DIMAPUR, JULY 29 (MExN): The Naga Solidarity Group today asked the Government of India and its leaders to “revisit the primary rationale of why it agreed to have a ceasefire and political negotiations with the Nagas” at this time when the ceasefire extension with the NSCN (I-M) is being considered.
“All parties – the Government of India and Naga national groups - are urged to renew their commitment to finding a peaceful solution addressing the question of Naga people’s sovereignty which can go forward by extending the ceasefire agreement.”
A press statement said “the Government’s policy of using the ceasefire ‘period as containment’ strengthens the growing opinion that solutions cannot be found through peaceful negotiations. “The international community questions whether government leadership is sincere in its endeavors to form a lasting solution that will fully address the oldest political conflict in the region.”
The Naga solidarity group pointed out that: “Sadly, now ten years after the ceasefire was declared, the Indian Government’s commitment to finding a political solution seems to be waning. The opportunity for the government of India and Nagas to address the question of Naga sovereignty remains within reach. The continued delay and absence of willingness on the part of the Indian government to find a peaceful solution with the Nagas has only been a setback to the international community’s belief that India is an emerging democratic superpower.”
The Naga Solidarity Group proposes the following points:
• The agreement to have unconditional talks held at the Prime Minister’s highest level and in a third country must be respected and implemented in letter and in spirit.
• The scope of the political negotiations must be broadened to allow international observers and civil society observers - both Indians and Nagas alike.
• The agenda of the negotiations must be on specific issues; and solutions to those issues must be arrived at within a stipulated time frame. Each solution must be implemented to strengthen trust and confidence-building thereby stabilizing the peace process.
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