Lahe, March 8 (MExN): Naga Public Organization (NPO), Lahe Town, Naga Self-administered Zone Myanmar today emphasised that there is a need for the international community to monitor and support the rights and development of the Naga people.
Naga Public Organization (NPO) Chairman, Yangli and Secretary General, Rev Isaac Jojo in a press statement said that the Naga people have historically lived freely, but in the present day, they face numerous challenges due to political and social conditions. The Naga people reside in the border regions of India and Myanmar, areas that are grappling with slow development and various human rights issues.
In India, the Naga people are spread across Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh, while in Myanmar, they inhabit the northern parts of Sagaing Region and Kachin State. The Naga region in Myanmar borders India and is one of the least developed areas, the NPO stated.
Claiming that the Indian government has exerted pressure on the Naga people under the pretext of security, and such actions continue to this day, NPO said, “The Naga people in Myanmar also face difficulties with transportation, living in mountainous areas far from the rest of Myanmar.” Additionally, there have been reports of harassment of villagers crossing the border by the Indian military, leading to violations of the human rights of the Naga people and hindering regional development, it alleged further.
NPO also stated that currently, there are reports of rural residents in the border areas being arrested, assaulted, and subjected to various forms of mistreatment by the Indian border security forces. Therefore, the organization has strongly condemned these actions. “The Indian government must immediately halt the inhumane actions of its military against the local Naga population,” it reiterated.
Moreover, the enforcement of border fencing under the guise of safety seems to only exacerbate the poverty in the Naga region, it added.
“Thus, as an NPO, we must firmly reject these initiatives.”It is essential to provide the necessary support to the local Naga people and assist in the development of the underprivileged Naga areas, it stated.
Further, it asserted that NPO is an organization that fully support by Konyak union, Khiamniungan council, Lainaung council, Tangkhul, Makuri, Para, Longburi and Tangshan people from Myanmar.
