Muivah Threatens Armed Resistance If Centre Rejects Third-Party Mediator in Naga Talks | Guwahati News – Times of India

GUWAHATI: NSCN (IM) has issued an unequivocal ultimatum to terminate its 27-year-old ceasefire if the Centre rejects its proposition for incorporating a third party mediator for concluding the protracted peace negotiations, which have reached an impasse over its adamant demands for a separate flag and distinct constitution.
The warning was conveyed through a statement by the group’s general secretary, Th Muivah, after an inconclusive round of deliberations in New Delhi on Oct 7 and 8 pertaining to the “Framework Agreement” that was signed between NSCN (IM) and the Centre in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015.
Accusing the Centre of deliberately contravening the ‘Framework Agreement’, Muivah proclaimed, “In order to conclude and realize an honorable political agreement, we rule out peaceful means against the ignominious betrayal of the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of Aug 3, 2015 by the GoI. However, in the first place, we propose a third-party intervention to resolve the betrayal of the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of Aug 3, 2015. But if such a political initiative is rejected by the GoI, the NSCN shall resume the violent armed resistance against India for defending the Nagalim unique history and her sovereign existence.”
Muivah, who presently functions as the principal political negotiator spearheading deliberations with the govt, further asserted that in the event of violent confrontation, “India and its leadership shall be held accountable for the catastrophic and adverse situation that will arise out of the violent armed conflict between India and Nagalim.”
Muivah said if the govt desires an honorable political agreement, it must “respect and honor the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of Aug 3, 2015, whereby, among others, the Nagalim sovereign national flag and Nagalim sovereign national constitution are officially recognized and acknowledged in the political agreement.”
After the inaugural meeting with former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao in Paris in 1995, which culminated in the signing of the ceasefire agreement on August 1, 1997, unconditional talks were conducted in several other third countries and subsequently in New Delhi with two other Indian prime ministers — HD Deve Gowda and Atal Behari Vajpayee.
After over 600 rounds of negotiations, on Oct 3, 2015, NSCN (IM) and the Centre signed the ‘Framework Agreement’ which stipulates that “while the GoI in expression of the understanding recognized the unique history and position of the Nagas; the NSCN understood and appreciated the intricacies of the Indian system.”
The Framework Agreement further delineates that “both sides have understood each other’s respective positions and are cognizant of the universal principle that in a democracy, sovereignty lies with the people. Accordingly, the Govt. of India and the NSCN, respecting people’s wishes for sharing the sovereign power as defined in the competencies, reached an agreement on Aug 3, 2015 as an honorable solution.”
Peace negotiations with NSCN-IM have reached a deadlock due to its unwavering demand for a separate Naga flag and constitution, which the central government unequivocally rejects.
Simultaneously, the govt maintains dialogues with NSCN splinter factions under distinct ceasefire arrangements. These autonomous factions encompass NSCN-NK, NSCN-R, NSCN K-Khango and NSCN-K-Niki.