DIMAPUR, APRIL 29 (MExN): The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has presented an appeal towards upholding the Naga peoples’ right to self determination during the 21st session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues which began on April 25 and will continue till May 6.
The GNF stated that the “pivotal right of self-determination on which all other rights depend has been denied the Naga people after India and Myanmar became independent from colonial rule in 1947.”
The struggle for and absence of self determination has made pursuing sustainable economic, social, and cultural development extremely difficult for the Nagas, it said. The GNF therefore appealed to the Special Rapporteurs and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to urgently prevail on the Indian government to immediately repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and set a timeline for demilitarizing the Naga homeland, so that a peaceful transformation of the region can begin.
It also called for expeditious resolution of the Indo-Naga political issue and engagement of the on-going peace negotiations in good faith.
The GNF further said that the international standards enshrined in the UNDRIP and other relevant human rights instruments and jurisprudence be upheld while urging that development initiatives and implementation of policies and programmes in the Naga homeland are done in accord with the spirit, intent, values and principles of UNDRIP.
The GNF submitted a written statement summarizing the “realities on the ground in the Naga homeland from the 1950s to date that support our statement.” It said that the Naga people’s struggle for self-determination has been relentless suppressed by the government of India in three main ways: “Military campaign from 1953 to today; Indian Intelligence Bureau propaganda to confuse, deceive, and divide Nagas; and liberal use of money and privilege to corrupt and change traditional Naga values and governance, and to align Naga society with the current BJP’s Hindutva ideology.”
