NSCN (I-M) seeks third-party intervention to break talks deadlock

NSCN (I-M) seeks third-party intervention for Naga political issue, threatens armed resistance if demands not met by Centre.

GUWAHATI:

The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland or NSCN (I-M) has sought “third-party intervention” to resolve the 27-year-old “Naga political issue”, a euphemism for its conflict with the Centre.

The extremist group, which calls itself the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, also threatened to resume its “armed resistance” if the proposal is rejected and accused the Centre of betraying the “letter and spirit” of the Framework Agreement signed in 2015.

The “betrayal” alludes to the Centre’s alleged refusal to recognise a separate Naga flag and Naga constitution the NSCN (I-M) demanded to end the conflict that began in the 1940s. The outfit claimed the Indian government agreed to recognise the “unique history” of the Nagas and the idea of “shared sovereignty”. The Centre said it did not make such commitments.

“In order to conclude and realise an honourable political agreement, we rule out peaceful means against the ignominious betrayal of the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, by the Government of India,” NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, also the chief political negotiator, said in a statement on Friday.

“However, in the first place, we propose a third-party intervention to resolve the betrayal of the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement, but if such a political initiative is rejected by the GoI, NSCN shall resume the violent armed resistance against India for defending Nagalim unique history and her sovereign existence,” he said.

The NSCN (I-M) claims the Naga-inhabited areas of the northeast were made a part of India without the consent of the people. Naga groups declared “independence” on August 14, 1947, leading to decades of armed conflict with Indian security forces.