Convenor of the Naga Common Platform Shikuto Zalipu (sitting third from right) alongwith other members of the Organising Committee, including SCAN spokesperson KK Sema, on November 17. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 17
As controversy raged up over the Naga Common Platform scheduled on November 18, the organisers of the platform said that it has no hidden agenda besides pushing for resolving the Indo-Naga political issue at the earliest. “The only intention is for bringing an early resolution to the Naga issue without further delay,” Shikuto Zalipu, President of the Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation told a press conference on November 17.
According to him, the NGBF is not chasing praises or trying to steal the limelight from the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), but trying to create a platform where all stakeholders can converge and jointly push for Naga unity and reconciling the Framework Agreement (FA) and the Agreed Position (AP).
The push for a common platform however met opposition, with the Nagaland Tribal Hohos Coordination Committee announcing it will abstain citing it would create parallelism and undermine the ongoing reconciliation process led by the FNR. It was followed by the affiliate tribal hohos decreeing its member from participating in the scheduled rally.
“Whoever is convinced that the Nagas' want peace will turn out for the November 18 rally. Those who don't turn up will be the ones who want the issue to fester on,” said Zalipu, who is also the convenor of the Naga Common Platform. He added that the desire is for merging whatever is in the two agreements.
In March, this year, a consultative conclave of Naga Civil Societies convened by the NGBF, Peace Committee had called for merging of the two parallel Agreements. He reminded that the FNR led by Rev Dr Wati Aier had also attended the conclave where it was resolved to endorse the NGBF to lead the push for a common platform and urging the Government of India (GoI) to “prepare a common draft” out of the FA and AP.
Initially, it was announced that the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) will also be invited to participate in the platform. The invitation was later retracted.
Member of the common platform’s Organising Committee, KK Sema said that the invitation was withdrawn after considering the opinions of the NPGs. According to him, the NPGs they consulted sent out feelers indicating a wish to first work out their differences before deciding to take part in such a platform. Secondly, he said that they argued that since they already have entered into agreements for a solution it would be rather pointless to ask them if they want a solution or not.
Sema, who is also the spokesperson of the Senior Citizens’ Association of Nagaland (SCAN), reiterated that the November 18 rally “is an open house… an open rally for everybody who wants a solution.” He added that they have sent out invitation to Naga brethren from other states, and are expecting their participation.
Unlike the opposition they are facing at present, he said that they would lend support to anybody who organises such a platform in future.
He also took potshots at the Nagaland state government, accusing it of being inactive and being the puppeteer controlling the tribal hohos. He appealed to all sensible Nagas to unite for the greater good, particularly for the future of the younger generation, and to support a platform that genuinely represents their interests.
Former state legislator, Z Lohe described the ceasefire and the subsequent two agreements as the means to a solution. “If these are ends, then it is overdue for the Nagas to have the end out of the agreements,” he said.
He argued that the ceasefire and negotiations cannot go on indefinitely as it has only served to exploit the common citizens.
