Naga civil society’s unanimous call for solution, not election
Kohima/Tuensang/Dimapur, January 8 (MExN): In 2014, the Prime Minister of India had promised to resolve the Indo-Naga issue in 18 months. 18 months have turned to three years but with no solution in sight, the Naga civil society is now unwilling for further time lapse, adding to the rising voices to forgo Nagaland State elections in favour of a solution. State elections, maintained Naga civil society organizations, will create “chaos, confusion, disorder and more divisions…”
Naga Hoho: It is the unanimous view of the Naga people that the political solution/ Naga peace Accord is more important than elections and therefore it has become imperative that the elections to the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland be deferred for peace and tranquility, stated the Naga Hoho today in a representation to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
Naga Hoho and other Civil societies including political parties in Nagaland have boycotted Elections in 1998 in support of “solution, not elections” but GoI “went ahead with the elections undermining the wishes of the Naga people, and repetition of such acts by conducting the Assembly election will only deem that India has no national will to resolve Indo-Naga political problem of which mighty India will surely regret in days to come,” stated the representation.
Ironically citing Gujarat 2002 to Prime Minister Modi, the Naga Hoho stated, “While it is noted that the Supreme Court of India has re-iterated the supremacy of the ECI to decide upon the time-frame for elections, yet, the Supreme Court has also observed that there may be certain circumstances which may warrant a delay in the holding of elections (Ref. In the matter of Special Reference No.1 of 2002 (Gujarat Assembly Election Matter, 2002) 8 SCC 237).”
ENPO: In view of the final stage of negotiations for arriving at an honorable solution to the Naga political issue, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) had held a public consultative meet on December 21, 2017, whereby it “unanimously resolved to urge the GoI to amicably resolve the protracted Naga political issue, acceptable, honorable and beneficial to all as desired by the Naga public in general before declaration of election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, 2018.”
In a representation to Indian Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the ENPO also recalled that “Naga solution should be a ‘Political Consensus’ so as not to repeat the violent past, to be acceptable and agreeable to all concerned groups/sections amongst the Naga people.”
The ENPO further reminded that “ENPO Statehood Demand is uncompromisable” and pleaded for support.
NMA: Raising concern over the impending Nagaland State election and calling for its postponement to facilitate an early Naga solution, the Naga Mothers’ Association stated that “the extension of the Disturbed Area Act and the continued imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the state in the midst of Peace dialogue is highly objectionable.”
“Since 1958, the Nagas have suffered inhuman atrocities and violations of human rights under the immunity of Armed Forces and impunity of the AFSPA. We urge your Esteemed Office to reconsider the imposition of this draconian law in the midst of the peace process and prove that the Government of India truly speaks the language of peace,” noted the NMA in a representation to the Prime Minister of India.
It also urged the GoI to consider a ceasefire with the NSCN (K) to “bring about lasting peace.”
WSH: The Western Sumi Hoho stated that if the GoI is “truly sincere in resolving the Naga imbroglio, then it would give it more importance in working out solution.” The WSH urged the GoI, the Interlocutor to the Naga peace talks and the Election Commission of India to take up the matter as “people’s foremost wish.”
“Conducting elections in the state at this present moment will only create chaos, confusion, disorder and more divisions which will jeopardize the ongoing peace talks,” stated the WSH.
IMTN: The Indigenous Minority Tribes of Nagaland (IMTN), a conglomeration of indigenous aboriginal recognized tribes of Nagaland viz., Kuki, Kachari, Garo & Mikir/Karbi appealed to the GoI to expedite the Naga peace talks “on war footing” and postpone the forthcoming state assembly election “keeping in mind the sentiment of the larger stakeholders whose dreams and aim is to see that the long decade old Naga Political movement is amicably settled.” The conglomeration of indigenous tribes also called for taking all stakeholders on board, “so that a better future is created for all the people away from the era of insecurity and destructions of both human as well as properties for almost 70 years.”
.JPG)
