ISSUES LIKELY TO BE RESOLVED TODAY; NO NEGOTIATION AFTER OCT 31
Refuting speculations on October 30, that Government of India has accepted NSCN (I-M)’s demand for a separate Naga national flag and constitution in the agreement, Interlocutor for Naga Peace Talks, R.N Ravi has reiterated that these demands were not acceptable to government of India.
When contacted by Nagaland Post to confirm the speculations, Ravi dismissed them as “baseless rumours”. He further reiterated that government of India had made its position clear on earlier occasions to NSCN (I-M) on the issue of flag and constitution.
Asked about Wednesday’s meeting with NSCN (I-M), Ravi said, there was a “narrowing down of differences between the parties over the existing contentious issue of flag and constitution.”
He however added that the two negotiating parties were yet to arrive at any “mutually agreed position” on the issue. Ravi also disclosed that both parties were expected to meet again on Thursday, October 31 and expressed the hope that the contentious issues of flag and constitution would be resolved.
Ravi will be meeting NSCN (I-M) negotiators led by Th. Muivah for what is to be the last meeting at 11 a.m. over the latter’s demand for separate Naga flag and constitution before the end of the three-month deadline of October 31, to conclude negotiations.
Both sides met on Wednesday for over two hours but ended “inconclusive” and met at 4 p.m. the same evening. However, the scheduled meeting was postponed to October 31 (Thursday).
Asked about whether the government of India will sign the agreement on October 31, Ravi clarified that the three month deadline set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was for conclusion of the “endless and protracted negotiations” that has been going on for over 22 years.
“The three month time-frame is for all the contentious issues to be resolved. Negotiation over issues concludes. There will be no negotiation over issues, with any group, after October 31,” reiterated Ravi.
If both parties arrive at some mutual understanding over flag and constitution, Ravi said modalities would be worked out to bring the Naga negotiators (NSCN & NNPGs) together for signing the agreement for solution but that the date was yet to be decided.
When contacted by Nagaland Post, highly placed sources in the NSCN (I-M) also indicated that the two negotiating parties were likely to resolve the issue of flag and constitution on Thursday.
NSCN (I-M) sources said they handed over draft proposal on the two issues to the Interlocutor during Wednesday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, reliable sources confirmed to Nagaland Post that government of India and NSCN (I-M) could leave the issue of flag and constitution “unresolved and to be pursued through peaceful democratic political process. With the government of India having clearly stated its stand on the issue of flag and constitution, the ball is now in NSCN (I-M)’s court on whether to insist on its demands which could end the cease fire after over 22 long years of negotiations or evolve a consensus with government of India.
In the event of NSCN(I-M) and the government of India arriving at a consensus, Ravi is expected to bring NSCN (I-M) and Working Committee (WC) of Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) together in next few weeks to work out the modalities to fulfil Modi’s vision of “One Peace Process and One Solution”.
On the other hand, the WC of NNPGs have cleared their stand by stating on Naga flag and constitution. The NNPGs maintained that only a democratic and popularly elected Tatar Hoho and Leacy Hoho as elected and empowered by the Naga people would legislate and legitimise the flag’s usage “in whatever manner as may deem fit post solution.”
On the issue of Naga constitution, NNPGs have clearly pointed out that Nagas do not have any written or codified system of law, order or administration of justice till today except for the modern day courts of post-British-Indian era.
If need arose for constitution, WC said the best Naga minds can broaden their intellect and along with combined wisdom and expertise, drawn from every tribe and community will codify the law and put it for legislation to the Tatar and Leacy Hoho “in consonance with the realities of the times.”