A section of the attendees at the conclave of Naga Civil Societies convened by the Nagaland GB Federation, Peace committee (NGBF PC) in Dimapur on March 20. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 20
A new refrain for integrating the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position into one common charter has emerged. The latest development in the efforts to resolve the Naga political imbroglio came amid the call for unification of all Naga Political Groups (NPGs).
The demand for the merger of the two agreements, which the Government of India has signed separately with the NSCN (IM) and Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) was adopted at what was hailed to be a consultative meeting of “Naga Civil Societies” convened by the Nagaland GB Federation, Peace committee (NGBF PC) in Dimapur on March 20.
As per the NGBF, the conclave had representation from the Nagaland Tribes Council, Senior Citizens Association of Nagaland, Forum for Naga Reconciliation, Ex-Parliamentarian Association of Nagaland, Naga Council Dimapur, Konyak Angh Union, Tirap-Changlang and Longding People’s Forum, Rengma-Zeliangrong Joint Council Assam, Naga Hoho and NGBF PC. The United Naga Council, Manipur was also initially scheduled to attend the conclave.
The conclave was of the consensus that the Naga people are yearning for a political solution, and that the negotiating parties should earnestly heed to the call by making renewed effort towards unity and understanding for one solution and one agreement.
The common refrain during the discussion was for drawing elements from both the prevailing agreements and merging them into one comprehensive document. “The house resolved to urge the GOI to prepare the common draft out of the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position so as to converge the two Agreements into a single Agreement for the ultimate solution,” was the main resolution thus adopted.
The NGBF PC was charged with the task of spearheading the effort with the support of the Naga CSOs. The conclave also appealed the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum to organise a day of fasting and prayer for early Naga Political solution.
According to the NGBF General Secretary Zalipu Shikuto, the conclave and subsequent resolution was the result of the federation’s Peace Committee meeting the 16 NPGs based in India. As per his count, there are currently 18 NPGs, with 2 Myanmar-based.
He did not specify when the meetings occurred but he told the media, after the conclave, that there was consensus among all the NPGs they met for continuing with the peace process for an early resolution of the Indo-Naga political issue.
While the groups are many, the two main players at present happen to be the WC, NNPGs — which is a conglomeration of 7 NPGs — and the NSCN (IM).
He said, “We met the NSCN (IM) leaders, President Q Tuccu and VS Atem (Deputy Ato Kilonser) twice. We asked them whether they would want to join a common platform or not. They said, yes.” He added that the NNPGs also endorsed to the idea of a common platform.
He claimed that the two entities have sat together in the regard, with the NGBF as the facilitator.
Retired bureaucrat, KK Sema was also in the conclave. He asserted that a final settlement should be inclusive without disregarding any one entity. While two formal agreements exist, he pointed out the existence of many other groups excluded from the peace process.
He raised the burden of multiple taxations in the name of sovereignty, and batted for a representative grassroots forum as a medium for conveying the people’s aspirations to the government.
He was critical of the Naga Hoho and the state government, accusing the two entities of doing little to advance the peace process.
