Dimapur, August 4 (MExN): The Naga International Support Center (NISC) today asked the Indian government to consider human rights based ideas which can set an example for an amicable solution to the long drawn Naga political conflicts.
A press statement from the NISC, while welcoming the indefinite ceasefire extension between the GOI and NSCN (IM), questioned whether the Nagas deserved to live under an occupation which has lasted for some 55 years.
In this regard, the NISC invited the Government of India to launch fresh ideas based on human rights. The NISC suggested the Indian government to consider abolishing the Armed Forces Special Powers Acts and other demeaning laws, and to begin withdrawal of its armed security forces so that the military grip on Nagaland is lessened and the Nagas feel free to talk about a mutual future. It further asked India to consider the idea of assisting the Nagas in rebuilding their by this war devastated lands.
While pointing out the essence of the ceasefire between the GoI and NSCN (IM), the NISC said that in the course of the long Naga political problem it has resulted in the death of approximately 250,000 people and it was only because of the ceasefire that the torture, the burning of villages, the rape of women and the executing of people, has been suspended. “So, to the people of Nagaland the ceasefire is important for they live in relative peace”.
However, the NISC questioned whether this is what the Nagas deserve or not. It stated, “But is it what they fought for and the question now is: it is what they deserve; do the Nagas deserve to live under occupation, an occupation which has lasted for some 55 years?”
“That this is the beginning of gradually defusing this long term conflict may be clear for in the past decade of peace talks based on this ceasefire impartial observers cannot but determine that nothing much has been accomplished,” the NISC said.