DIMAPUR, JULY 11 (MExN): The WC, NNPGs today stated that the Naga people want an immediate political solution that “fulfils Naga aspiration in Nagaland state, for Nagas in Manipur, Nagas in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagas in Assam, through practical structure and approach.”
A press release from the media cell of the WC, NNPGs stated that it has “negotiated with the GoI precisely as per Naga people's desire,” and with “full backing and confidence of the Naga tribes and relevant apex CSOs.”
The Agreed Position signed on November 17, 2017, it said, set the parameters for negotiations and the Status Paper is now in public domain. “This would mean immediate end to extortion industry. The drama of NSCN (IM) leaders, therefore, must end because the patience of the Naga people has reached its limit,” it stated.
The Naga people, it stated, “have rejected gun culture which led to open threats, embezzlement of public wealth through immoral means, while brilliantly selling the idea of Naga solution without bringing any practical solution to the Naga people.”
Further, the WC, NNPGs claimed that the Framework Agreement has no reference to “sovereignty, greater Nagalim, out of the box solution, supra state, integration, Pan Naga Hoho (PNH), flag and constitution.”
It rather pointed out that the Prime Minister, on the evening of signing the Framework Agreement, had “welcomed NSCN (IM) leaders into the national mainstream.” “Whether taken in its entirety of negotiated period or isolated usage for the evening, welcoming IM members into 'national mainstream' by Indian Prime Minister on live television is, by no stretch of imagination, a declaration of Naga sovereignty, integration or granting separate flag or Naga constitution,” the WC said.
It further said that the Framework Agreement was signed “without the knowledge of the Nagaland State Government, Naga tribes, the apex civil societies or the Church.” “The group in question joined the national mainstream on their own wisdom on live television. A handful of men do not own the soul and spirit of Nagaland. This is where the GoI was forced to sign the Agreed Position with genuine stakeholders,” it claimed.
It further stated that the WC, NNPGs and its affiliates have pledged to the principle of ‘Nagaland for Christ,’ and to be “transparent, inclusive, partnering the Naga apex tribal bodies, hereditary institutions and other civil societies to uphold this very slogan in words and deeds, now and in future.”
It meanwhile responded to the recent statement made by the NSCN (IM) and refuted claims that the WC Convenor, N Kitovi Zhimomi and other members had travelled to Tirap, Changlang and Longding (TCL) Naga areas of Arunachal Pradesh in the last couple of years, “forget months or days as alleged.”
The WC NNPGs said that the claim of the Assam Rifles escorting the Convenor’s convoy is “someone's figment of imagination.” It rather informed that on June 4, 2022, the Tirap, Changlang Longding People’s Forum (TCLPF); Tirap Changlang, Longding Students' Federation (TCLSF); and Tirap Changlang Longding Women’s Association (TCLWA) met the WC, NNPGs at the Oking and “cleared all doubts and misgivings fed to them by imposters.” “On their own volition, the TCL leaders endorsed the Agreed Position and Status Paper as positive, honorable and acceptable,” it said.
It further stated that P Tikhak, Ato Kilonser of NSCN (Reformation) “is a true patriot, able administrator, a visionary leader and a philanthropist.” “Public of Tirap-Changlang and Longding and also within NSCN (Reformation) knows he is the real son of the soil,” it added. The WC NNPGs said that he “helped introduce many innovative ideas to improve the lives of the local people. In the last more than two decades of his association in the Naga political movement, he had never indulged in activities that would hurt the sentiments of the people.” It said that “the question of having some of his close or far relative within CSO in the TCL does not arise.”
The WC, NNPGs stated that the NSCN (IM)’s statement has “revealed their despotic future intentions.” “The Naga people do not appreciate how efficiently they cook up stories to cover their own evil deeds, shifting responsibilities of their current diabolic, alien, anti-Naga gameplan, to others,” it stated.
It said that the NSCN (IM) leadership “must accept the truth,” while claiming that “they have used the Naga political talk as a license to extort Nagaland State Government and common people alike for three decades.”
“Inhabitants across the Naga homeland have closely observed their activities over decades and have come to a conclusion that the story of Honorable, Inclusive and Acceptable Solution will remain just a story for them for self aggrandizement,” the WC NNPGs stated.
