New Delhi: The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) has issued an ultimatum, warning it may resume violent armed resistance if the Union government does not honour the 2015 Framework Agreement, signed to address the Naga political issue. The group’s statement also calls for third-party mediation to resolve stalled negotiations, which hinge on NSCN-IM’s demand for a separate Naga flag and constitution.
Signed by NSCN-IM’s General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, the statement asserts that the group entered the peace process in 1997 to pursue a peaceful resolution to the Naga issue, resulting in over 600 rounds of talks. However, the NSCN-IM accuses the government of violating the Framework Agreement’s principles, specifically in failing to recognise Nagalim’s “unique history and sovereign identity,” as reported by several news outlets.
According to Muivah, the 2015 Framework Agreement, signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recognised the Naga issue as a political conflict between two entities, thereby implying the need for a unique solution that respects Nagalim’s sovereignty. Muivah’s statement describes the government’s refusal to honour these provisions as “deliberate betrayal,” and warns of potential violence, should peaceful negotiations fail.
Also read: Why the Latest Stance of NSCN (IM) on Manipur Conflict is a Bolt from Blue
The NSCN-IM also expressed its willingness to pursue third-party intervention as a last resort, interpreting “third party” as a potential foreign mediator. Muivah stated that the NSCN-IM “shall not wait forever” for the government to honour the Framework Agreement, emphasising that the NSCN shall resume violent armed resistance if their demands remain unmet.
The ceasefire, initially agreed upon in 1997, remains in effect, but tensions have escalated over the group’s demands for a Greater Nagalim – a proposed unification of Naga-inhabited areas across Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Parallel to talks with NSCN-IM, the government has also engaged in separate negotiations with the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG), a coalition of seven Naga factions, signing an “Agreed Position” with them in 2017, according to a report in the Indian Express.
In a related development, former Nagaland chief minister S.C. Jamir revealed that union home finister Amit Shah recently rejected the NSCN-IM’s demands for a Naga flag and constitution, reported the New Indian Express.
Muivah’s recent statement comes amid reports that the aging leader has not been personally involved in recent rounds of talks, delegating discussions to advisors. Despite NSCN-IM’s stance, no new interlocutor has been appointed since former Nagaland Governor R.N. Ravi, who signed the 2015 Framework Agreement, was transferred in 2021.
