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Cadres at the 73rd ‘Naga Independence Day’ of the NSCN (IM) on Wednesday at the organisation’s Camp Hebron. (Caisii Mao/ EM Images)[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Aug. 14: The NSCN (IM) has urged the Naga people in ‘different camps’ to come onboard for the ‘final solution’ even as the ‘final touch’ to the dialogue is being worked on. Further, it has been stated that the Nagas and Indians will ‘share sovereign powers on the basis of the framework agreement.’
This statement was given by the convenor of the organisation’s steering committee RH Raising during the 73rd ‘Naga independence day’ programme at the group’s council headquarters Camp Hebron, on August 14 near Dimapur.
Raising said Indian leaders in the past had viewed the Indo-Naga political problem from the perspective of the Indian Constitution and had a military approach. “It is on account of this wrong perspective and approach that they could not touch the heart of the matter. The problem calls for the right diagnosis and the right approach,” said Raising at the event.
The NSCN leader said that the imposition of ‘Indian will’ on the Naga people was the root cause of the Indo-Naga political issue. The use of force will not bring any solution, rather it will prolong the solution, he said.
Raising referenced the June 12 1995 Paris agreement between the Indian government and the NSCN on three terms: Talks at the prime ministerial level, talks without condition and talks in neutral countries. He stressed on the second, which meant that the government of India would not impose its constitution on the Nagas.
Further, saying that the Indians and the Nagas were two different entities, the NSCN leader asserted that ‘the Nagas have not been a part of the Union of India by consent, but they will co-exist with the Union of India as two entities.” He added that the two entities will be inseparably bound together by the cord of the ‘framework agreement.’
“The Nagas do not accept the constitution of India, but Nagas and Indians will share sovereign powers on the basis of the framework agreement,” Raising asserted adding that a lasting honourable solution that will guarantee the rights of Nagas and security of India has been sought.
Further asserting that the Nagas were forcibly divided into many against their will and placed in different administrative units by the colonial powers, Raising said unification of all the Nagas under one political roof is their legitimate right ‘and the GOI recognises that right.’
“The talks also focus on the mechanism of inseparable harmonious interdependent relationship of the two entities and durable peace and progress in the land; peace in the region is a prelude to the peace of the Indian sub-continent,” he said adding that a “final touch” is being worked on.
“The ball is in the court of India,” Raising said.
Also addressing the event, the organisation’s chairman, Quehezu Tuccu, said it was the spirit of August 14 and the 1951 plebiscite that united all Nagas wherever they may be. “This national decision has gloriously guided the Naga people this far,” Tuccu said.
The NSCN leader said that the ‘framework agreement’ had become an important foundation and ‘mutually agreed competencies shall define the nature of relationship between the two entities.’
“The two entities must exercise their best political wisdom and resources to emerge from the impasse over some of the core issues,” said Tuccu. He said no problem is too big to be solved through mutual respect.
The “Kedahge” (president) of the FGN, retired ‘gen.’ Viyalie Metha has said that the Naga people were meant to stand on own feet as an independent people and nation. He was addressing the 73rd ‘Naga independence day’ programme of the group, on August 14 at Chedema in Kohima,
“We remember and honour our leaders and soldiers who suffered, toiled and laid down their ultimate lives for our nation and for us for whom we are able to stand as a people and as a nation,” he said. Nagaland was neither carved out of any other nation nor sprouted from the thoughts of some people, he said.
“From the beginning Nagas stood to defend their God given nation and people from the invaders,” said Metha. He iterated that the Naga people are meant to stand on their own foot as independent people and nation.
Metha also stated that while nations of the world know and call Nagas as a “people and a nation,” unfortunately some Nagas were “blind and claim as Indian.”
Anyone who may have ‘gone into the wrong path should turn back and work for the common cause of the people,’ Metha said.
“The door is open for all. The Federal Government of Nagaland upholds the objective of our past leaders; we shall not be swayed by the enemy’s aggressive evil designs,” he added.
According to him, ‘the enemy’ has changed its war tactics upon Nagaland. ‘There is no direct confrontation of arms between Nagaland and India but the war continues. India is now intensively pouring its heinous agenda in Nagaland to annihilate our people’s life, culture and tradition of the Naga society are being attacked. Even our religion is in danger.’
Nonetheless, he said that the FGN upholds the policy of ‘non-violence and peaceful co-existence.’
“Standing on our birthright and keeping faith in God and in his obedience, we shall surely achieve our goal. May God bless Nagaland,” he added in his speech.
The NSCN/GPRN (Reformation) observed the 73rd Naga Independence Day at the Cease Fire Supervisory Board (CFSB) office in Mon on Wednesday.
The group’s President Y Wangtin Naga, hoisted the Naga National flag at 10:30 am followed by a military parade, a press statement informed.
The program consisted of special invitees from civil society organisations(CSOs) which included Konyak Union(KU), Konyak Nyupoh Seko Khong (KNSK), Konyak Students Union (KSU) and Mon Town Students Union (MTSU), the statement said.
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF ) also observed the day with peace activist Niketu Iralu as the speaker, at the Naga Solitary Park in Kohima on Wednesday.
Speaking at the occasion, Iralu said although he believes most Nagas today believe that the “journey” is right and important, many are rightly confused and plainly angry. The movement is divided and destructive to itself and for the people for whom it was launched in the first place, he said.
“The Naga struggle was something the Nagas had never done before. Their struggle ran into economic, political, historical, philosophical, moral and ethical issues they had not anticipated, given the brevity of their modern history.”
Iralu said that the ‘tragedy beyond our human wisdom to deal with has been our failure to acknowledge our mistakes but becoming so loud in our accusation and blaming of others for their mistakes due to our ego, pride, selfishness and ambition which have been more important than the larger version of our struggle.’
While saying that India is not to be blamed, Iralu maintained also that “India also cannot blame the Nagas and treat their struggle as secessionist troublemaking because they had made their position abundantly, legally, politically clear before the British whom they had fought, left their empire in South Asia of which the Nags were a part.”
Ninoto Awomi, the NSF’s president, addressed the event too. He paid tributes to the sacrifices made by the nationalists in the past and those at present for dedicating their lives to pursuing the aspirations of the Naga people.
Awomi appealed to the Naga youths to convey the message that they have placed their confidence in the ongoing peace process to take the aspirations of the youths toward an inclusive and honourable solution.
Stating that the youths long for a peaceful future without war and conflict and move at par with the rest of the world, he pointed out that the goal will be accomplished provided all the political groups communicate with each other, share views, and accept each other.
“We all need to take the responsibilities together with all stakeholders and strive for what is honourable and acceptable to all Nagas paving a way for peace,” he said.
The NSCN/GPRN (Reformation) observed the 73rd ‘Naga independence day’ on Wednesday at the Cease Fire Supervisory Board office in Mon.
The president of the group Y Wangtin Naga hoisted the ‘Naga national flag’ in the morning which was followed by a military parade, a press statement from the organisation on Wednesday informed.
The programme consisted of special invitees from the Civil Society which included Konyak Union, Konyak Nyupoh Seko Khong, Konyak Students’ Union, and the Mon Town Students’ Union, the note said.