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North-East : Naga territory issue : Assam Govt. won’t accept compromise formula: CM

	January 24, 2005

Close on the heels of a Naga declaration for the unification of Naga-dominated areas of the Northeast, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Saturday that his government would not accept any compromise formula over the territorial boundary of the State.



The Chief Minister told reporters: “I have seen the declaration of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah). I would like to make it amply clear that we will not allow even an inch of our land to be included in the proposed greater Nagaland of the NSCN.”



He said: “I don’t know what is the opinion of the Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur but we have categorically informed New Delhi that they will not make any compromise over the constitutional boundary of the State.” The NSCN(IM) on Friday announced that no permanent and honourable solution can be hammered out to the decades-old political conflict without the unification of all Naga-inhabited areas of the North-East.



Addressing the opening session of the crucial two-day consultative meet on the Naga issue at NSCN (I-M) headquarters, Camp Hebron, the outfit’s chairman Chishi Swu asserted: “Unless the Nagas aspiration for unification of all Naga-inhabited areas is fully realised no negotiated settlement with New Delhi is possible.” “Nagas will accept only a negotiated settlement because we cannot accept the imposition of others’ will on us and the forced occupation of our country. For Nagas to have dignity and respect, it is essential that our aspirations for all Naga areas be united is fully realised”.

The NSCN (IM) stated that the integration of all Naga-inhabited areas in the North-East “is legitimate and non-negotiable”.



Over 6,000 people from Naga villages across Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh participated in the meeting presided over by Issac Chishi Swu and Thuingaling Muivah. Swu and Muivah had on Thursday made it clear that the NSCN(IM) would not compromise on the sovereignty issue. “The NSCN has received the people’s mandate for a peaceful solution”, publicity in-charge Chawang said.



Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi

The NSCN(IM) leaders of paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, 10 days before his death anniversary. Addressing the gathering, Swu pointed out that the Father of the Nation had supported the cause of the Nagas. “The Nagas have every right to be independent,” Gandhi had said Old Delhi on July 19, 1947.

Sources said though the Nagas regard India as their adversary, they revere the Mahatma.



On their trip to New Delhi in 2003, Swu and Muivah, had first visited Rajghat, the samadhi of Gandhiji.

Narrating the Naga history, Swu called Mahatma Gandhi as the “Indian who stood by the Nagas and recognised their rights.” Quoting Gandhiji’s declaration, “I will ask them to shoot me before one Naga is shot,” Swu said, “The Nagas have the greatest respect and admiration for Mahatma Gandhi because he understood us.” He also quoted Governor-General C. Rajagopalachari’s statement of 1948 that the Nagas have the liberty to be separate from India.



NSCN shuts door on rivals

The NSCN (Isak-Muivah) closed the door on reconciliation with other Naga insurgent groups despite some leaders of the Naga National Council (Adinno) and the Khaplang faction meeting Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah to ostensibly “apologise” for past mistakes.



Swu claimed during a news conference at his outfit’s base that the NNC functionaries apologised for signing the Shillong Accord of 1975. “They even handed over some files pertaining to the accord,” he said. The NSCN (I-M) opposes the accord on the ground that it compromises the interests of the Nagas.

Swu ruled out a ceasefire with the NSCN (K), though admitting that a leader of the group did meet him and Muivah, the NSCN (I-M) general secretary. He denied that senior NSCN (K) functionary Kitovi Zhimomi was among those who visited Camp Hebron. “He did not come. Some other leader met us.”



Muivah once again accused the NSCN (K) of colluding with the armed forces to subdue his organisation. “Is that in line with nationalist thinking, is that in line with the plebiscite?” he asked.



Ever since Swu and Muivah arrived in Nagaland on December 14, rival groups have been strident in their criticism of the duo’s strategy. The NNC and the Khaplang group have accused the NSCN (I-M) of betraying the Naga community by settling for integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas instead of sovereignty.



The Church and the Naga Hoho, which is the apex organisation of the various tribes that inhabit Nagaland, have already made several unsuccessful attempts to unite the warring groups.



Muivah said representatives of some unidentified rebel groups from Manipur met him and Swu to discuss various issues. “Any action taken by us and the government of India will affect them,” he said, suggesting that other rebel groups would be compelled to toe the NSCN (I-M)’s line.

Speaking to mediapersons after the concluding session of the outfit’s consultative meet, Chishi Swu and Muivah once again reiterated their stand on integration. “The solution cannot be within the Indian Constitution,” declared Swu.

But New Delhi is yet to agree in principle to the demand for integration”, disclosed Muivah. “We are yet to begin talks on that but they will have to agree,” he said. The leaders issued a declaration after interactive sessions with over 6,000 people, encompassing two days.



The declaration began by saying that it was being made after two days of “intensive, sincere and honest interaction with the collective leadership”. Furthermore, the declaration said the people supported an honourable solution on the basis of the uniqueness of the Naga history and situation.

Muivah answered with an emphatic “yes” when asked if the gathering was representative of the entire Naga population. But he did say the opinion did not include the stand of the Naga National Council and the Khaplang faction of the NSCN.



The declaration will be submitted to the Centre early next month.

The Centre will resume talks with the NSCN(IM) from February 3. Sources said Home Minister Shivraj Patil, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and the Centre’s interlocutor, K. Padmanabhiah, discussed a tentative schedule for talks.