DIMAPUR, Nov 8: The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) has called for third-party intervention to resolve the long-standing Naga political issue, warning of a return to armed resistance if the Government of India (GoI) rejects this proposal.

In a statement released on Thursday, NSCN-IM General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah stated that the Indian government has failed to honor the “letter and spirit” of the agreement, particularly the recognition of Nagalim’s sovereignty, including the Naga flag and constitution.

Muivah expressed frustration over the lack of progress in the peace talks, particularly concerning the issues of a separate Naga flag and constitution. “In order to conclude and realise an honourable political agreement, we rule out peaceful means against the ignominious betrayal of the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement. However, in the first place, we propose a third-party intervention to resolve the betrayal,” Muivah stated, emphasizing that if the Government of India (GoI) rejects third-party intervention, the NSCN-IM would resume its armed resistance against India for defending Nagalim’s unique history and sovereignty.

The statement also held the Indian leadership responsible for any potential violence, accusing them of deliberately breaching the commitments made in the Framework Agreement, which NSCN-IM asserts acknowledged Nagalim’s sovereign identity. Muivah reiterated that the recognition of Nagalim’s flag and constitution is integral to any resolution of the political issue, as these elements represent the national identity of the Naga people.

Muivah also referred the long history of negotiations between the NSCN-IM and the Indian government, which have included two major official agreements—the Amsterdam Joint Communique of July 2002 and the Framework Agreement of August 2015. Despite over 600 rounds of discussions, the peace process has stalled, largely due to disagreements over the recognition of the Naga flag and constitution.

In a related development, former Chief Minister S.C. Jamir disclosed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had rejected the demand for a Naga flag and constitution during their meeting two days ago. Jamir told a news channel that when he asked Shah whether the flag and constitution were negotiable, Shah had firmly said no.

Jamir also noted that the Naga people were growing increasingly frustrated with the prolonged stalemate, stating, “When something is not possible, why should we go on wasting time? We should accept what is possible and ignore what is not possible.” He reiterated that the flag and constitution are attributes of a sovereign country and expressed concerns about the continued lack of a resolution.

Jamir further emphasized that the future of the Naga political process depends on the will of the parties involved, adding, “If there is a will, it can be done. They should know people are tired. They are fed up with the non-solution of the problem.”