DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 9 (MExN): The newly formed Naga National Party (NNP) in Myanmar has released its election manifesto for the 2020 general elections in Myanmar scheduled to be held on November 8. The NNP, which was registered on September 25, will mainly compete in the constituencies of Kachin State and Sagaing Region.
The party manifesto affirmed its resolution towards building a federal democratic union, national reconciliation, promoting and preserving cultural heritage and customary systems of the indigenous peoples, and sustainable development.
It stated that the right to self-determination of ethnic nationalities enshrined in the 1946 Panglong Agreement is “exactly the political aspiration and longing desire of the ethnic nationalities in Myanmar.” It said that that the right to self-determination is the fundamental foundation for building a genuine and lasting federal union.
The NNP expressed willingness to collaborate with fellow ethnic nationalities in building the Federal Democratic Union “to the best from the role it can.”
The party also termed it essential for the Naga people to retrieve the Naga Hill Region guaranteed by the 1947 Constitution of Burma which came after the 1947 Panglong Agreement, and the right to self-determination to stand among others as a dignified people and to best serve the union. It said that the party would work for achieving the ancestral domain of the Naga people and their right to self-determination.
It further stated that only systematic remedy on the political, social, and economic gaps between the mainland and the hill regions will bring a just and lasting reconciliation among peoples of the country.
“We believe that only dialogue culture across the table can solve the political imbroglios amicably. The dignified return, safety, and resettlement of the citizens displaced by wars are also keys to the national reconciliation. We need to review and overcome the ultra-exclusionary political beliefs, fear psychosis, chauvinism and chauvinist acts, laws, and policies that hinder genuine national reconciliation,” it asserted.
The NNP manifesto also stood for promoting and preserving cultural heritage and customary systems of the indigenous peoples. It said that the ‘Vacant, Fallow, and Virgin Land Management Law (2012)’ is a serious threat to the existence of indigenous peoples and their customary systems in Myanmar. The party assured to work on enforcing laws and policies that recognize the customary land tenure system, environmental conservation, forest governance, and natural resources governance of the indigenous peoples. Other areas of focus also include gender equality, youth development, and child rights.
The NNP said it would work to receive increased union government budget and international supports for sustainable development of the Naga region. It further said the party would seek support from both national and international experts, and make a development plan suitable for the region.
All villages in the Naga region have fundamental infrastructures needed for multi-sector developments such as transportation, electricity, running water, food safety, mobile phone, and internet, it pointed out. It assured to work for road development, increased income of local farmers, development of agriculture, husbandry, and production of commercial crops in the region, job creation for educated youth, fill the human resource gap etc. It also assured to conduct proper research before implementing projects to avoid losses and failures.
The NNP further stressed on programs to enable better education for children in several levels, increasing stipends for pregnant women, the elderly, and disabled, and rehabilitation programmes for helping drug addicts.
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