On the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples the Naga International Support Center, NISC, lauds this Declaration as a historic milestone.
• This Declaration affirms the collective rights of the Nagas to self-determination, to the lands, territories and resources, cultures and intellectual property; the right to free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples for any state intervention into their environment and the right to determine what is the desired kind of development for Naga communities.
We celebrate this Declaration as a major victory for the Indigenous Peoples of the world and India, in particular, the Naga Peoples along with all other Indigenous Peoples of the North East of India.
• The UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples Rights—promulgated by a vast majority of 143 states against four former white settler colonies with large indigenous minorities—presents the North-East of India with an instrument, a tool, with which they can both, (1) demand the implementation of rights promulgated in the Declaration which the Indian Union has now signed, and (2) raise awareness of their own rights in the indigenous communities/societies they are part of and to fight for their rights.
Since they have been suffering long from injustice, discrimination and marginalization the Declaration is a guide for governments to address the situation Indigenous peoples are in and can further empowerment the Nagas and all other Indigenous Peoples of India and Burma/Myanmar.
NISC supports all Nagas and this includes the Naga National Council and the NSCN-Kaphlang, which stated that Nagas are not Indigenous Peoples. As the original inhabitants of the land Nagas were never conquered, did not consent to be rules by others or signed a treaty through which they conceded to be part of another nation. Nagas stem from the same cultural root and because they are occupied by India and have formed a nation of their own they are indigenous to their land and have every right to determine their own future. NISC recalls the that Mr. Kaphlang himself ventured out of Nagaland to attend a meeting of the Working Group of Indigenous in Geneva some years ago. Who is Mr. Kaphlang to state that Nagas are not Indigenous Peoples?
India supported the Declaration and is now bound to live up to it!
NISC thanks the Indian Government for its wisdom in voting for the Declaration. And, although India is yet to give due recognition to its Indigenous peoples by signing it NISC believes India leapt forward and will accord the Indigenous peoples with their right status in due course. But, to implement this Declaration NISC urges the Government of India to work in close partnership with the Indigenous peoples. To conform with the Declaration NISC calls on all regional UN bodies to realign the developmental programmes of all Indigenous peoples.
• NISC is committed to disseminate the Declaration, to make it known in all its recognized basic Indigenous Peoples rights and duties by the states in regards to indigenous peoples.
NISC extends heartfelt gratitude to the President of General Assembly Haya Rashed Al Khallifa whose relentless support made the adoption of the Declaration possible.
NISC thanks all Indigenous leaders, NGO’s, and the 143 governments who voted in favor of the Declaration. NISC expresses thanks to all actors who were involved from the beginning and calls on every leader, activist, state and NGO to ensure the effective implementation of this Declaration.
Notes on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:
Over 80 million (Adivasi and NE peoples) and 250 million Dalits of the 1.200 million Indigenous peoples in the world live in India.
Over 330 million of the 1.200 million Indigenous peoples in the world live in India. This makes India a country with the largest Indigenous population in the world. North-eastern India is known as the region of Indigenous peoples. Northeast India, endowed with abundant natural resources is also known for its rich cultural heritage.
Naga International Support Centre
Amsterdam
