Kohima: Former Nagaland chief minister Dr. SC Jamir wants an end to the local political stalemate. He is calling on the NSCN (IM) and the NPF leadership to finally implement the pending Naga peace agreements. Citizens remain the primary victims of this lack of a formal solution. Peace is overdue.
In a recent article, Jamir pointed to the Framework Agreement signed on August 3, 2015. High-level officials including the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and National Security Advisor witnessed the event. The text makes zero mention of integration or sovereignty. This means the terms sit safely within the Constitution of India. Jamir noted, "No Prime Minister, however popular, would allow any political agreement outside the Constitution, nor two sovereignties in the same country."
The path forward is clear. Any new competencies must go to Parliament for inclusion in Article 371A. Meanwhile, autonomy for Naga areas in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh could fit the Sixth Schedule. Jamir contrasted the NNPGs, which circulated their Agreed Position, with the NSCN (IM) for keeping their own competencies a secret. He warned the state government against twisting the meaning of the Framework Agreement.
Jamir traced the origins of the movement back to the 1929 memorandum to the Simon Commission and the 1951 plebiscite under A Z Phizo. He claimed the movement began solely within the soil of Nagaland. It has since fractured into 37 different factions. He expressed bitterness over the lack of support from southern Nagas during the violent years following 1955. He dismissed the NPF for dwelling on archaic issues like his past correspondence with P Shilu Ao.
The former governor urged all parties to stop pointing fingers. "This is the time to avoid blame games because we know our status visa vis Naga politics so also by now our brothers who are from other states should be aware of," he said. He believes a final settlement will naturally put every lingering issue in its proper place.
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