Members of the ‘Like-minded Elders’ collective following its meeting at the residence of former Chief Minister and Governor, Dr SC Jamir, in Chümoukedima on January 29.
Says Naga talks concluded 6 years ago
Morung Express News
Chümoukedima | January 29
Former Chief Minister and Governor Dr SC Jamir stated that raising demands for a separate Flag and Constitution after signing the Framework Agreement falls outside the legitimate political framework. He told a press conference, alongside other prominent figures of the state, that the Indo-Naga talks formally concluded six years ago with the signing of the Framework Agreement in 2015 and the Agreed Position in 2017. Based on these agreements, Jamir contended that it implied “no integration and no sovereignty.”
“It means Nagas of Manipur will be in Manipur. Nagas of Arunachal will be in Arunachal. Nagas of Nagaland will be in Nagaland,” Jamir said.
The press conference was called at his Chümoukedima residence following what was said to be the “second like-minded meet” of elders on January 29. Besides Jamir were former Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee President K Therie, former Assembly Speaker Z Lohe and retired IAS bureaucrat KK Sema, peace activist and former Nagaland Tribes Council member Theja Therieh, and others.
Othera prominent members, mostly former legislators and retired bureaucrats, are also part of the collective. Immediate implementation of the concluded agreements forms the core of its rationale.
Regarding the delay in the political solution, Jamir observed that the Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) does not appear to pose an obstacle to a settlement. He attributed the delay to the stance taken by the NSCN-IM over the contested demand for a separate Naga flag and constitution. “According to my reading, there is no problem from NNPGs. But it is IM (NSCN-IM) who is delaying,” he stated.
KK Sema endorsed Jamir’s assessment and called for greater transparency regarding the “competency clauses” of the Framework Agreement. He argued that the negotiating groups represent the public interest, not merely their cadres, and therefore the demands placed before the Centre should be public knowledge.
“Let them implement it in Manipur if they want. But they cannot implement their competency clauses here in Nagaland without telling us," Sema said.
He trained his gun at the Nagaland state government, questioning the efficacy of the concept of an “opposition-less government,” championed by the current dispensation. He characterised it as ineffective tomfoolery. “What is this tomfoolery of having an opposition-less government facilitating nothing all these years,” Sema asked, stating that the state government has acted more as a “roadblock” than a bridge.
The state government’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) also came under their radar with Z Lohe charging it of failing to pass a resolution, despite prior announcements, in its recent meeting held on January 17.
Turning to the role of the Centre, Lohe accused the Government of India of failing on its part to deliver a solution despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s past announcements.
He claimed that the former GoI Interlocutor RN Ravi, who was also the Nagaland Governor, was removed from the role at the behest of the NSCN (IM). He said that Ravi was “very ardent and determined to solve the issue.”
K Therie held that the delay and status quo is only benefiting certain political entities and national workers while the general public suffers. According to Therie, the Ceasefire Ground Rules (CFGR) and its implementation by the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) featured in the discussion. He accused the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) of lacking teeth, while adopting a “divide and rule” policy that has resulted in the mushrooming of breakaway groups rather than maintaining order.
However, he added that the public is also accountable, stating, “The Nagas are also weak, that's why we have succumbed to their games.”
He said that the collective will continue meeting to “concretise” their effort. He described the forum as an "apolitical" body of concerned citizens despite the political and bureaucratic backgrounds of its members.
On FNR
On the Forum for Naga Reconciliations call for the Naga Political Groups going beyond the Framework Agreement and Agreed Position and find common ground, Dr SC Jamir held that the mandate lies solely with the signatories— the NSCN-IM, WC, NNPGs, and Government of India. He said that since the agreements are already concluded and signed, there is no scope to go “beyond” them.
