‘Any contentious issues must not be roadblock to a solution’
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 29 (MExN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) today urged the negotiating parties of the Indo Naga political talks “not to fail the Nagas” at this crucial hour.
A press release from the NTC President, Toniho Yepthomi and General Secretary, Nribemo Ngullie said that “with so much labour the negotiations have now reached a very crucial stage and should not be allowed the process to become a futile exercise.”
“As much as the ceasefire is the means to political negotiations between the GOI and the Naga negotiators and that much the on-going negotiations are the means to political solution,” it added.
The NTC said that if any entity “tends to undermine the humbleness, the commitment and the participation of the other, it will be a loss to oneself than to the other.”
“Should any entity fail to realize how vital the on-going negotiations are, the ultimate result of such negligence will be nothing more than regret. Should any negotiator become complacent or irresponsible by which the process is led to a stalemate, the obvious consequence will be the wrangle with blame games which will only produce the seed for retrogression in the long run,” the NTC pointed out.
It therefore asked the Government of India and the two groups of Naga negotiators not to opt for avenues for the delay of the solution but to have open mind and be bold to conclude the process with solution.
It noted that the Government of India has already set the time schedule within which the negotiators are required to hammer out the solution; “how hard or easy the negotiation process may be in the greater interest of the Nagas.”
Should there be any contentious issue/issues remaining unresolved, the NTC opined that such must not be allowed to become a roadblock to solution. “Any issue which is of common interest will remain the collective responsibility of the Nagas to pursue post solution,” it added.
The NTC expressed hope that the political solution will not only resolve those issues being dealt with by the negotiators but it will have much positive impact on the overall scenario.
