Dimapur, October 16 : The Myanmar-based Naga Public Organization (NPO) has on Sunday declared itself to be the platform of Naga communities in Myanmar. However, a statement from another platform called the Council of Naga Affairs has rejected the claims.
The NPO informed to have organized an event called the ‘Naga tribes consultative meeting’ during October 7-9, in Lahe town of the Naga self-administered zone in Myanmar.
A press release from the group on Sunday informed that the event was “for inclusive consultation and open discussion on Nagas’ common goal.”
The statement said that the NPO had been mandated by the ‘Naga public and the entire Naga tribes of Myanmar.’ For this, ‘any approach or slogan’ raised by the NPO “shall be the voice of the Nagas and it will represent the Nagas at any level,” it claimed.
“The commitment of NPO is to strongly stand with the historical right of the Nagas and shall never let the Naga people down,” the statement explained.
145 tribal leaders and representatives attended the meeting and ‘signed in support and cooperation to NPO,’ the organization stated.
“Numbers of tribal leaders shared their grievances that many Naga organizations slighting and over look the difficulties faced by the effected and isolated inhabitants. The leaders also shared their hope that NPO is the organization which can accommodate entire Naga tribes of Myanmar and deal with justice,” the press release explained.
The organization said that ‘the meeting has strongly agreed to participate and support 21st century Panglong conference which focuses on federalism, to ask back the historical rights and given Naga territory since British ruled.’
On the issue of the Naga people’s land and historical rights, the organization stated that the “2008 constitution of Myanmar… injured the history of the Naga and its territorial demarcation.”
It allowed only three townships namely Nanyun, Lahe and Layshi as Naga self-administered zone which the organization said was “not even half of Naga territory in nature.”
Council of Naga Affairs disclaims NPO
Interestingly, another platform called the Council of Naga Affairs issued a rejoinder on the same evening objecting to the statement of the NPO.
“Council of Naga Affairs is compelled to present to you our sincere objection to the press statement made by NPO, which was informed to the CNA’s official to Information and Public Relation. It is learned that NPO has been carrying out the activities that are detrimental to the unity of Naga people at the behest of RAW and IB of India, and in Myanmar, they are closely supported by the embassy of India and junta-backed USDP,” the press release from the council alleged.
“It is known to all, including the NSCNs, in the eastern sector that RAW officials are directly and personally involved in NPO.”
The Naga people in Myanmar are at a critical stage ‘with regard to the Panglong Conference,’ it stated but the NPO is allegedly involved “in the activities that are a serious threat to peace process and that which are to further divide the weakened Naga house with their fabricated information based on unrepresented and ungrounded support or of a handful of opportunists who are living off innocent Naga people in Myanmar.”
