Kohima, February 10 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has censured Nagaland Governor RN Ravi for attempting to “silence the voices of the Naga people” and suppress their rights through his recent directive to the Chief Secretary of Nagaland.
In a statement received late on Tuesday evening, NSF President Ninoto Awomi and General Secretary Liremo R Kikon said the directive was another attempt by Ravi to undo the peace and understanding brought about by his predecessors.
In singling an official, the Governor through the impugned directive, “intends to create fear psychosis among the State government employees” and send a message that he “has his eyes and ears planted in Naga society to achieve his desired end of dividing the Naga people,” the NSF said.
“It is also a manifestation of his dominant attitude and his ever failing approach of thrusting the dominant might upon us,” the statement read.
The NSF stated that it expected the Government of India appointed Interlocutor to the Indo-Naga Peace talks to “truly understand and respect the unique history of the Naga people and accordingly work out mechanisms in the interest of the two entities,” instead of indulging in “trickery and divisive politics.”
“However, the same is not to be and the federation is appalled at his various misconducts and misdemeanors,” it added.
It said that the, “the Naga people will not be cowered down by attempts to stifle their voices and belittle their legitimate rights,” while asserting that the voices of the Naga people and their collective aspiration to live as one people cannot be muted by the, “evil designs of the opposing forces.”
It reminded Ravi that, “the Naga peoples’ struggle for self-determination can in no way be treated as another secessionist movement,” as the collective assertion of the Naga people was to live as a people free from any illegal occupational forces basing on historical facts.
“Therefore, not a single soul should be persecuted for voicing out the truth,” it asserted.
Further stating that the federation cannot allow anyone to walk alone while upholding the righteous cause of the Naga people, it publicly reaffirmed its commitment to uphold the Naga identity until the ultimate goal of sovereignty and integration is achieved. “The artificial boundaries and circumstances shall not dissuade us from asserting our legitimate rights,” it added.
The federation stands committed in ensuring that the Naga political rights are not misplaced or tampered with by any forces until a negotiated solution in line with the ‘unique history and situation of the Nagas’ is achieved with the Government of India, it asserted.
