Dimapur, February 10 (MExN): Following news reports of Nagaland Governor RN Ravi’s order to initiate action against ‘seditious’ government employees, various organizations in the State have voiced concern over the same.
On February 10, the Naga Hoho (NH) in its press statement termed the Governor’s orders as ‘continued intimidation’ against the government employees in Nagaland.
The recent orders from the office of the Governor requiring State government employees to provide the list of their relatives who may be connected to NPGs and the order to initiate action against state government employees for ‘sedition’ against India “do not reflect well of his intent and agenda,” the NH stated.
Such directives are nothing but another form of dehumanizing the Naga people’s hopes and aspiration, it added.
Voicing dissent against ‘targeting and criminalizing’ individuals, the NH condemned the reported “attempt to prosecute Dr Inato Jimomi and to stifle the rest of the Nagas.”
It asserted that Dr Jimomi or any Naga has the right and freedom to express their love for their land. It added that “... in doing so, it is not to advocate against India but a natural expression of any Naga who have experienced suffering borne out of conflict and militarization and continue to bear the brunt of it.”
The peace negotiation of two decades ongoing between the Government of India and the Naga Political Groups is too precious to be derailed by the lack of sight of a single person, the Naga Hoho added.
While condemning the ‘dictatorial’ attitude of the Governor, the Hoho urged the State Chief Minister and cabinet “not to allow the Governor to undermine the existence of a mandated elected government by a titular head.” It also appealed to all Nagas to stand together against such persecution and injustice.
GNF writes to CM
In its letter to the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on February 9, the Global Naga Forum also expressed concern over the Governor’s orders.
The GNF claimed that the Indo-Naga relationship has reached a ‘dangerously volatile point’ owing to the Governor’s manner of running the office as Governor and his role as Interlocutor of the Peace Talks.
The Forum said that the recent orders of the Governor against Naga government employees violate their rights to personal privacy and freedom of speech, and drew the Chief Minister’s attention to the issue while seeking remedy for the government employees.
It also expressed surprise at the singling out of one particular employee, Dr Inato Jimomi, among thousands of government employees who are equally vocal towards Nagas inherent political rights.
The GNF questioned whether the elected representatives are supposed to run the government or the Governor-the titular head of the State.
It also posed the possibility of using Article 371 (A) in the same manner as the Governor, but to remedy the problem, “…since Nagas too can invoke it in favor of customary laws.”
The GNF further reminded the Governor that the Indo-Naga political problem is yet to be resolved to the satisfaction of both sides, and that he is still the interlocutor and therefore the facilitator of the negotiations.
“In this context, for the Interlocutor and Governor to charge state employees with sedition for expressing their views in democratic avenues, peacefully, is a public provocation on his part,” the Forum stated.
The Forum appealed the CM’s office to ‘put an end’ to the ‘undemocratic’ and ‘authoritarian’ orders against Naga government employees and not to initiate disciplinary actions “on the basis of the Governor’s version of sedition, whilst we are in this crucial stage of finding a final solution for peace.”
