DIMAPUR — The Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) observed the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) at the conference hall of Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) in Senapati, Manipur, on Sunday
It was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948.
On the occasion, Secretary General of NPMHR, Neingulo Krome, shared about Naga’s journey for human rights and the situation in pre-ceasefire time, when it was even risky to be identified as a human rights activist, according to an update received here on Monday.
Recounting the hard time the NPMHR had faced during the spilt of NCSN in 1988 that led to factional killings, he said it ‘took the lead in meeting various Naga leaders, including Khaplang in Myanmar, NSCN (IM) leaders, Adino in London, and various Naga CSOs in different places’.
The NPMHR was actively involved with Naga Hoho, United Naga Council (UNC), Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), and other Naga civil organisations for the peaceful conclusion of the Naga peace talks and in court cases against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), he said while highlighting the latest position of the peace talks.
Commemorating the occasion, Krome also read out a statement that said the ‘Naga struggle for political freedom from the military occupation of our homeland is replete with repressive subjugation and denial and violations of human rights’ and that ‘forces from within and beyond are in collusion to strip our people of our peoplehood’.
It stated that ‘multilayered tools have been engaged to silence our resolve for freedom, following the Naga resolve to be independent as exhibited on 14th August 1947 and the historic plebiscite of 16th May 1951’; empowered the Indian army to “shoot to kill” any Naga on suspicion through AFSPA; and systematically dividing the people by “engaging some pro-India Naga literate individuals”.
“The GOI rendered a blow to the very fabric of our political body by engaging some of its members to signing a dedicated political arrangement within India such as the 16 –point agreement which are still stunned by Nagas,” read the statement.
“We assert our peoplehood and reserve our right to live with dignity in the manner we choose to govern ourselves and commune with other Nations on equal footing. To this end, we assert and re-affirm our resolve and declaration made by Naga people from all over the Naga country from the present imposed states of Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and the present Naga self-administered zones of Myanmar (Burma) during the celebration of Naga week in 1993, from December 1-5 in observing the United Nation’s International year of the world’s Indigenous people which states – our right to live as a people through unification of all Naga areas, the right to be free from the clutches of occupational forces and the right to have the United nations recognition of the Naga country as a sovereign nation,” it added.
Chaired by Joyson Mazamo, Convenor of NPHMR (south), the programme was attended by NPO, All Naga Students’ Association Manipur, Naga Women’s Union, tribal leaders of various communities, well-wishers, and others.
A silent prayer was also held on the occasion in remembrance of all Naga martyrs during the programme, while a prayer for peace and justice was led by Liba Hopeson, Youth and Education Secretary of Poumai Naga Baptist Association.
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