NSCN IM leader Muivah returns home after 61 years

NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah returned to his native village Somdal in Manipur today after 61 years. The 92 years old NSCN-IM leader left home in 1964 to join the Naga national movement.

Earlier, the chopper carrying Muivah from Dimapur airport stopped at Ukhrul town for about two hours where thousands of people warmly welcomed the NSCN-IM general secretary. The programme was organised at Tangkhul Naga Long Ground in Ukhrul district headquarters. Scores of top NSCN-IM leaders and leaders from various communities also joined the programme which began at around 11 am.

People started converging at Tangkhul Naga Long Ground just before 8 am. Leaders from various communities (non-Nagas) also joined the reception programme.

As the chopper carrying Muivah, which started from Dimapur airport in Nagaland touched down Bakshi Ground near Tangkhul Naga Long Ground in Ukhrul, people holding Naga flags screamed and whistled with excitement while welcoming the NSCN-IM leader. For many, it was a moment to be emotional as they waved the Naga flags in teary eyes.

Choirs and artistes performed their items for the NSCN-IM leader as he sat in the dais with other dignitaries. The chopper, two hours later, took the NSCN-IM leader to Somdal village where a similar reception was organised.

NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah said today that the only honorable negotiated political agreement shall be according to the letter and spirit of the Amsterdam Joint Communiqué, the Framework Agreement that officially recognizes Nagalim unique history, Nagalim sovereignty, sovereign Nagalim territory, the Naga national flag, and the Naga national constitution.

 "The Amsterdam Joint Communiqué of July 11, 2002 and the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 are the unifying and rallying point for all Nagas today, wherever they are," he said, adding, "I therefore call upon all Nagas, wherever they are, not to waver nor cower but to join the national salvation line based on the letter and spirit of the Amsterdam Joint Communiqué and the Framework Agreement wherein, Nagalim unique history, Nagalim sovereignty, Naga national flag and Naga national constitution are officially recognized and acknowledged".

This is the speech of Th Muivah at Ukhrul Naga Long Ground in Ukhrul district headquarters which was read out by V S Atem, deputy Ato Kilonser (deputy prime minister) of the NSCN-IM, where a reception was organised for the former.

Muivah's speech then "reiterated the national decision taken by Nagalim and the Naga people on August 14, 1947; to remain a sovereign and independent nation and the May 16, 1951 Plebiscite wherein we reaffirmed the national decision to be sovereign".

He added, "For these historic decisions we are truly indebted to our great Naga leaders of the past. The Tangkhuls are not the first people in the Nagalim national movement.

It was the Zeliangrong people under the leadership of Haipou Jadonang; it was AZ Phizo and his Tenemia people who led the movement; it was Kughato Sukhai, Scato Swu and Sumi people who manned the front line of the battle; it was T. Aliba Imti and Imkong Meren and Ao people; it was Khodao Yanthan and Lotha people; it was Gen. Kholi Konyak and the people in erstwhile Tuensang who led the movement and many others". 

Muivah then said that the Naga victims of human rights violations have not received any justice till today and judgement has never come clearly demonstrating the post-colonial psychology of the totalitarian Indian state. "Till date, the Government of India has not apologized for the human rights violations against the Naga people", he added.

Muivah then recalled, "Having recognized the Indo-Naga conflict as political, the Government of India and the NSCN declared a cease-fire on August 1, 1997, and the political negotiation started at the highest level, without pre-conditions and outside India in a third neutral country".

Subsequently, the Milan, Italy MoU of November 2002 revoked the unlawful ban on the NSCN/GPRN, and the invitation of the Prime Minister of India was extended to the NSCN/GPRN leadership, Chairman Isak Chishi Swu, and himself to come to India.

 However, during the Indo-Naga political peace process, the violation of human rights against the members of the NSCN/GPRN intensified, and they are all on record and archived by the NSCN/GPRN, he also said.

"Even today in the ongoing political peace process between the Government of India and the NSCN, some high ranking NSCN/ GPRN members like Mrs. Alemla Jamir Shimrang, Kilonser, Col. Hopeson Ningshen S/o NK. Pishang of Nambashi village and others are falsely accused of 'waging war against India' and incarcerated as Prisoners of War (PoWs) in the infamous Tihar jail in New Delhi and others elsewhere", he also stated.

"Can the Nagas ever trust the hypocrisy and double standard of the Government of India, its leadership and agencies like the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA)?" he asked, adding, "It is time for the leadership of India to realize its mistakes, change its terror pogrom, and apologize to the Naga people".   

Muivah, however, said that in spite of the milestone steps taken by the two parties, the Government of India has betrayed the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, by refusing to recognize and acknowledge the Nagalim national flag and national constitution.

 "It is concluded that the Government of India is not in a position to implement the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement. Hence, in order to destroy the Amsterdam Joint Communiqué and the Framework Agreement, the Government of India has orchestrated the strategy of dividing the Naga people from within", he added.

 He also said that the Nagas must be sufficiently warned of their plot with the reactionaries, within and without, who are systematically propagating a distorted version of the Framework Agreement that supports the position of the Government of India.

 "In view of this betrayal, I make the position of the NSCN/GPRN clear to the Government of India that the Amsterdam Joint Communiqué and the Framework Agreement are the only foundations for the final negotiated political settlement. If the Government of India desires an honorable political agreement with the NSCN and Nagalim, it must exercise its political will and wisdom by respecting and honoring the letter and spirit of the Amsterdam Joint Communiqué and the Framework Agreement", he asserted.