Nagas in Manipur ask for expediting Naga political issue

Eastern Mirror Desk Dimapur, Aug. 14: To commemorate the Naga Independence Day on Aug. 14, representatives from 33 villages in the Western Tangkhul Naga Region participated in a walkathon today at Somdal village in Manipur. About 700 participants turned up at the rally with on theme “Expedite Framework Agreement”. The walkathon was organised by the Naga Youth Locomotion for Peace (NYLFP), a platform for the Tangkhul Naga where they can come together and voice out the aspiration in unison. Speaking to Eastern Mirror over telephone, the co-convener of NYLFP, Ningkhanngam Khamrang, said, “Since time immemorial, Nagas have their own unique history and rights. However, these rights have been suppressed by India for such a long time. And today, we should stand up and fight for our rights.” The president of Tangkhul Naga Long, Weapon Zimik, spoke at the event. He said: “we (Nagas) hope the conclusion will come very soon”. He added, “we want to live and walk with India together; that is why Framework Agreement is in the process and we need to expedite the solution”. Further, he recounted the years when the British divided the Naga boundary into many parts. He stated that “the Britishers were the greatest enemy of the Nagas because they divided us into Myanmar Nagas, Arunachal Nagas, Assam Nagas, and Manipur Nagas.” Meanwhile, the NYLFP said in a statement that the main objective of the rally was to re-affirm to live as a Naga Nation under one administrative umbrella and to show solidarity with the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process. “While extending support to the historic Framework Agreement signed between the GOI and the Nagas, we prayed that the final solution be brought at the earliest,” it said. The prticipants of the walkathon pledged to live in peace and harmony with their neighbouring communities and urged upon them to support the political aspiration of the Nagas, keeping in view the long suffering of the Nagas and its inherent rights.