Guwahati: NSCN (IM) has issued an unequivocal ultimatum to terminate its 27-year-old ceasefire if the Centre rejects its proposition for incorporating a third party mediator for concluding the protracted peace negotiations, which have reached an impasse over its adamant demands for a separate flag and distinct constitution.
The warning was conveyed through a statement by the group’s general secretary, Th Muivah, after an inconclusive round of deliberations in New Delhi on Oct 7 and 8 pertaining to the “Framework Agreement” that was signed between NSCN (IM) and the Centre in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015.
Accusing the Centre of deliberately contravening the ‘Framework Agreement’, Muivah proclaimed, “In order to conclude and realise an honourable political agreement, we rule out peaceful means against the ignominious betrayal of the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of Aug 3, 2015 by the GoI. However, in the first place, we propose a third-party intervention to resolve the betrayal of the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of Aug 3, 2015. But if such a political initiative is rejected by the GoI, the NSCN shall resume the violent armed resistance against India for defending the Nagalim unique history and her sovereign existence.”
Muivah, who presently functions as the principal political negotiator spearheading deliberations with the govt, further asserted that in the event of violent confrontation, “India and its leadership shall be held accountable for the catastrophic and adverse situation that will arise out of the violent armed conflict between India and Nagalim.”
Muivah said if the govt desires an honourable political agreement, it must “respect and honour the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of Aug 3, 2015, whereby, among others, the Nagalim sovereign national flag and Nagalim sovereign national constitution are officially recognized and acknowledged in the political agreement.”