New Delhi: In an interview that is likely to upset and even upset the government in the Center and starkly revealing the stark differences that still separate the Nagalim National Socialist Council (Isak-Muivah) from the Indian government, the general secretary of the NSCN (IM) has repeatedly said and strongly that the naga will never be part of the Indian Union nor will they accept the constitution of India.
Thuingaleng Muivah added that there could be no compromise with the NSCN’s (IM) insistence on a Naga flag and constitution.
“We have stood firm on these two non-negotiable issues and we will continue to defend ourselves to the last man standing,” he said.
Muivah added that Naga organizations such as the Naga National Political Groups or various civil society organizations, which do not insist on a separate flag and constitution, are “traitors.”
In a 55 minute interview with Karan Thapar to The wireMuivah, who is 86 years old and hard of hearing, also harshly criticized RN Ravi, the interlocutor and governor of Nagaland.
He says that Ravi has “betrayed” the NSCN (IM), “kicked us out” and was acting at the behest of the Union Ministry of the Interior.
Clearly indicating that the NSCN (IM) patience is wearing thin Muivah said The wire that if the government does not agree to the terms of the NSCN (IM) or moves away from previous understandings, it would be “forced to abandon the talks.”
However, despite repeated questioning, he refused to say how much longer he was willing to give the talks. It also repeatedly refused to answer the question whether the NSCN (IM) would take up arms if it withdrew from the talks, thus returning the situation in Nagaland to that which prevailed before the 1997 ceasefire. At a time when Asked if the insurgency would resume if the talks collapsed, his response was “you have to ask the Indian government that.”
It is clear from the interview that the starting point for Muivah’s arguments is the fact that he believes that the Nagas have a unique history and identity. He said that historically the Nagas have never been under Indian rule. He repeatedly said that this has been accepted by the Indian government. Therefore, he argued, if the naga have a unique identity and history, the solution must also be unique.
When specifically asked if the government’s refusal to accept a separate naga flag and constitution would be a breaking point, he said “there can be no solution without a flag and constitution.” He rejected the argument that after the government revoked Article 370 and removed the Kashmir flag and constitution, it now cannot accept this in the case of Nagaland. He said that the unique history and identity of the Naga not only means that the solution must be unique, but also that the Jammu and Kashmir precedent cannot be applied.
When Muivah was pointed out that groups like the Naga National Political Groups and civil society organizations are not insisting on a flag and a constitution, he called them “traitors”.
Yesterday, October 15, all NNPGs and civil society groups unanimously passed a resolution to support the ongoing talks with “one voice.” The resolution, however, remained quiet on NSCN’s (IM) demand for a separate flag.
Speaking to The Wire about the fact that the August 2015 Framework Agreement, signed by the NSCN (IM) and the government of India, speaks of “sharing sovereign power”, Muivah said emphatically and repeatedly that this does not mean that the Nagas will accept and be bound by the Indian constitution.
Their unique history and identity means they have to have their own constitution, he said. He also said repeatedly and emphatically that the Naga would never be part of the Indian Union.
In The wire In the interview, Muivah repeatedly spoke of the Nagas and the government of India as two entities. At one point, he even spoke of them as two separate nations.
He said they could share sovereignty with each other, adding that over the past 23 years of talks the two have grown closer but remain separate entities. He emphatically stood on the line he adopted on August 14, 2019, a date that the NSCN (IM) regards as Naga Independence Day, that the Naga “will not merge with India.”
Speaking about the NSCN (IM) insistence that all Naga inhabited areas outside of the current Nagaland boundaries should be integrated with Nagaland to create what the NSCN calls ‘Nagalim’, Muivah said that this remained an important part of the position. of the NSCN.
He said that the Pan Naga Hoho proposed by Ravi, a cultural body without political function or executive authority, and the Naga Regional Territorial Councils, under the Sixth Annex of the constitution, for the Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, is acceptable as a transition and as a first step. However, the goal remains the integration of all Naga areas into Nagalim. He also said that Ravi has accepted that this is only a transitional measure and that all Naga areas must be integrated.
What seems clear is that on this issue of the integration of Naga inhabited areas, the NSCN (IM) is prepared to give the government time to fully implement it, provided the government accepts the principle of doing so. This is a reiteration of what Muivah told the BBC program ‘HARDtalk India’ in an interview in April 2005.
Muivah spoke particularly loudly and passionately of the loss of trust in Ravi.
File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with NSCN (IM) Secretary General Thuingaleng Muivah at the signing ceremony of the historic peace agreement between the Government of India and NSCN (IM), in New Delhi. Photo: PTI
Confirming to The wire who wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February insisting that from now on the talks should take place at the “highest” level, “without preconditions and outside India in a third country”, Muivah said that even eight months later, the NSCN (IM) has not received a formal response. He wouldn’t say if they had received one informally or what it was.
When asked repeatedly if the talks are near the breaking point, Muivah declined to give a clear answer, but said that if the government refuses to accept the important demands of the NSCN (IM) or backs down on what it had agreed to. previously, they would then be “forced” to leave. But he did not say how much longer he was willing to hold talks or whether the NSCN (IM) would resume the insurgency and fighting if the talks collapse.
Muivah said the NSCN (IM) still has patience, even though they have been speaking for 23 years. He repeatedly said, without giving details, that on many points an understanding or agreement had been reached before, but now it is Ravi who seems to be backing away.
In fact, Muivah, who began the interview by criticizing Jawaharlal Nehru for his intransigence and his refusal to accept that the Nagas have a unique history and identity, towards the end began to compare Narendra Modi to Nehru and suggested that his government, today, It’s similar. intransigent.
The above is a paraphrased summary of Thuingaleng Muivah’s interview with Karan Thapar for The wire. Be patient with the sheer volume of questions that were asked, often repeatedly. It was necessary to ensure that Thuingaleng Muivah could hear them correctly. The full interview is available here.
.
