Kohima, March 4: Cutting across recent resentments, the Isak Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) on Wednesday showed its interest to resume the Naga peace talks.
Alleging the Nagaland Governor and the central government’s interlocutor for the naga peace talks R.N Ravi for “creating unnecessary confusion”, the outfit in ceasefire since 1997, in a release issued by its ministry of information and publicity, said the historic “framework agreement (fa)” signed on August 3, 2015 is being brought back to live in order to remove any misinterpretation and thereby hasten the signing of naga solution agreement.
“it is needless to say that in many points of his (RN Ravi) statements and conclusions reflected his role as Nagaland governor and not as interlocutor. it is a matter of regret that his role as interlocutor is nothing less than disparaging and dismal, the presser to the media houses mentioned.
It added, “The status of the naga political talks that came up in the last parliamentary session was confirmed by the union government that it is in advance stage. no doubt, this is the ground reality of the indo-naga political talk and NSCN talk team is leaving no stone unturned to safeguard the political identity of the Naga people,” the statement said.
Setting aside differences, NSCN-IM in the statement on Wednesday, said the political talks are being carried forward by involving in an “honourable and acceptable” way by involving both the Naga people (represented by NSCN-IM and the Central government.
“this is the official understanding and the only way to conclude the talk. NSCN, therefore, under no circumstances will fail the naga people and will never sign any agreement that is short of the mutual standard as agreed upon,” it said.
The Naga talks initiated through Naga Peace Accord signed between NSCN-IM and the Centre in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2015, paved the way for atleast 80 meetings and both parties have resolved at least 31 demands. The only remaining differences are over a separate flag and a separate constitution.