RN Ravi rules out altering State boundaries
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 11 2015 : Government of India's Joint Intelligence Committee Chairman and NSCN-IM interlocutor RN Ravi has categorically stated that there is nothing in the framework agreement signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM about boundaries.

People's apprehension is due to legacy of the past, he added.

In an interview with a local TV channel, RN Ravi, referring to the framework agreement signed on August 3, stated that nothing can be kept secret from the people whatever an agreement has been reached.

"Since the framework agreement does not contain any specific details, we have not been able to reach out to the people.

And now I am here to meet the civil society organisations", Ravi said.

He assured that the peace talk would be inclusive of all stake holders and it would not be limited to the Naga community alone.

On being pointed out that the agreement has created distrust and confusion among the people of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur, the interlocutor stated that his job is not to divide people.

"We are here for peaceful co-existence.

No solution or final agreement would be reached without consulting all the stake holders and taking their views", Ravi said.

Leaders of State JD (U) meeting RN Ravi

Nothing will be done in a hush hush manner, he assured.

Stating that he has met leaders of AMUCO, UCM, CCSK and other CSOs yesterday, the Naga interlocutor remarked that the meeting was quite encouraging.

The CSO leaders expressed their views on the issue and their arguments were quite reasonable.

On NSCN-IM General Secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah's insistence on 'shared sovereignty', RN Ravi maintained that the problem was yet to be resolved.

"Unless the problem is completely resolved, the parties are likely to stick to their positions.

Through dialogue, we have to resolve it", he said.

On sovereignty, RN Ravi asserted that it is the people who are sovereign, not the Government.

"We have changed the format of engagement (with NSCN-IM).

Changed the format in the sense that we realised that it is a comprehensive issue.

Comprehensive issue needs to be resolved in a comprehensive way.

That's why we are trying to reach out to all the people", he added.

On being enquired about rifts and divisions which surfaced among the Naga community since the framework agreement was signed, the interlocutor said that they have no intention of following British colonial rulers' divide and rule policy.

The problem is not resolved.

NSCN-IM has been engaged with GoI for the last 18 years.

It is this group, not other Naga groups.

Notably, NSCN (Khole-Kitovi group) has rejected the framework agreement saying that land and people of Nagaland cannot be sacrificed for the political aspirations of Nagas from other States.

This negotiation has to be comprehensive and the solution durable and inclusive.

Differences can be resolved through dialogue, he asserted.

On being asked whether the political dialogue is between Nagas and India or between GoI and NSCN-IM, RN Ravi maintained that the matter should be decided by Nagas.

"The fact is, it is between GoI and NSCN-IM.

Now they have realized that it can't be resolved unless the peace process is made inclusive or without reaching out to all stake holders" .

On being questioned why the Governments of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur were not informed before the framework agreement was signed, Ravi said he didn't think that the issues that were agreed and signed concerned any of these States.

Whenever it affects any of the States, it can't be finalized without consulting all the stake holders, he added.

On being enquired about a time frame of reaching a final solution, the interlocutor maintained that it was difficult to give a time frame.

"There are stake holders and consultations take time", he said.