Naga legislators share concern on Naga political issue

Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 4

Joining the discussion hour on Naga political issue, Minister for PWD (Housing & Mechanical) Tongpang Ozukum on Tuesday said that the members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) are doing their part as facilitators and will continue to do so.

“We are determined as before with more trust and confidence on each other and with this enthusiasm, we hope and believe that we will again give a strong push and concerted effort so that we all can see the final inking of the solution,” Ozukum said during the discussion hour on Naga political issue at the 8th session of 13th NLA on August 3.

Ozukum told the floor of the House that right from the first Assembly of the NLA in 1964, the house has adopted resolution after resolution endorsing and supporting the demand made by the negotiators.

Even the 13th NLA has adopted two resolutions- one in 2018 and another in February 2021, he informed.

“In order to show our commitment and seriousness to this political issue, this August House reiterated the earlier resolutions adopted in 1964, 1970, 1994, 2003, 2015 and the resolution adopted during this 13th House,” Ozukum said.

The Minister said that in all the resolutions, the members of the House had shown solidarity to all the political groups for the sacrifices they had made since the beginning of the movement.
 
‘We lack political will’
MLA Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu said, “Today what I see among us, among the 7 NNPGs, NSCN (IM) or the national workers groups is that we lack political will.”

He also opined that the 60 members of the NLA always talk about the Naga political issue but, “there is no political will.”

Azo stressed on the need for a political will from all including the negotiating parties and that they should wind up the talks in the interest of the Nagas.

He said the Government of India and the legislators must be bold enough to question the 7 NNPGs and the NSCM (IM) and call them to a round table conference and let them see the competencies or clause that GoI is offering them.

Azo asserted that any Naga political group who do not want to sign or who cannot sign, should also be brave enough to abrogate the ceasefire.

‘Golden opportunity’
Advisor for Tourism and Art & culture Khehovi Yepthomi said that when the central government is showing interest to permanently settle the decades old Indo-Naga political issue, “We should not miss the golden opportunity.”

The more we continue to prolong the talk, the darker days we may encounter in the days to come. The more we neglect the talk, the more new political groups might crop up, he said.

Further, Yepthomi called upon the members to sincerely continue to play their role as facilitators and appealed different Naga poltical groups to sit across the table and sort out all their differences for the sake of the Naga people and unite for the final political settlement.
 
‘A last united effort’
MLA Yitachu said that while the House has been pursuing the issue as an active facilitator, many a time, because of political colours and political interests, “We tend to misunderstand each other and we tend to create division among us.”

Yitachu said that by next year, election fever will begin and it will be difficult for the members of the House to put their minds together for bringing about a solution.

Conveying the desire of the NPF party for the House to give a ‘last united concerted effort’ towards facilitating the solution, Yitachu endorsed the idea of an opposition-less government.

“…this is a history in the making, an opposition party giving full support to the House/ Leader of the House to give a final push for Naga solution,” he said.

Further, Yitachu expressed confidence that the coming together of the entire 60 members will create an impact which will reach the GoI.
 
‘Negotiating groups must come together’
MLA Chumben Murry also suggested that the two negotiating groups come together within 6 months and that within another six months, GoI and negotiating Naga groups must come to a conclusion and sign an agreement particularly based on point 2 and 3 of Core Committee resolution.

He said that the Core Committee on behalf of the Parliamentary Committee on Naga political issue must meet the central leaders and urge them to be magnanimous of the issue.

The Core Committee must also meet the tribal bodies including women and student leaders so that the desire for solution becomes a mass movement, Murry opined.

He also called for the Churches to be involved so as to give a spiritual as well as emotional push towards solution.

Imkong calls for ‘flexibility’
MLA, Imkong L Imchen said that GoI was bold enough to sign the Framework Agreement of 2015 on August 3 as the official document for both the NSCN (IM) and the GoI.

“The first and foremost importance of the Framework Agreement was the definition/interpretation of the sentences and words entered in the agreement was never defined consequent upon which the interpretation of GoI and NSCN(IM) differ frequently making it an obstacle in the due process of negotiations,” Imchen stated.

While observing  that the negotiating sides have an ‘uncompromising rigidity’ and there is no flexibility or give and take on either side, Imchen added that, “The talk is almost at a standstill position. No party is showing any sign of flexibility or compromise. Both sides are exhibiting more rigidity than flexibility.”

He opined that both NSCN (IM) and GoI have to compromise “if they are serious about settlement as there is surely a solution lying underneath.”