DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 21 (MExN): The Hague based Naga International Support Center (NISC) has condemned what it termed as “democratic India and its violation of human rights”. The NISC made this statement in response to “prohibiting Naga Peace negotiators from leaving the country to attend the General Assembly of UNPO” and terming this is a violation of human rights
The NISC has clarified that Nagas are members of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization based in The Hague, the Netherlands. It was claimed that when en route to Geneva, Switzerland, they were stopped by immigration on order of the National Investigation Agency, NIA, “the same agency which is responsible for the arrest and subsequent charges of procuring arms to wage war against the state of India, which were upheld by a court”.
The NISC states that this Naga, Anthony Shimray, “acted on behalf of the Naga leaders who are conducting peace talks with their Indian counterparts”. “Consequently, if these charges can be taken seriously then obviously these leaders should have been arrested and been served the same sentence as Shimray”, the NISC stated.
In relation to this case two Naga representatives were questioned and were cautioned not to be involved with International agencies, the NISC stated. Also a few days later most of the Naga leadership was summoned by the same NIA to be questioned.
The NISC has pointed out that “Nagas do not wage war against India but since 1954 instead are occupied by the Indian Armed Forces”. It also stated that “Nagas do not fight on Indian soil but defend themselves against invaders in their own land”. Further it stated that “peace talks are recognized, by both parties, to be between two nations, meaning that in this continuing conflict India is the invader”. Also “Nagas have nothing against India but its leadership which has proven to be insincere, untrustworthy, arrogant and possessive”.
Due to the many human rights violations the NISC called on the International community, United Nations, its agencies to protect human rights of the Naga Peoples and urges all concerned to check on human rights violations by India committed against Nagaland. The UN and others have also been told to advice the Indian Government to take the peace talks meant to end this almost 60 years old war seriously and also to remind the Indian Government that the right to self determination is a universal right which it has signed as a member of the United Nations. India should also be urged “not to drag indigenous peoples into war again.”
