Nagas of Nagaland can’t survive under Pan Naga Hoho, says KK Sema

Our Reporter
Dimapur, June 21 (EMN): Pointing out two competency clauses of the Framework Agreement (FA), K K Sema, retired bureaucrat, on Tuesday alleged that in the Naga nation, the Nagas of Nagaland cannot survive as the Pan Naga Hoho will control the upper house, and the Nagas of Manipur will also become the citizens of the Naga nation despite no integration of lands.

He stated that the NSCN (IM) cannot decide the fate of the Nagas without first discussing the FA competency clauses, and that it cannot be implemented in Nagaland if it does not want to show all of the clauses.

Sema was speaking during a consultative meeting of civil society organisations (CSO) and various tribal councils of Nagaland convened by the Nagaland GBs’ Federation (NGBF) at Hotel Saramati in Dimapur.

He added that the flag and constitution held no significance without integration, and that NSCN (IM)’s Yehzabo (Constitution) is a model of communism, and if it is implemented, the government will control all the land and public property.

He said the NSCN (IM) and Government of India were on opposing sides on the issue of ‘shared sovereignty’, adding that the flag and constitution were ‘part and parcel of sovereignty’ and ‘does not require permission from anyone’.

He further alleged that the NSCN (IM) began demanding the flag and constitution only after signing the FA.

Sema said Nagas of Nagaland affiliated with the NSCN (IM) had ‘no idea’ what was going on in the group’s top brass because all the important control points and decision makers consisted of ‘Southern brothers’, and the “words of Muivah” were revered as laws.

He also stated that the presence of too many organisations has confused the Nagas’ voice, and some tribes need to take the responsibility.

‘Public referendum needed’

Former President of Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation, Kekongchim Yimchunger, said the ‘early Naga solution’ phrase was not a new thing and asked how long they were going to talk about an early solution.

He said closed-door meetings and issuing resolutions were not going to solve the problem. ‘Instead, they should call the public in open ground for a public referendum and with the public mandate, they should move forward,’ he added.

He also pointed out that no one knows the competency of the agreement and if both the negotiating parties are really working on behalf of the Nagas, they should show their competency to the public within a specific time frame or they should not expect any cooperation from the people.

‘Fruits of Nagaland meant for Nagas of Nagaland’

Meanwhile, former NLA Speaker, Z Lohe said that the fruits of Nagaland were meant for the Nagas of Nagaland and if others were allowed to take the fruits from state continuously, the Nagas of the state would starve.

He added that on May 29, 2022, the United Naga Council (UNC) of Manipur issued a resolution after an emergency meeting at Senapati not to pursue early Naga solution, which the NTC had taken serious note of.

He said the ‘Nagas of Manipur feel that no solution is better for them, and there is nothing wrong about it’. Similarly, Nagas of Nagaland should also have the authority to adopt what is best for the Naga people, he added.

Lohe expressed that they have put the model of Naga integration in the laboratory of Nagaland and according to his observation, this model is found to be ‘destructive and unpalatable in a democratic world of the Nagas’.

‘As of now, population integration exists, and it is temporary but if this type of integration is regularised, it will be destructive for Nagaland,’ he said while citing the need of sending a strong voice to Delhi and Naga political negotiators, calling for a solution before election (assembly).

More than 100 participants representing 27 CSO and tribal councils of Nagaland attended the meeting.

The house also unanimously adopted the following four-point resolution during the meeting:

• To press upon the government of India and the two Naga negotiating groups to conclude the ongoing negotiations on the basis of the understanding that has been reached between the GoI and the Naga negotiators on October 31, 2019.
• constitute an action committee under the nomenclature of Nagaland People’s Action Committee to carry out the voice of the people till they get the desired result; to ask the apex tribal hohos to officially delegate one representative each to be a member of the committee.
• To stage a public rally and pursue other follow up actions.
• The Nagas of Nagaland would stand as one entity and collectively react to any discriminative action meted out to any individual or community by any element in self-defense.