R.N Ravi have refuted the speculations that Government of India (GoI) has accepted National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) demand for flag and constitution and dismissed them as baseless, reports Nagaland Post on October 31. He stated that there was a “narrowing down of differences between the parties over the existing contentious issue of flag and constitution.” He however added that the two negotiating parties were yet to arrive at any “mutually agreed position” on the issue. Ravi also disclosed that both parties were expected to meet again on October 31 (today) and expressed the hope that issues of flag and constitution would be resolved. RN Ravi also added that “The three-month time-frame is for all the contentious issues to be resolved. Negotiation over issues concludes. There will be no negotiation over issues, with any group, after October 31”. He also added that if both parties arrived at some mutual understanding over flag and constitution, modalities would be worked out to bring the NSCN-IM and NNPGs together to sign the agreement.
Nagaland Postfurther adds that highly placed sources indicate that two negotiating parties were likely to resolve the issue of flag and constitution on October 31. Meanwhile other sources have stated that GoI and NSCN-IM could leave the issue of flag and constitution “unresolved and to be pursued through peaceful democratic political process. In the event of NSCN-IM and GoI arriving at a consensus, Ravi is expected to bring NSCN-IM and Naga National Political Groups- Working Committee (NNPG-WC) together in next few weeks
Additionally, NNPGs October 30 stated that it has been agreed that a clause in the final agreement on resolution of the Naga issue would mention the Naga flag and constitution as prime symbolic issue., reports Northeast Now. NNPGs said it will pursue the issue post solution through continuous political and democratic process.
Economic Timesreports on October 31 that NSCN-IM is believed to have accepted the solution offered by Government of India (GoI) on its demand for a ‘Greater Nagalim’, even as the stalemate over a separate flag and constitution continued.
East Mojoreports that the October 30 meeting between GoI and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) might have yielded some positive outcomes. Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) official expressed satisfaction over the outcome and added that October 31 meeting is expected to bring a new chapter. The Source added that “Both the sides have expressed their willingness to sign the framework agreement in the spirit of peace in the region. However, framing of modalities will take some time”. Unidentified sources also added that GoI has accepted and granted the first condition of separate flag for the Nagas. But demands such as separate constitution and other issues will be dealt with later on.
East Mojoreports on October 30 that 22 NSCN-IM senior members reportedly defected to join NSCN-Unification (NSCN-U). According to reports out of the 22 members, 15 belonged to the ‘political’ section, the remaining seven were from the armed wing of the outfit. NSCN-U was formed in 2007.
National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Unification (NSCN-U) denied the allegation of NSCN-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) that Kukis from Manipur were being trained at Khehoi Camp in Dimapur District of Nagaland, reports Nagaland Post on October 31. Earlier NSCN-IM had alleged that NSCN-U is training Kuki militants to fight against NSCN-IM.
Additionally, a NSCN-IM ‘senior commander’ stated that there will be bloodshed if NSCN-IM is kept out of the peace accord, reports The Print on October 31. The unidentified ‘commander’ stated that “There can never be peace without the NSCN (I-M)’s participation”. He also added that “The NSCN (I-M) has been struggling and fighting this battle for decades now,” he said. “How can there be peace if the government does not respect us? There will be bloodshed. If the government tries to wipe us out, they will have to pay a price.”. When asked about reports that Camp Hebron being emptied, the ‘commander’ stated that “The Hebron camp can never be emptied out. We are shifting some of our army men to some other places in keeping with requirements”.
Government agencies estimate that NSCN-IM has has close to 7,000 cadres, of which around 3,000 are armed with sophisticated weapons, adds The Print on October 31. Sources said, in the run-up to the peace accord deadline, some training is still underway at Camp Hebron in Dimapur.