand the uniqueness of the Naga political issue.Seeking a peaceful political solution of the vexed Naga problem, the meeting expressed satisfaction over the fact that the Centre under the leadership of Atal Behari Vajpayee is committed to peace. Moreover, the Naga leaders saw maturity and statesmanship in Mr. Vajpayee’s leadership.

It must be mentioned here that this perhaps for the first time that the NSCN (IM) publicly appreciated the efforts made by the Centre for peace in Nagaland. On earlier occasions, the NSCN (IM) always blamed the Centre for lacking alleging sincerity and seriousness to find a solution. It is also interesting that the NSCN (IM) expressed full faith in Atal Behari Vajpayee. It is indicative that the Prime Minister has successfully bridged the communication gap between the Centre and the Naga undergrounds. The NSCN (IM) also assured the delegation that in all stages of political negotiations the Naga people will be consulted and reaffirmed that no agreement would be entered into without the fullest understanding of the Naga people.

Notably, the meeting has taken rationalistic approach in some other contentious issues too. For example, the consultation meeting had foreseen the need for Nagas to be accommodative in thinking to its neighbours and not to ignore their legitimate interests and apprehensions.The consultative meeting felt that to create conducive atmosphere for political negotiations Armed Forces Special Power Act, National Security Act, Nagaland Security Regulation, etc., must be repealed. The meeting urged that the banning of Naga National Movement organisations and the subsequent warrants of arrest against the leaders must also be withdrawn.

The representatives appealed to both the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) to honour the spirit of the ceasefire and that as a confidence building measure all military personnel and armed cadres should be restricted within the parameters of their respective designated areas. The Naga leaders observed that there was a pressing need for greater transparency and accountability in the ceasefire monitoring mechanism.

The consultative meeting also felt that England has the moral and legal obligation to clarify its position on the Naga people and their land, which India claims to have inherited from the then British India. Continuing in the same vein, the meeting expressed “Nagas are continuing to resist the occupation of our nation by the states of India and Burma for more than five decades to uphold our political and historical right to be a people. The ceasefire of 1964 between the Federal Government of Nagaland and the Government of India and the ongoing ceasefire from 1997 between NSCN (IM) and the Government of India to felicitate political negotiations for a democratic and honourable settlement assert our people’s resolve and commitment to honour our history and our right which we hold to be sacred to us and our vision for the future.”
    
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