The NSCN (I-M) on Saturday stated that the formal Naga talk which resumed with the new interlocutor AK Mishra after a gap of nearly two years has failed to live up to all the hype as the Central government continues to indulge in "political escapism" on the very issues that is holding up the road to the Naga solution.
Ironically, the Central government is still pretentiously acting stubborn as the crucial rounds of talks that focused on the Naga flag and the Constitution are driven to hang in balance, and the stalemate created is unfortunate, the NSCN (I-M) stated in a release issued by its Information and Publicity Ministry.
It stated that the Central government is talking in "different languages" to different negotiating Naga groups in the matter of the Naga flag. But NSCN (I-M) was not impressed when the offer was made to accept the Naga flag as a cultural symbol. The Naga issue is not a cultural issue that the Central government should change the Naga flag as a cultural symbol and forgo the Naga political identity as symbolised by the Naga flag, it stated. “Where is the need for the Naga ceasefire if the Naga issue is a cultural problem and where is the need to drag on the Naga talks for more than two decades if the issue is something to do to solve cultural conflicts?” it questioned.
If further questioned, where is the need for Nagalim to get admitted as a bona fide member of the UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization) if the Naga issue is a cultural based problem. Nagalim was admitted into the fold of UNPO as NSCN (I-M) was able to establish the historical and political credentials of Nagalim before the UNPO governing body and had nothing to do with cultural credentials, it added.
It stated that what is of divine gift (Naga flag) to the Nagas, the NSCN (I-M) will take the stand to defend it to the last man standing and not succumb to the flattering ‘post solution’ offer. NSCN (I-M) cannot drag the Naga people to make another blunder by falling into the trap being machinated by the Central government. The earlier agreements or accords in the name of the Naga political solution are simply t"oo terrible" to recall, it added.
The Nagas cannot be carried away by the “post solution narrative” which is just a well laid trap, it further stated. Christmas may come and go but the NSCN (I-M) will not stop fighting to defend the Naga political identity, it added.
Needless to say, the Naga flag is not just a piece of cloth to the Nagas but a feeling of pride which helped hundreds of Naga martyrs to sacrifice their lives by just seeing the flag flying high in the sky, it further stated.
“Significantly, the Naga flag reminds us of the courage and sacrifice of our freedom fighters that have brought us where we stand today, proudly standing our ground to portray before the world the history of the Naga nation,” it stated. Down the line, the Nagas, particularly those who have gone through fire and water defending the political rights of the Naga people, have learned to attach a strong emotional bond to the Naga flag as a symbol of the Naga nation’s pride and values, it stated.
All said and done, the Naga national flag is of utmost importance for the Naga people and holds much spiritual value, NSCN (I-M) stated. It is the roof under which the feeling of nationalism and patriotism flourishes. “May God forbid the Nagas to accept any alternative arrangement in lieu of the Naga flag which symbolises the political struggle and identity of the Naga Nation,” it added.
