Naga political issue: WC NNPG refutes claims of NPF’s PAM

Dimapur, Oct. 12 (EMN): The working committee of NNPG has refuted the claims made by the Political Affairs Mission (PAM) of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) on October 11.

The committee issued a press release on Monday stating that it was taken aback by the statement of the PAM. Rather, the committee hoped that the PAM would reconcile and merge with the Joint Legislators’ Forum, adding that reconciliation among elected members is important before preaching reconciliations among Naga groups.

In a stinging rebuke, the committee reminded the PAM that ‘this is no time for outsmarting each other nor go selling reconciliation in the market’.

“This is not the time to draw political mileage either. As expressed by the 14 Naga tribes and the Nagaland Gaon Buras demanding for an early honourable and acceptable political solution. The government of the day and the opposition parties must work in tandem at this moment,” it reminded.

During their meeting on September 12, it stated, the committee had clearly spelled out that it was prepared to meet anyone or any group “because when one can have dialogue and negotiations with the Indian government, WC, NNPG would gladly meet Naga brothers”.

“However, four opinions were shared with PAM by WC members. Firstly, since the GoI and the two Naga groups namely WC, NNPG and NSCN (IM) were very close to finalising details of a relationship between Nagas and Indians, it was wiser to focus more on solution rather than on reconciliation, aware that much effort fell short and that there would be only one Indo-Naga political solution.

“Secondly, PAM were conveyed that there existed a school of thought among Naga groups that the door was open and that Naga political groups under WC, NNPG must reconcile under ‘framework agreement’ of NSCN (IM); if this idea of reconciliation was still the criteria, it would be a mockery, an insult to the very theme of Naga reconciliation. There are seven Naga groups under WC, NNPG each maintaining its political stand, ideology and co-existing as equals. This is real reconciliation before man and God. Reconciliation must benefit all Nagas and not serve the purpose and objective of one group,” it stated.

Thirdly, the committee had conveyed to PAM that in three years of political negotiations, the first step was an ‘agreed position’, “which is the historical and political position and status of Nagas agreed, acknowledge and signed by GoI interlocutor”.

“In more than sixty rounds of dialogue since then, the post-solution political structure based on Naga political and historical right have been worked out. Sovereign rights of Nagas in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh is respected and structured. The copy of status paper of the talks has been given to all elected representatives, intellectuals and apex tribal bodies.