Dimapur, September 24 (MExN): The Concerned Naga Forum of Nagaland (CNFN) has asserted that the Naga national movement is a “people’s movement” and called for clarity and transparency in the approach to the Naga political issue, while also renewing its demand for a state-wide Registration of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN).
At its seventh General Body Meeting held at AIKO Greens on September 21, the CNFN took up various issues in the public domain and outlined its position on the Naga political process.
The CNFN stated that no single organisation, faction or individual could claim exclusive authority over the Naga national question.
It said the Framework Agreement of 2015 and the Agreed Position of 2017 reflected the endorsement of the parties involved and those who had accepted them as the basis for political negotiations. Such endorsement, it maintained, did not amount to surrendering or compromising Naga aspirations, asserting that “the people make the final decision”.
The Forum also appealed to Naga Political Groups (NPGs) engaged in negotiations to remain focused and committed to working towards a common resolution based on contemporary and practical realities.
Meanwhile, on territorial integration, the CNFN stated that the integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas was “no longer on the agenda” and that the existing territorial boundaries of the respective States should remain unchanged.
Opposes demand for fresh interlocutor
The CNFN opposed the State Government’s demand for fresh negotiations under a new interlocutor, arguing that this went beyond the scope of a “Facilitator”.
It maintained that a facilitator was meant to facilitate dialogue and could not seek new parameters or conditions for talks that had already been “agreed, signed and concluded”.
The Forum said insisting on a new interlocutor would effectively mean seeking to reopen the negotiations and would undermine the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position.
Referring to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s pledge that the State Government would step aside to facilitate an “honourable, acceptable, and inclusive Naga political solution”, the CNFN said the State was “morally bound” to honour that commitment.
It argued that, with the two Naga negotiating groups having signed political agreements, the State Government should make way for their implementation.
The CNFN further stated that failure to do so would obstruct the path to a solution and argued that this would “obligate” the Government of India to impose President’s Rule and deliver the long-awaited solution.
Appeals to Centre
The Forum called upon the Government of India to honour its commitment to conclude the negotiations and deliver a political solution “without further delay”.
“We refuse to remain silent spectators left in the wilderness of indecision,” it stated, while affirming what it described as the inherent right of the Naga people to live in peace, dignity, freedom and self-determination.
The CNFN also urged the State Government to “cease interference” and allow the negotiating entities to work towards an amicable settlement.
The statement was issued by the Media Committee, CNFN, on September 24.
Says RIIN ‘long overdue’
Meanwhile, the CNFN argued that it is the responsibility of the State government to identify and categorise its residents to ensure peaceful coexistence.
To this end, it held that a state-wide Registration of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), is “long overdue”, and advocated a unique identity in place of the NRC.
According to the Forum, this would ensure that every resident is accorded their rightful status and prevent non-indigenous residents from overstepping into matters concerning the State.
The CNFN also urged indigenous people of Nagaland to uphold their responsibilities and called on non-indigenous residents to refrain from what it termed “undue interference” in matters concerning the rights of indigenous people.
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