Dimapur, July 16 (MExN): The Tenyimi Peoples’ Organisation (TPO) on Thursday has appealed to Nagaland Governor RN Ravi, who is also the interlocutor to the Naga Peace talk, to bridge the gap of differences and bring the people together instead of dividing them, in order to ensure an acceptable and honourable settlement.
The TPO said it is ‘disturbed’ by the recent developments and state of affairs with regard to the Naga peace process.
The Naga people were given much hope Governor declared early this year that solution is in the offing having successfully concluded the negotiations, the TPO said, adding that any disagreement or variations in interpretation could be sorted with the right approach and sincerity from all parties, and a ‘real deal’ could be made for the interest of all concerned.
However, “the revelation of the Governor’s letter to the Chief Minister and the government’s diktat to all its employees to declare the involvement of their kith and kin in the Naga National Groups gives rise to doubts and uncertainty of sincerity and commitment,” TPO observed.
It stated that the Indo-Naga Peace process started with the acceptance of the Naga Issue by the Government of India as a political one which then led to the recognition of the unique history and situation of the Naga people.
While various Prime Ministers in the past have made statements about their willingness to bring the Indo-Naga imbroglio to a logical conclusion, the TPO said that the ‘most hope-inspiring’ statement was made by the present Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in an international platform on August 17, 2015 in Dubai.
The TPO expressed surprise at the Governor’s letter to the Chief Minister of Nagaland which had termed the Naga Political Groups as “armed Gangs,” terming it as an attempt to portray and push the state machinery to take action as that of a law and order situation, “besides threatening to take over the rein of the State government and emasculate the democratically elected government.”
Questions Govt's self-declaration directive
Another alarming development, the TPO observed, was the Office Memorandum of the State Home Department which made it mandatory for all the government employees to self declare on their family members and relatives in ‘underground organisations’.
The TPO questioned the intent of the move. “…Why now after more two decades of cease-fire and political dialogue,” it wondered, while claiming that this also ensued owing to the insistence of the office of the Governor, according to “a reliable source.”
“This is against the principle of the acceptance of the Naga struggle as a political issue,” the TPO asserted, stating that “in the long Naga Political movement for self-determination of more than 7 decades, almost all Naga families were affected, made to suffer and involve directly or indirectly.”
It expressed displeasure at the self declaration directive to government employees and the push by the Governor for the state police to take action against Naga National Groups, rather than routing through the Cease-Fire Monitoring Mechanism.
The TPO said that the latest developments seem like “a highly calculated ruse to insidiously divide the Nagas and create further internal conflict,” giving rise to apprehension that the whole effort of bringing about a final Indo-Naga Settlement may be jeopardised.
Ravi’s appointment as the Governor of Nagaland on August 1, 2019, was welcomed by the people with the expectation that, as somebody, who is the interlocutor to the Naga Political dialogue as well, would empathise with the long suffering of the Naga public and render sincere effort to bring about an expedited solution, TPO said.
“But so far, the integration of the gubernatorial office and the interlocutor has not yield much result but rather the duality of the roles is showing to cast aspersions,” it added.
In this regard, the TPO appealed to the Governor to bring the people together, bridge the gap of differences rather than divide, “so that a negotiated settlement is clinched which is acceptable and honourable to all.”
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