In what might contradict the Central Government’s stand that the solution to the Naga problem under the framework agreement would not affect the territorial integrity of other states, the NSCN (IM) on Sunday said that the issue of integration of all the Naga territories is an integral part of the ongoing Indo-Naga political dialogue and that both the parties have mutually agreed to pursue the same.
“Naga territories which have been kept apart arbitrarily and indiscriminately by the British in the first place and then further divided between Burma (now Myanmar) and India without the knowledge and consent of the Naga people is totally unacceptable,” a statement issued by the NSCN (IM) said on Sunday.
“Just as there cannot be a kingdom without territory, so the Indo-Naga political talks sans integration of all the contiguous Naga areas will be a futile exercise,” the statement issued to the media said on Sunday.
The statement further said that both the NSCN (IM) and Central government while signing the framework agreement on August 3, 2015 agreed and recognized that integration of all the contiguous Naga areas is the legitimate right of the Naga people and it is mutually agreed that it will be pursued through earnest political democratic process.
“Now, after 21 years of negotiations, India and Naga people are prepared to finalize the political dialogue to its logical conclusion and resolve the oldest political problem in the entire South East Asia. At this crucial juncture, any attempt to undermine or disturb the peace process without being able to make head or tail of the negotiation shall no longer be tolerated,” the NSCN (IM) said.
The Naga ceasefire outfit also slammed Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphu Rio for his recent statement on the ongoing talks with the NSCN (IM) and accused him of trying to please a ‘certain section’ by ‘surrendering the history and legitimate rights’ of the Naga people.
“Nagas will stand our ground to the last. It must be remembered that, this hard earned political achievement has come at the cost of untold sufferings and supreme sacrifices rendered by thousands of Naga sons and daughters. No individual or organisation is licensed to talk cheaply on the history of our people,” the statement said.