NSCN-IM, Indian Govt Sign Framework Agreement

The NSCN (IM) has now signed a framework agreement with the Government of India. “I thank God for this momentous occasion,” said Th. Muivah, General Secretary of NSCN (IM), also on behalf of Chairman Isak Chishi Swu, during the signing ceremony of the framework agreement with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, as witness at his 7 Race Course Road home in New Delhi.

Muivah assured the Indian delegation, on behalf of the Naga people, that the “Nagas can be trustworthy” and can be taken into confidence for “any policy in the Northeast and beyond the frontiers.” The signatories to the agreement were Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah on behalf of the NSCN (IM) while the Government of India’s signatory was its interlocutor to the Naga Peace talks, R.N. Ravi. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) reported that the entire top leadership of the NSCN (IM), including all members of the collective leadership, have “fully endorsed” the agreement and were present during the ceremony.

Within this framework agreement, details and execution plan will be released shortly, informed the PIB. Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval and others were also present at the event. NSCN (IM) chairman Isak Chishi Swu, also a signatory to the agreement, could not make it to the ceremony as he is unwell and undergoing treatment at Fortis hospital in Delhi. His son Pasheto Swu was, however, present.

“The Naga political issue had lingered for six decades, taking a huge toll on generations of our people,” said Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, while speaking on the occasion. He admitted that “the Naga problem has taken so long to resolve because we did not understand each other.” Modi spoke of his vision for the transformation of the northeast region and expressed confidence that the agreement will open “a glorious new chapter for the Naga people to build a bright future for Nagaland.”

Speaking on the occasion, Th. Muivah thanked Narendra Modi’s “visionary leadership” in coming “close to understanding each other” as well as working out a “new relationship between the two parties on the basis of this uniqueness.” “We appreciate your wisdom, your leadership and your vision to build an enduring relationship between the Nagas and Indians. The Nagas will ever remember you for your statesmanship and your profound understanding of the Nagas,” he said.

Muivah maintained that the obligations to “meet the needs of the people shall be paramount for both the parties” in order to make the endeavour “more meaningful.” He also assured that the Nagas can “still come closer if their rights are respected.” In a separate statement released to the media, Muivah thanked the Naga people for their “unparalleled support” and stated that the framework agreement has been “concluded” based on “the unique history and position of the Nagas and recognizing the universal principle that in a democracy sovereignty lies with the people.”

Framework Agreement is the Main Principle on Which Issues will be Worked Out: NSCN (IM) emissary to the collective leadership Gen (retd) VS Atem termed the framework agreement signed between NSCN (IM) and the Government of India (GoI) as the “preamble” based on which a final solution to the uniqueness of the Naga history and political rights is to be reached.

“Details are still being worked out…the framework agreement will be the main principle within which issues will be worked out,” Atem said, while speaking to The Morung Express from Delhi. The emissary to the collective leadership to NSCN (IM) was also present during the signing of the agreement. With Nagaland state thrown into a tizzy as details on the contents of the framework agreement remained sketchy till Monday night, Atem said that details on the agreement would be made public by Tuesday.

On the question of why Naga civil societies were not consulted on the ‘sudden’ agreement, Atem asserted that the NSCN (IM) had said that it would consult the civil societies in case of any “road block” in the negotiation process.
He said the framework agreement was signed because there was mutual respect and understanding between NSCN (IM) and the GoI of each other’s positions.

We are yet to see the contents of the accord: The framework agreement took many by surprise, with the prime minister making a dramatic tweet: “I will be making a special announcement at 6:30 PM from RCR.” The Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPHMR) chairman N. Krome said, “We were all caught by surprise by the sudden announcement.” He said they were aware that something was happening “but we did not realise that something like this would happen so soon”.

A top leader of Nagaland’s apex body of tribes on Monday hailed the ‘peace accord’ signed by the Indian government and the NSCN-IM, saying the Nagas were hungry for peace.

But some Nagas wondered why there was so much silence before the accord was signed. Chuba Ozukum, president of Naga Hoho, an apex body, expressed happiness over the accord and hoped it will bring a lasting solution to the Naga problem. “It has been a long-standing desire of the people of Nagaland. However, it is difficult to say much as I am yet to see the contents of the accord,” he said. “The people of the state have been longing for a peace accord for a long time,” he said.

Former Nagaland chief minister S.C. Jamir said: “I am yet to see the contents of the accord. Without knowing that, it is difficult to comment.” He added: “I was not aware the accord was going to be signed today. It seems they have done it silently for reasons best known to them.” A leader of the Naga Students Federation said on the condition of anonymity: “The announcement came as a shocker. The people of Nagaland have been longing for this. “Now we are waiting eagerly to see the contents,” he added.

Naga Peace Accord should not Affect Neighbours: Thangso Baite, the Congress Lok Sabha member from Outer Manipur, on Monday cautiously welcomed the peace accord between the government and the the NSCN-IM, saying it should not affect the neighbouring states. “We were anxiously awaiting the peace accord provided it does not affect the neighbouring states,” the MP from a constituency that has a large Naga population told IANS here. “If it affects the neighbouring states, it cannot be a peace solution,” Baite said alluding to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah’s (NSCN-IM) earlier demand for a ‘Greater Nagalim’ that should include areas with Naga population in the neighbouring states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur. He said he was “not sure which direction the Indian government was taking”.