The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) has “adopted” a resolution supporting a peaceful solution to the Indo-Naga issue which is just, long-lasting, honourable and acceptable to both the sides, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) said in a statement released on Wednesday night.

Founded in February 1991 at the Hague with its secretariat in Brussels, the UNPO is an international membership-based organisation established to empower the voices of the unrepresented and marginalised people and protect their fundamental human rights.

The UNPO has more than 45 members worldwide, including Tibet, Taiwan, Balochistan, Sindh and Chittagong Hill Tracts.

The NSCN(I-M), which is in a ceasefire with the Centre to find an amicable solution to the decades-old Naga political issue, became a UNPO member on January 23, 1993.

The NSCN(I-M), in its release, said the resolution adopted at its XV General Assembly held in Washington DC from July 31 to August 2 stated, “Support a peaceful resolution of the Indo-Naga issue which is just, long-lasting, honourable and acceptable to both the sides.” It called upon the international community to “appeal to India to fulfil its commitments in the Framework Agreement on the Indo-Naga issue.”

The resolution also urged India to “repeal acts such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Area Act which overly militarise the situation facing the Naga people”.

The development comes close on the heels of the outfit stating on eve of the fifth anniversary of the Framework Agreement, signed on August 3, 2015 with the Centre, that the pact has been “ironically put in cold storage.” The agreement has not yet been made public.

The NSCN (I-M) also made it clear that the Centre must undo the environment of mistrust. “What has been mutually agreed upon should be honoured in letter and spirit and that is the only way forward,” the statement said on August 2.

The general assembly was held through video-conferencing for the first time because of the Covid pandemic. The NSCN(I-M) was represented by Naga delegates, led by vice-chairman Lt. Gen. (retd.) V.S. Atem, along with senior members V. Horam, Kihoyi Swu, Ninghor Raikham and Asing Shimrah, who moved the proposal that Indo-Naga political issue be adopted.

“Accordingly, the Naga representatives were privileged to speak at three different sessions. Finally, it culminated to the adoption of the resolution after passing of votes in the plenary session on the last day,” the NSCN(I-M) said.

In the UNPO, Nagalim is listed as a member, represented by the NSCN (I-M), formed in 1980 but has since undergone multiple splits.

The UNPO overview of Nagalim says, “The Naga are originally from Mongolia, having migrated to the region of Nagalim in the 10th century BC. The term Nagalim refers to the entire Naga ancestral domain, which was partitioned by the British between India and Burma, now Myanmar. The Nagas’ history is one of colonisation, in the 19th century by the British, and then by India, who inherited the territory from the British colonial power.”