DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 16 (MExN): While accepting and appreciating the recent United Nations declaration for the Indigenous people to have the right of self-determination, the FGN has stated that the NSCN (IM) “is attempting to label the Naga people as Indigenous people”, which it stated was not acceptable, “because Nagas are not Indigenous people and we are not fighting for recognition as Indigenous people”. “Nagas are a nation and we are fighting for recognition as sovereign nation by the world”, stated a press communiqué received issued by V. Phutoi Zhimomi, Midan Peyu cum Finance Secretary, Federal Government of Nagaland.
Explaining that the Indigenous people as commonly known “are the people who originally occupied the land but reduced into minority by waves of migration from outside to their own homeland” and that Indigenous people are those “who have been completely submerged and assimilated into cultural and political system of another race who are in the majority and control the government, economic and social system”. “But the Nagas are remain as a nation and never reduced to claim as indigenous people status as mentioned above”, the FGN stated.
It stated that “the phases of self-determination and indigenous problem are matters of internal affairs of one’s own country”. Responding to the statement made by the NSCN (IM) which had appeared on the September 16 issue of this daily, the FGN stated that the NSCN (IM) had “completely deviated from the Naga original stand and attempting to internalize Indo-Naga conflict”.
“What they are attempting to do is to please Indian leaders, because India has been playing divide and rule policy since 1957 to internalize her naked aggression on Nagaland using the so-called moderate Naga leaders those who want to co-operate with India”, the FGN stated.
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