‘We will not accept any ultimatum on the peace process,’ says NSCN-IM general secretary Thuengaleng Muivah

GUWAHATI: The negotiation between centre and NSCN-IM to bring a lasting peace in the region that started in 1997 around mutual trust has entered the final stages of writing the final solution but the trust has been replaced by suspicion and things are not looking good. Sitting in his office at NSCN-IM headquarters at Camp Hebron in Nagaland, general secretary Thuengaleng Muivah tells Prabin Kalita why he no longer finds it easy to trust New Delhi.
On the long time taken for the final solution
"The final solution can be worked out without much difficulties. But, problem is with the Indians. Because history of Nagas is unique and that is very clear and Nagas were never under India. Our sovereignty lies with Nagas and this has been agreed upon. Indians also openly say that yes, Naga history is unique but on Indian side there are lot of difficulties and this has become a problem."
On the peace process
"The Indian government came with a proposal to seek a solution on the basis of shared sovereignty. But they have political difficulties. The question is how Nagas can also be prepared to understand and appreciate these difficulties. Finally we also agreed to have a final solution on the basis of shared sovereignty where India will have shared sovereignty with Nagas and Nagas will have shared sovereignty with Indians."
On the meeting point of both entities
"We said that our unique history will have to be officially acknowledged and also our sovereign rights will have to be officially accepted and acknowledged. At the same time the difficulties of India should also be acknowledged and appreciated. And at last Government of India said there will be inclusive peaceful co-existence between the two entities. This was their last promise. We took time and tried to understand each other and finally the Framework Agreement was signed (in 2015) in presence of Prime Minister himself."
On what went wrong
"There was no misunderstanding between us and India. But, before finalizing the solution unfortunately on one term—inclusion in the Framework Agreement there was differences in interpretation on both sides. What it meant was that all competencies mutually agreed upon have to be included in the solution. It does not mean that all Nagas will be included in Union of India. And now there is this three months ultimatum given by government of India to conclude the talks. They said all Nagas are to be made inclusive in Indian union. This is an ultimatum and we have rejected it. We will not accept, whether it is today or tomorrow, such kind of ultimatum to us.
On the inclusion of seven other groups in the peace process
"There are seven other parties called NNPG (Naga National Political Groups). Yes, if they are also determined to seek solution with us, there will be no hesitation in having them on board. Our late chairman Isak (Isak Chishi Swu) before his death clearly said, we are all Nagas. We must forgive each others mistakes. We have forgiven yours and you forgive ours. It is time to find the honorable solution."
On the unhappiness over the NNPG being on board
"The two NNPGs leaders Kitovi (N Kitovi Zhimomi) and Alezo openly said that they are seeking a solution for only the Nagaland state. So the problem is with Mr Ravi (Nagaland governor and interlocutor RN Ravi) not with us because integration (of all Nagas) is also agreed upon but the NNPG said they will seek their own solution. So dont blame us. They (NNPGs) are the people who have already been over by India. We have done the best we could to welcome every Naga group, every Naga to be inclusive, so the problem is with India, not us."
On NSCN-IM being sole stake holder in the peace process
"When we met Narasimha Rao (then Prime Minister of 1995) in Paris we asked for talks to be at highest level and in a third country. He said yes. When we said there are some other groups and he should talk with them as well, he said you represent the peopleRead More – Source