Dimapur, October 23 (MExN): A joint statement issued by the GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN has termed the proposed rally to be held on October 26 at City Tower Dimapur as “prejudiced”. The two Naga political groups pointed out that it was in the knowledge of every single Naga that the atmosphere of peace and reconciliation under the aegis of Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) has had tremendous impact towards bringing all the warring political groups to a meeting point. “The historic 18th September summit is testimony for all peace loving Nagas. GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN believes that any rally at this hour, other than for strengthening the Naga Reconciliation and Unity, is prejudiced and not in the spirit of Covenant of Reconciliation”, stated the joint statement issued by the MIP, GPRN/NSCN & Rali Wali, NNC/FGN.
According to the joint statement, if the proposed rally goes ahead, “the Naga Hoho, NSF and NMA would be making a mockery” of the September 18, 2010 Summit. Stating that it was a “sinister, vindictive and a colossal danger to the fragile Naga reconciliation process”, the two groups pointed out that to “derail the Reconciliation process would mean unimaginable repercussion”.
“Having witnessed much political turmoil, tragedy is best avoided. Naga political solution hinges of oneness and inclusiveness of all Nagas. Does the Covenant of Reconciliation signed by top leaders hold any meaning to three apex bodies? What drama are they trying to enact?” the joint statement went on to question those behind the proposed rally.
Stating that the FNR, “having worked tirelessly to garner support and confidence of all political groups in particular and Nagas in general”, the GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN pointed out that the protest rally by Naga Hoho, NSF, NMA would be “akin to an attempted robbery in broad daylight”. It stated that the Journey of Common Hope and the Covenant of Naga Reconciliation “do not pin hope on any particular group to decide political future of the Nagas”.
In this regard, the GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN has appealed to the Naga Hoho, NSF and NMA “not to lose sleep over the deadlocked political dialogue between IM and GOI” while pointing out that “at a momentous time, when the Naga people reaffirm their oneness before God and man, a solution shall be sought and it shall be granted”.
“The wisdom of all the apex organizations must be to stay on course with the rest of the Nagas by reflecting the will and opinion of the people. This is not a time to orchestrate new meaning and direction to Naga political issue behind the screen”, it stated while adding that “for whom and for what the protest really is needed are questions the Naga Hoho, NSF and NMA, who are part and parcel of the Naga Reconciliation process, must tell the Naga people”.
“If the proposed protest rally is to demand the GOI to expedite the non-existent political dialogue between the GOI and one faction, it is without a shadow of a doubt, a call to resume hostility and bloodbath among the Nagas”, the statement cautioned. “Is it to expedite alternative political arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur? Naga people must have a clear picture. At this juncture any step contrary to the positive feelings of the Naga people shall invite the wrath of the people”, it went on to state.
The GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN clarified that the “arrest of Ningkhan Shimray of IM by Indian authorities in Nepal is an issue which should be sorted out by IM and GOI” and that “enforcing Naga populace of Dimapur to the streets to demand the release of one alleged arms smuggler from prison is unjustified”.
The statement reminded the organizers of the protest rally that “hundreds of Nagas continue to languish in different Indian and foreign jails preceding Ningkhan Shimray, for believing in the political right of the Nagas” and that “none is more Naga than another”. “Just recently a member of the signatory of COR inflicted horrific torture upon a member of another signatory of COR, the self proclaimed apex bodies, did not even blink. The Practice of hypocrisy by them has destroyed Naga political vision”.
The two groups went on to state that since the majority of Naga political groups are signatories to Covenant of Reconciliation, the call for mass protest rally in Dimapur on 26th October 2010 “to resurrect and expedite the non-existent political talks is a clear deviation from Naga people’s vision” and that it was a “violation of people’s trust, clearly planned and arranged with ulterior motives”.
The GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN insisted that the protest rally at this hour is “inappropriate as it does not have any scope of strengthening Naga Reconciliation”. “In such an atmosphere, it is more an act of spraying poison to the fragile Naga reconciliation process than anything else. In the best interest of the Naga people, it is advised that the proposed protest rally be called off as it does not serve the purpose of common goal”, the joint statement stated.
