The Isak Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) has accused former interlocutor and present Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi of “psychological warfare” by organising military exercises and bringing in jet fighters and rocket launchers in Naga dominated areas after the group refused to sign the peace agreement by October 31, 2019. It said the negotiations were still going on and he had previously misinformed a Parliament Standing Committee in 2017 on the Naga Framework Agreement stating that earlier the Nagas’ stand was to be “with India” and not “within India” but now an understanding has reached to be “within India.”
In a statement issued on April 10, the NSCN(IM) said Mr. Ravi threatened the group with dire consequences and declared that with or without the NSCN, an agreement had to be signed on or before October 31, 2019.
“Mr. Ravi could not convince the NSCN to sign an agreement without the Naga flag and the Yehzabo [constitution],” the statement said, adding that the date was served as an ultimatum to the group.
‘Psychological warfare’
“What followed were the tacit pressure put on the NSCN in particular and the Naga people in general. Mr. Ravi resorted to psychological warfare. There were military exercises — jet fighters flying in the Naga areas and bombing and big tanks and rocket launchers were brought as if a real war is coming. Uncountable Indian security forces were poured in and stationed in the Naga areas. Even the Nagaland State police were instructed to keep rations in stock for at least two months and the Special Branch (SB) department of the Nagaland police was instructed to identify NSCN members and their residences. The NSCN nevertheless was unnerved at the sight of this development and firmly stood its ground,” the statement said.
The group said the framework agreement clearly mentioned that, “It is with great satisfaction that dialogue between the Government of India and the NSCN has successfully concluded and we are confident that it will provide for an enduring inclusive new relationship of peaceful coexistence of the two entities.” In the true political interpretation, it means a relationship between India and Nagas to begin a new and a fresh unlike the present arrangements, “to co-exist as two friendly entities under the principle of shared sovereignty.”
The NSCN(IM), one of the largest Naga groups, signed a framework agreement on August 3, 2015 to end the decades-old Naga issue. Interlocutor Mr. Ravi signed the agreement on behalf of the Centre in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The other two signatories were Isak Chishi Swu, who died in 2016, and Thuingaleng Muivah (86), who is currently leading the talks.
The NSCN(IM) has been fighting for ‘Greater Nagaland’ or Nagalim — it wants to extend Nagaland’s borders by including Naga-dominated areas in neighbouring Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, to unite 1.2 million Nagas. The Centre has said that there will be no disintegration of States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur to merge the Naga inhabited areas with the existing State of Nagaland.
