EMN
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 3
Even as the “historic peace accord” was on Monday signed between the NSCN (IM) and the government of India, the outfit’s general secretary, Th Muivah has reminded the latter that Nagas can still come closer if only their rights are respected.
“Let me also assure you that Nagas can still come closer if their rights are respected. On behalf of the Naga people allow me to assure you once again that Nagas can be trustworthy and take into your confidence for any policy in the Northeast and beyond the frontiers,” Muivah stated during his speech at the signing of the accord, which has been described as a “framework agreement” between the two entities. Copy of his speech was made available to the local press.
“Beginning from now the challenges will be great so also the responsibilities.
The obligations to meet the needs of the people shall be paramount for both the parties to make this historic endeavour more meaningful,” Muivah said.
He also appreciated the “wisdom, leadership and vision” of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to build an enduring relationship between the Nagas and Indians.
“The Nagas will ever remember you for your statesmanship and your profound understanding of the Nagas with warm heart for them.”
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I thank God for this momentous occasion. On behalf of the Chairman Mr. Isak Chishi Swu and the Naga people kindly allow me to begin by saying that Naga people have great respect for Mahatma Gandhi because he understood and respected the Nagas when the Naga delegation met him for the first time in 1947. Unfortunately, after his demise, the Indian state resorted to military might to crush the Nagas. Armed confrontation followed inflicting heavy losses on both the parties.
After a long fighting, Mr. Narasimha Rao, the then Prime Minister of India had the courage to admit that it is political issue and should be solved through political negotiations. We appreciated his wisdom and accepted the Ceasefire Agreement to start political negotiation in 1997. We gave our commitment to him that NSCN shall leave no stone unturned to find a negotiated amicable settlement between the two parties.
The Nagas were very happy when the Government of India under the leadership of the then Prime Minister of India Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, declared the recognition of the “unique history and situation of Nagas” in 2002. We Nagas appreciated the statesmanship of Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee and we gave our commitment that if the Government of India would understand the reality of the Nagas, the Nagas will appreciate the reality of India even ten times more and we never back-track from our commitments.
Today, under the visionary leadership of honorable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, we have come close to understand each other and have worked out a new relationship between the two parties on the basis of this uniqueness. We appreciate your wisdom, your leadership and your vision to build an enduring relationship between the Nagas and Indians. The Nagas will ever remember you for your statesmanship and your profound understanding of the Nagas with warm heart for them.
Sd/-
Mr. Th. Muivah.
General Secretary, NSCN
