Dimapur, July 29 (EMN): The Naga Hoho has expressed its concern over the recent “unexpected developments” connected to the protracted Naga political issue and has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into the matters as a priority.
In a representation to the prime minister of India, the Naga Hoho stated that Nagas desire to know the progress and position of the framework agreement that was signed between the government of India and the NSCN/GPRN about five years ago.
Mentioning that the entire Nagaland is being declared as ‘Disturbed Area’ under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act every six months despite a ceasefire in place with the Naga political groups, it alleged the “Indian Army continues to operate against peace and the people”, while citing the recent killing of six NSCN (IM) cadres in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Naga Hoho has asked the Centre government to clarify the position of the Bangkok Agreement, saying that the ceasefire is implemented only in Nagaland though the 2001 agreement clearly stated that “Ceasefire shall be without Territorial limit”. It added that the Naga political issue remains unsolved despite several agreements being signed over the years due to lack of honest political will and sincerity from successive Indian government.
It went on to claim that the Governor of Nagaland, RN Ravi, who is also India’s interlocutor for Indo-Naga peace talk, is “functioning in an autocratic manner without any regard and respect for what has been achieved so far”. It added that instead of expediting the peace process, “he is breaking the hard-earned trust and faith of the people and rendering the 23 years of negotiation meaningless by smearing the Naga history and also the political groups with whom the GoI is engaged in a negotiation”.
“The government employees are also mandatorily made to self declare their relationships with member of the Naga political groups. We are concerned that this will lead to profiling the employees and also criminalising the organisations and the members of these organisations,” the representation read, adding that “peaceful settlement cannot be achieved with an interlocutor without empathy and without understanding our people, our history and our aspiration”.
“We continue to trust in your leadership and we urge you to look into the matters placed before you as a priority. With your personal and political commitment, we believe that the solution is not far away,” it wrote.
