Kohima, November 14 (MExN): The Ex-Parliamentarians Association of Nagaland (Ex-PAN) has denounced what it termed has “recent spate of attacks” vitriolically aimed at defaming and character assassination of personality like Dr SC Jamir and Ao women.
As per the association the attacks on Dr Jamir was allegedly carried out by one Sword Vashum and by an invisible person on a social media page "Patriotic Nagas." The concerned social media page also allegedly categorised Ao women in an insulting and derogatory manner.
“The questions raised by the unknown author hiding behind the group called ‘Patriotic Nagas’ about the genealogy of the nonagenarian and categorising Ao Women in such a derogatory and defamatory manner is not only most absurd and irrelevant, but only proves the perverted mindset of the person,” it added.
In a press release from its President Joshua Sümi and General Secretary Tarie Zeliang, the Association asserted that Dr Jamir is a bonafide Naga by blood, tracings his lineage back to Chungliyimti, the birth place of the Ao's.
“Raising such a maniacal question against one of the tallest leaders Nagaland..., renowned both nationally as well as internationally surely boomerangs”n at the attackers, it added.
It further pointed out that Nagas have the distinction of having the highest respect for women and condemned in highest manner the inexcusable categorisation of Ao women.
Hence, the Ex-PAN also called upon the authorities concerned to book the culprit under relevant laws and ensure that justice is served so that such incidents do not happen in the future.
Meanwhile, the Association postulated that the attacks on Dr Jamir might have occurred as the people behind these have been irked by the veteran politician recently highlighting “certain political realities on the history of Nagaland's statehood and on the contemporary Naga integration.”
Both the attacks centres around creation of the State of Nagaland and the issue of Naga Integration, it said.
While Naga Independence and Integration are central to the Naga and the Naga National Movement, they are yet to realise that these dream not because of rejection of God or the fault of any single individual, but due to our own follies, it contended.
However, if God had not paved the way for the creation of the State of Nagaland with special status under Article 371A of the Constitution of India, we would be still be but a district of Assam, it added.
In this connection, the EX-PAN stated that the fruit of Nagaland is being enjoyed not only by the indigenous Nagas of Nagaland but more by the critics and argued that the Nagas cannot “afford to condemn what we have been surviving on till today.”
On “Naga Sovereignty and Naga integration,” the Association stated that it is not what Dr Jamir said, but what is “documented in both the Framework Agreement of 2015 and the Agreed Position of 2017,” both of which are bereft of these issues.
Thus, is “not a sin for anyone” including Dr Jamir to reiterate “what is and what is not there in the said documents,” it asserted.
Glorifying the late Rishang Keishing, former Chief Minister of Manipur, who once purportedly declared "not an inch of Manipur will be given away" but later signed a memorandum supporting Naga integration in 2005, is nothing but endorsing “hypocrisy,” it further noted.
Had the former Chief Minister, leaders, and Nagas of Manipur supported the issue of Naga integration under Clause 13 of the 16-Point Memorandum, presented by RC Chiten Jamir in 1960 for joint consideration before submission to the Government of India, the situation today might have been different, the EX-PAN further stated. Instead, their rejection led to the current impasse.
The Association also stated that the Naga National Movement originated in Nagaland and continues to thrive due to the logistical and technical support of the indigenous Nagas of Nagaland. Even the name "Nagaland" was coined by the leaders of the Naga National Movement, it claimed.
Despite benefiting from Nagaland's statehood, refusing to acknowledge historical realities and habitually casting aspersions reveals the character of a "bully and a thug," it added.
The Ex-PAN also pointed out that apart from being a signatory to the 16-Point Memorandum, Dr Jamir is neither the architect nor the brain behind the memorandum or a sole signatory.
The Memorandum was the collective effort and ideas under the banner of the "Naga Peoples Convention" to ensure that the violence and bloodshed in Nagaland ends, it reminded.
Thus, the Association deemed it “unfortunate that our brethren from Manipur decided to reject our overtures to be one then and therefore they should now refrain from accusing the Nagas of Nagaland or any individuals including Dr. Jamir for the mistakes they and their leaders made when the future of the Nagas was at its precipice.”
Asserting that Nagas of Nagaland are privileged to have the last signatory of Memorandum alive, it stated that it would will continue to support and defend him and anyone from Nagaland if judged unfairly.
