Dimapur, September 25 (MExN): The NSCN-K today claimed that “Nagas are not indigenous people.” The reason for this assertion, according to the outfit, is “because…Nagas of Nagaland are so far the owners and rulers of our own land...”
Responding to the Naga Hoho’s elucidation of the sense and import of the term “Indigenous peoples,” the NSCN-K today came out with its own interpretation of the term. The NSCN-K statement comes in the wake of the UN’s declaration of Indigenous Peoples’ rights and the subsequent “explanation” given by certain sections including the FGN.
“...But in the context of the people of Nagaland state, I wholly agree to his (NNC’s view that Nagas are not indigenous people) viewpoint and I too can say that the Nagas of Nagaland are not indigenous people because whether under an autonomous state or an independent nations, Nagas of Nagaland are so far the owners and rulers of our own land” NSCN-K’s CCM Pangshai Konyak asserted in a statement.
To the Naga Hoho’s explanation
of the term ‘Indigenous Peoples,’ (as issued through its press secretary), the NSCN-K claimed that it has “miserably failed to understand” the meaning of the definition in respect of the Nagas. The NSCN-K CCM maintained that the Naga Hoho’s definition was interpreted with “myopic eyes and bias mind.” Many leaders in the Naga Hoho, NSF and NPMHR see the problems prevailing in Nagaland ‘with their myopic eyes and bias mind.” This is why in spite of various appeals and warning by “genuine Nagas” they fail to “see reasons and come to terms.”
The NSCN-K further maintained that the Naga people are not demanding political concessions from India. “Nagas are a nation and that our struggle is to obtain recognition of our nation and sovereignty from foreign nations including India. India is the aggressor and their armies are occupational forces. Therefore what we demand from India is to leave Nagaland alone and to withdraw her armed forces from Naga soil. The sovereignty of Nagaland is no negotiable. It is non-negotiable entity. We are the people of a nation” it stated.
