Dimapur, February 16 (MExN): The move by the Manipur Government to carve out seven districts “out of Naga territories with colonial design” is an “intrusion” upon the rights of the Nagas, stated NSCN (IM) today.
“Creation of seven new Districts with colonial motive is the root cause of the problem, not the economic blockade launched by the Nagas in protest against the arbitrary creation of the Districts. The crux of the problem is Ibobi government,” maintained the NSCN (IM).
“It is an attempt to annex our land in the guise of new districts,” stated the NSCN (IM) in a press release issued today by its MIP. It reiterated that the group “cannot and will not sit on the fence when the territories of the Nagas are being grabbed by their neighbors through the instrument of their colonial laws.”
They expressed strong opposition to “any political step of the neighbors that attempts to seize our territories big or small.”
Stating that Nagas are the “aggrieved, not the aggressors,” the NSCN (IM) explained the “reality” of “invasion and occupation of Nagalim” by India and Burma and how problems here cannot be classified as “law and order” or “domestic” problems of the two countries.
The Nagas are “bound to fight back the colossal forces of the aggressor states in defense of their land, right, culture, identity history and their political institution,” the political group stated.
Reminding the historical circumstances that led to a political dialogue and political solution, and eventually signing of the Framework Agreement in 2015 with Government of India, the NSCN (IM) reiterated that the Agreement recognizes the “sovereignty and land of the Nagas” and is the “solid foundation on which a new durable relationship between the two entities will be built up.”
“This agreement will guarantee the security of both India and Nagas on the one hand and safeguard the right and future of the Nagas on the other,” it concluded, while remaining “deeply committed” to a political solution.
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