Flag and constitution core to Naga sovereignty, says RH Raising

Click here    / @eastmojoofficial   and ‘Join’ to become a part of the EastMojo family today! RH Raising, Emissary to the Collective Leadership of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) faction (NSCN-IM), has said that along with visiting his native village, Thuingaleng Muivah’s visit to Ukhrul is aimed at interacting with the Naga people on the current position of the peace talks with the Government of India and to clarify issues surrounding the Framework Agreement signed in 2015. Speaking at a media interaction on October 27, Raising said that Muivah’s visit to his hometown is significant as it followed extensive interactions with people in “Nagaland and many others.” He said the visit was intended to engage with the people on the “latest position of the talk.” Explaining the background of the Framework Agreement, Raising said it represented a meeting point between the Government of India and the Nagas. “We Nagas say we have nothing to do with India. Total sovereignty and total independence. Nothing to do with India. That was the stand of the Naga people. Then government of India says – solution within the parameter of an Indian constitution. Union of India and Indian constitution. So, there was no meeting point. Finally, the framework agreement was signed based on the universal principle of democracy. Sovereignty lies with the people,” he said. Raising added that the agreement recognised the principle that “sovereignty of India lies with the Indian people” and “sovereignty of the Nagas lies with the Naga people.” He claimed that this amounted to recognition of Naga sovereignty by the Government of India. According to him, the Government of India has also acknowledged the Nagas’ “unique history of independence,” referring to the declaration of Naga independence on August 14, 1947. “The declaration of independence on 14th August 1947 is now a recognised entity,” Raising said. He also emphasized the Naga struggle for identity. “We say no. We have been fighting for years and decade for our identity. My identity runs in the blood. It cannot be created by parliament. It cannot be created by any force on earth, but it is the gift of God,” he said, adding, “Naga nationality runs in the blood. It is in our DNA. Therefore, we are not Indian. We are not Chinese. We are not Burmese. We are not Americans. We are Nagas. That is my identity.” On the question of the Naga flag and constitution, Raising maintained that these were essential components of sovereignty. “Flag and constitution are the material of sovereignty. Without flag and constitution, sovereignty is a form without content,” he said. However, Raising indicated that differences remain. “Government of India has acknowledged and recognised the Naga national flag and constitution. But I say put full stop. But they continue saying that the placement of flag, you can use it everywhere, by everybody every Naga but you cannot use it in the office. So, our honourable Ato Kilonser said that is next to impossible. We will use it in the office, we will use it,” Raising said. He added that the NSCN-IM has conveyed its position to the Government of India and that discussions are still ongoing. ========= Support Independent Journalism by becoming Our Premium Member: https://eastmojo.com/eastmojo-subscri... ========= Subscribe to never miss an update:    / @eastmojoofficial   ========= Visit our website: https://www.eastmojo.com/ Become a Premium Member: https://eastmojo.com/eastmojo-subscri... Find us on Google: https://news.google.com/publications/... Social Links: Facebook:   / eastmojo   Twitter:   / eastmojo   Instagram:   / east.mojo   Reddit:   / eastmojo   ========= #EastMojo #EastStory #northeastindia #northeast #nagaland #manipur #kohima #ukhrul #nscn #nscnim #framework #agreement