Th. Muivah reaffirms on Naga flag, constitution

NSCN (I-M) supremo Th Muivah on Wednesday was accorded a historic welcome at Senapati on arrival by helicopter from his native village Somdal.
“I thank the Naga people gathered here who have acknowledged and responded positively to the successful political steps taken by the NSCN/GPRN during the political conflict and in the ongoing political negotiation between the government of India and the NSCN,” he said in his speech read out by deputy ato kilonser V.S.Atem.
Muivah said the NSCN “with great endurance and perseverance has patiently and successfully negotiated with the Government of India for the past 28 years”, and its commitment and contribution are commendable, he said.
“My late friend, chairman Isak Chishi Swu, has also appended his signature in the historic Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, which no one should violate and tarnish,” the NSCN(IM) chief said.
The Framework Agreement was signed aiming at bringing lasting peace to Nagaland. He asserted that the organisation has “patiently and successfully” negotiating with the government of India for the past 28 years.
He was alluding to the ceasefire agreement between the NSCN(IM) and the Centre, which was signed in 1997 after over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years. The pact was sealed after decades of insurgency in Nagaland, which started alongside Independence in 1947.
Th. Muivah expressed regret that despite signing the Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015, the Government of India had continued to disregard its essence by refusing to acknowledge the Naga national flag and constitution.
Muivah reiterated that the Naga national flag and constitution remain non-negotiable as they form the sole basis for any negotiated political settlement with the Government of India, both now and in the future.
He emphasized that the final settlement between the Government of India and the NSCN, representing Nagalim, must reflect the uniqueness of Naga history. According to him, the envisioned “new relationship” would be based on “sharing of sovereign power” in recognition of Nagaland’s unique history, including its national flag and constitution. Muivah further stated that this arrangement would not be bound by the constitutions of India or Myanmar but would derive from a political agreement between the two sovereign entities, existing outside the Indian and Burmese constitutional frameworks. However, the Centre has not accepted NSCN-IM’s persistent demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas, which has led to prolonged negotiations.
Subsequently, the government entered into parallel negotiations with the WC-NNPGs, a coalition of seven Naga groups, in 2017, and inked the Agreed Position on November 17 of the same year
Earlier, thousands of people welcomed Muivah and presented a cultural programme. He arrived at the Naga-majority Senapati district by helicopter from his native village of Somdal in Ukhrul district.
Meanwhile, the United Naga Council, the apex body of Nagas in Manipur, reiterated its stance for an “honourable and acceptable solution” to the Naga political issue based on the Framework Agreement.