Dimapur, October 28 (MExN): The GPRN/NSCN today asked apex Naga civil society organizations not to ‘meddle’ in the “political affairs of the Nagas”. Addressing media persons at the GPRN/NSCN designated camp at Khehoi, the organization charged four frontal Naga bodies – the Naga Hoho, Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) for what was claimed to be “anti-Naga activities.”
The press conference was held Thursday, October 28 following a joint meeting of its “cabinet” and “national political advisory council”. The press conference was attended by ‘kilo kilonser’ Hothrong Yimchunger, ‘special envoy to the collective leadership’ K. Mulatonu and convener of the NPAC Azheto Chophy, besides other kilonsers and leaders.
Terming the civil society organizations as “social bodies” the organization asserted that the four bodies have no right to interfere in political matters. The GPRN/NSCN said it has enough resources and ‘firepower’ of its own to deal with the Naga political problem. “We are freedom fighters…we’ve have a different playground and I advice them (the civil societies) to play at their own….” it stated.
Calling the civil society organizations “social bodies” the outfit’s leaders said they should know their “code of conduct” and act accordingly within the ambit of their respective founding principles and preambles, the GPRN/NSCN asserted.
Particularly pointing out the Naga Hoho, the GPRN/NSCN termed the apex Naga tribal body a ‘divided house’ and ‘under-represented’. The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization, the GPRN/NSCN claimed, was formed ‘because of the unethical concepts of the present leaders of the civil societies like the Naga Hoho.’
The GPRN/NSCN said that the Naga Hoho is not the right platform to mobilize opinion to solve the Naga political problem on the grounds that it is not represented by all the Naga tribes and is a “divided house”. Asked whether the voice of the civil organizations will be taken into consideration while in the pursuit of a political solution to the Naga problem, the GPRN/NSCN condescended: “We will only invite them when the appropriate time comes…”
“We’ve not invited these so-called civil societies because they are a divided house...” the organization’s leaders stated.
Accusing the NPMHR and the NSF of having links with “terrorist” organizations the group alleged that the two bodies were blacklisted by the Government of India in the year 2003 for this reason.
They however lauded the efforts of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) claiming it has gained recognition from “international bodies”. The group further advised the civil society organizations not to “sabotage” the FNR process with ‘their anti-Naga activities supporting terrorist organizations.’
On talks with the government of India, the GPRN/NSCN said that if India is not willing to solve the problem, it needs to have other options open in the form of talks with China and Myanmar.
The talk with India’s giant neighbor is based on the ground that China has claims over ‘Indian occupied Arunachal Pradesh’. Terming Arunachal Pradesh as ‘Aru-Naga China’, the GPRN/NSCN claimed, it is compelled to call it so because of the fact that two districts – Tirap and Changlang – is home to many Naga tribes. A similar logic applies when it comes to Myanmar, which has a huge Naga population, it asserted.
