Karbi Anglong peace accord shouldn’t hamper Indo-Naga talk, says Naga Hoho

Dimapur, June 10 (EMN): The Naga Hoho on Thursday stated that the proposed creation of Karbi Anglong Automous Territorial Council (KAATC) by the Central and Assam governments through a peace accord with various rebel groups of the region should not hamper the Indo-Naga political talk.

The Naga Hoho asserted through a statement that the concerned parties involved in the talk should not repeat the past mistake of “ignoring land boundary issue among various communities in Karbi Anglong” to avoid misunderstanding and dispute in the future.

It said the Naga people living in the Naga Rengma Hills were kept in the dark when the state of Assam was created by the government of India (GoI).

“Inclusion of land and its inhabitants in the formation of state without their consent is outright injustice done and hence we remonstrate that the GoI and the state of Assam to take into account all stakeholders before signing any agreement in the near future,” read the press statement signed by Naga Hoho President HK Zhimomi and Speaker Moa Imchen.

“The ongoing political talk between the GoI and the Naga people should be respected with serious consideration. The agreement, if any, reached between GoI and the state of Assam in regards to KAATC, should not in any way create misunderstanding or hamper the more than 20 years of Indo-Naga political talk,” it added.

The Naga Hoho stated that ‘Nagaland and Assam is and will continue to be neighbouring states, and that cordial atmosphere and friendly relationship with each other is needed’.

“We do acknowledge any move for conflict transformation and building peace between various political groups and the Governments but not at the cost of ignoring the historical and political rights of the Nagas and therefore Naga areas should not be included under the purview of the proposed creation of KAATC,” it stated. 

The Naga Hoho went on to urge the Indian and Assam governments to take its assertions into account “while dealing with the issue of proposed KAATC and not take any hasty decision which may bring more harm than benefit to the people in the region”.