Naga flag and Yehyabo are non-negotiable: NSCN (IM)
Will stand till the last man standing: Q Tuccu
Dimapur, Oct. 13 (Page News Service): The NSCN (IM) has made its stand clear that it detests any kind of piecemeal solution, short of Naga national flag and Yehzabo (constitution).
“We have stood our ground on these two non-negotiable issues and we shall continue to stand till the last man standing,” said NSCN (IM) chairman, Q Tuccu in a press statement.
Tuccu stated that the Government of India and the NSCN has reached the threshold of striking the final deal but the sensitive issue of Naga flag and Naga constitution remains the sticking point.
“For the Naga people these two issues stand tall because they symbolize our political and national rights. The Government of India knows the political significance of these issues for the Naga people but come short of giving official recognition to be made a part of the final agreement. This is the crux of the ongoing Indo-Naga political talks and the reason why the going gets tough, leaving the NSCN negotiators with no option but to act tough,” he said.
The NSCN (IM) chief maintained that Naga people cannot afford to forget the “political blunders” of the 16-Point Agreement and the Shillong Accord. “We cannot allow such agreement to repeat and flatter us again. We cannot be blinded to go by the ghost of another Naga People’s Convention (NPC) that sold out our political rights and history. It will be an abhorrent act if we knowingly go against our history and political rights for which nearly 3 lakhs Nagas have given their lives. One wrong step taken at this decisive stage is enough to make ourselves a laughing stock before the world.”
Stating that Nagas cannot forget the achievements made by leaders like late AZ Phizo, late Isak Chishi Swu, late Khodao Yanthan, late Gen Kholi Konyak and present general secretary Th Muivah, he said, “The people of Israel during the hard journey towards the promised land of Canaan stood the test of time under the leadership of Moses who steered his people not to waver and grumble but to trust in God. Today, the same God of Moses will deliver us, and flag and constitution should be with us to glorify His name.’
Citing milestones of Naga history beginning from the formation of the Naga Club in 1918, Tuccu reminded that in 16th May 1951 Plebiscite was conducted where 99.9% voted for sovereign Naga independent nation. Since then, we have never turned back but in the process paid heavy price defending our God given rights, he said.
“God never let down the Naga people as we have crossed many hurdles during the last 23 years, to take the Indo-Naga political talks to this crucial point. The final testing time has come for the Naga people. We must exercise our courage and wisdom to know the political truth of God’s creation of Naga Nation. As we stand at the fag-end of Indo-Naga political talks we must take the right decision,” he stated, adding NSCN (IM) shall be failing before God and before the Naga people if we stumble at this moment of our history.
Tuccu maintained that Naga people cannot be lured into accepting “highly attractive economic packages at the expense of our exalted position with sovereign rights. We have to prove our worth as Naga by upholding our Flag and Yehzabo.”
Stating that our joint struggle with Naga people from all walks of life including civil societies, churches, bureaucrats, politicians. etc for over seven decades to live in dignity and peace should be given a new meaning, the NSCN (IM) said, “It is now or never.”
Appreciating contributions of Naga people towards Naga national cause, Tuccu urged Naga sons and daughters to give their concerted efforts till Naga people’s rightful political destination is reached sooner than later.
