Naga Hoho urges Interlocutor to postpone 2018 state elections if no tangible solution on the Naga peace talks emerges before election
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 7
Urging for settlement of the Naga political issue at the earliest, the Naga Hoho on Friday urged the Interlocutor to the Naga peace talks, RN Ravi that solution to the Naga issue should be brought out before the next State Assembly General Election. Nagaland State is scheduled to go for assembly polls in early 2018.
“We strongly appealed to the Government of India during our interaction with RN Ravi today that the Government of India and the political negotiators to bring out a solution before the next general solution,” Naga Hoho president Chuba Ozukum told The Morung Express.
RN Ravi, Interlocutor for the ongoing peace talks between Government of India and NSCN (IM) on Friday met with Naga civil societies at Nagaland Police Officers’ Mess, Chumukedima with the objective of hearing the views of the people.
Ozukum said the Naga Hoho would be compelled to ask the GoI to “either postpone the general election or abrogate the Ceasefire if no tangible solution emerges before the election.”
The Naga Hoho president said the Naga people have waited for so long and their patience is running out. During the interaction, the Naga Hoho also discussed on the possibility of bringing all the Naga Political Groups together while settling the Naga political issue, Ozukum informed.
While the ongoing political talks have been between the NSCN (IM) and the GoI, the aspiration of almost all the Naga civil societies as conveyed to the Interlocutor was to bring all the NPGs together to the same table before any settlement is finalised.
One source, who was part of the series of meetings today, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that Ravi made it clear that the intent to the consultations was to get the pulse of the civil society and the possibility of using the inputs while hammering out a solution.
The source said that Ravi described the Framework Agreement as “a broad roadmap, by which the GoI have recognised the sovereign right of the Naga people and based on that recognition they have narrowed down to the possibility of shared sovereignty.”
As per the source, Ravi maintained that the dialogue with the NSCN-IM will continue and added that it does not mean the other groups will be ignored. On that note, the source said, “He was honest enough to say that the NSCN-IM should also understand the ground reality.”
Inclusiveness first, then only solution: ACAUT
Briefing media persons after meeting Ravi, members of Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) informed that they had apprised the interlocutor on the need to include apex tribal bodies of the 16 tribes of Nagaland and all Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) while arriving at a final solution to the Naga peace process.
Ravi is reported to have responded that he had come to garner opinions of the people and how the best inclusive solution could be brought about. ACAUT members also suggested that NSCN (K) be brought to the negotiating table to which Ravi said he had sent feelers for the same.
Meanwhile, Ravi denied media reports that the Government of India (GoI) had approached Myanmar to abrogate ceasefire with NSCN (K) and flush out the cadres from their territory.
ACAUT members said they requested Ravi to convey to the GoI to immediately repeal AFSPA. “There is an ongoing peace talks and why cannot the GoI trust the Naga people and immediately repeal AFSPA?” an ACAUT member queried.
On the demand for repeal of the AFSPA, Ravi agreed but made it clear that it was not within his power.
They also raised the issue of taxation and syndicate system of various commodities in the state and the need to arrive at a final solution at the earliest. “Solution should not be a piece meal one just to appease some groups but it should be inclusive,” another member of ACAUT said.
ACAUT members said Ravi confided in them that most of the civil societies meeting him did not highlight any concrete suggestions on the Naga political issue but talked only in general terms. They said Ravi seriously took note of ACAUT’s suggestions and that he himself was talking about inclusiveness but under the purview of the Indian Constitution.
Restore traditional Naga lands: UNTABA
United Naga Tribes Association on Border Areas (UNTABA) during its interaction with RN Ravi reiterated their demand on the restoration of the traditional and historical Naga lands that are still under Assam administration.
According to a press statement from the UNTABA, the team explained to RN Ravi that the inordinate delay in transferring back these lands to its rightful owner has been the major cause of the Naga national movement in the late 40s and the early 50s.
It therefore laid emphasis to the Interlocutor that all these Naga lands should be brought back to Nagaland at the time of political settlement and that political settlement without boundary settlement on the historical basis of erstwhile Ahom kingdom and Naga people would be meaningless.
The team also explained its opposition in the formation of any Boundary Commission if so initiated by the GoI in due course of time owing to the fact of history that no Boundary Commission had ever respected the traditional and historical facts of Naga people over its land and resources.
No quick-fix solution: CNTC The Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) during its interaction with the Interlocutor to the Naga peace talks RN Ravi asserted that any solution should be inclusive of all groups and all stakeholders taken into account.
According to a press statement, the CNTC maintained its stand that for any permanent peace and settlement, “all factions/groups should be taken into consideration without which it will only be a futile exercise as in the past.” “Any quick-fix solution will bring only bigger problems like in the past which history has taught us very well,” it further asserted.
The Naga Council Dimapur delegation who was supposed to meet RN Ravi at 2:20 pm were left disappointed after their meeting was rescheduled to a later timing. The Naga Council decided not to take part in the consultative meeting scheduled for them on Saturday.
“However, our stand on the ongoing Naga political talks is clear. All Naga political parties should be taken aboard before any solution is hammered out,” Naga Council president, Bangerloba said.
Meanwhile, the United Naga Council team led by its president Gaidon Kamei held the consultation from 2 pm with RN Ravi. The meeting lasted for more than an hour. The participants declined to reveal what transpired in the consultation meeting.
RN Ravi is also scheduled to meet more civil societies on Saturday.
