NSCN (IM) New Joinees Anointed "Somewhere in Nagaland", Pics Surface Online

Kohima, March 6, 2020:

A picture of fresh cadets (numbering in the hundreds) of the Isaak Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) taking blessings/anointment is now circulating in online social media platforms.

Although it is not known as of yet where the viral photos originated, this has come fresh on the heels of 300 youths being inducted into the "Naga National Army," the armed wing of the Naga rebel group. The 300+ youths were reportedly inducted after 3 months of "intensive training" where both their mental and physical faculties were developed.

Meanwhile, the NSCN (IM) is tangled in a war of words with the Government's interlocutor, R N Ravi. Ravi, it may be recalled had accused the group of misinterpreting the Framework Agreement with “new and mischievous interpretations”. Ravi had also alleged that Nagaland’s largest insurgent group is “not prepared for a settlement".

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Strongly condemning his statement, the NSCN (IM) said that Ravi’s remarks are “immature” by reiterating that it does not consider the Framework Agreement as “contentious” or ambiguous but one in which the foundation for solving the “decades old Indo-Naga conflict”. Further the insurgent body claimed that the agreement was  “each other’s history and sharing of sovereignty or sovereign powers between two entities.”

It also said that during negotiations both sides had “mutually agreed and concluded that the political power of a government including, Legislative, Executive and Judiciary, shall be with the Naga Government” covering all Naga areas with powers exercised by the Naga government “ on the mutually agreed competencies”.

NSCN (I-M) also said that the only contentious issue was the “Naga National Flag”, while the anthem, emblem and insignia were already agreed to by the government of India.

The issue of flag and constitution was not a deviation from the Framework Agreement and the Pan Naga Hoho was in fact, the official proposal of the government of India, said NSCN (I-M).

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NSCN (I-M) went on to say that even on several occasions during political talks,, the Interlocutor had proposed that Naga national flag be used in Pan Naga Hoho but which it turned down on the ground that the Naga national flag should be with the Naga government and not a social or cultural body.

NSCN (I-M) also said the final agreement shall constitute a constitution to be “called Yehzabo (Naga constitution), covering the areas of its own competencies”.

On this NSCN (I-M) said it has been sincerely working for a final acceptable and honourable political solution to uphold the national identity of Nagas which include Naga national flag and constitution and so its position was not a misinterpretation or dilution of the Framework Agreement.

In a more recent press release, the extremist group has also stated that the GoI must be "very clear about the position of its representative RN Ravi with regards to the Framework Agreement (FA), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and its agencies like the NIA with terrorist activities even after 22 years of Indo-Naga political negotiation that had started from August 1, 1997.."

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