Setting at rest speculations regarding status of talks, especially after the demise of NSCN (I-M) chairman Isak Chishi Swu, a joint communiqué issued by NSCN (I-M) general secretary Th. Muivah and government of India’s Interlocutor for talks, R.N. Ravi assured that talks were progressing in the right direction and that both sides were closer than ever before to the final settlement and expressed the hope that it would be sooner than later.
Both Muivah and Ravi reiterated that the political initiative of the government of India and the NSCN (I-M) to resolve the Naga political issue had received a new urgency and impetus during the last two years.
During the period, the two said talks had become more purposeful, less ritualistic and more forthright and far more frequent than in all previous years adding this helped build unprecedented mutual understanding and trust.
Both Muivah and Ravi lauded prime minister Narendra Modi’s statesmanship and his respect for the Nagas, their legitimate rights and aspirations and wisdom of Naga leaders that could lead to the historic framework agreement of August 3, 2015 which settles political parameters for a final solution. The details were being worked out within these parameters, they said.
The signatories admitted that the process of ongoing talks were adversely impacted due to prolonged illness and passing away of Isak Chishi Swu chairman of NSCN(I-M) and described his departure as “a big loss for all of us.”
After signing the accord on August 3, 2015, government of India said it would come out with the details in the next six months, but it was yet to do so. The delay is adding to rising differences among the other NSCN factions, whose support is important for the accord to become a success.
Earlier, in an exclusive interview with Nagaland Post, R.N. Ravi when asked about the contents of the agreement, that it was deliberately being kept a secret, he said “to say that contents of the agreement being kept a secret from the public is a big fat lie”.
It is being said mostly by the free riders who are reluctant to face the truth and take responsibilities, he said. “I have painstakingly explained the contents, bit by bit, to, by and large, every stakeholder”, Ravi said.
Though the Framework Agreement has not been published as yet, Ravi said he had made it clear “to all the stakeholders that the Framework Agreement is not the final settlement. Hence, it would be premature to release it in the public domain”.
Since the government would be publishing the full agreement as and when reached, Ravi said “there was no question of keeping the public in dark.”
It may be mentioned that the historic ‘framework agreement’ was signed by R.N. Ravi representing the government of India and Th. Muivah of the NSCN (I-M) in the presence of the Prime Minister, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and NSCN (I-M) functionaries at Modi’s 7 Race Course Residence in New Delhi.
The signing of the agreement came after over 80 rounds of negotiations that spanned 18 years with first breakthrough in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was sealed.