Dimapur, April 17 (MExN): The Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) termed the reported imposition of compulsory conscription in Naga areas in Myanmar as well as the proposal for suspension of Free Movement Regime (FMR) as “unacceptable.”
In a statement from its Media Cell, the WC, NNPGs stated that it was deeply disturbed by the gravity of the situation in Naga areas of Myanmar with the current political turmoil is slowly snowballing into an existential threat for them,
Young Naga men and women are being conscripted by the Junta against their will and there is a sinister plot to make the Naga area the final battlefield between Myanmar Military and the People's Democratic Force (PDF) and its Alliance, it alleged.
It further stated that Burmese Army has reportedly incurred tremendous loss, abandoning vast swathes of territory, men and equipment’s to PDF.
“At this hour, conscription young Naga men and women to military is like pushing them over the cliff. Forcing a man to kill his own blood brothers is barbaric and unacceptable,” it added.
The WC, NNPGs also alleged that few “self-seeking prominent Nagas” are collaborating with Juntas and converting Naga Self-Administered Area into safe haven for the latter to launch offensives against ethnic pro-democratic forces.
They are committing “blunder of historic proportion,” it added.
It also maintained that major Naga townships like Naga towns such as Taga, Lahe, Khamti, Leshi, Homalin, Thamanti etc. are being used by Myanmar junta to “regroup and replenish.”
“Naga individuals or groups involved in aiding Myanmar Military Junta in their desperate attempt to suffocate the ideals of truth, justice and federal democracy, would be on the wrong side of history,” it cautioned.
The WC, NNPGs also declared that it joins the free world in recognising the need for Myanmar to transition into peaceful democratic nation and termed it the aspiration of the people.
Stating that Nagas and Myanmarese people do not need despots and tyrants trampling over their rights and freedom, it stated that Naga history will judge and identify those working hand in gloves with the Junta.
“The WC vehemently condemns imposition of compulsory conscription in Naga areas and opposes the use of Naga soil to launch military strikes against those fighting to defend democracy,” it added.
Meanwhile, on suspension of Free Movement Regime (FMR) in Indo-Myanmar border, the WC, NNPGs stated that the Government of India (GoI) must recognise that it is the “political and historical necessity for the Nagas to promote, maintain and value their common culture.”
“Nagas are not soulless creatures reared for forced political and psychological confinement. Artificial boundaries cannot confine a man's spirit,” it asserted.
It further alleged that the current conflict in Manipur is the creation of GoI and a “thousand year's Naga history, identity and cultural progress cannot be insulted, regulated and curtailed through 2023-24 GoI-induced Meitei-Kuki communal flame.”
This is too narrow a prism to subjectively ground the Naga people on unresolved political issue and also on FMR, it added.
Accordingly, the WC, NNPGs asserted that the Naga landscape is pre-independent India conversation and the GoI cannot “create physical barrier to matters which echoes and resonates in the very soul of a people.”
