Dimapur, June 14 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has stated that the Government of India’s (GoI) lack of commitment to solve the Indo-Naga political issue would prove to be ‘counterproductive.’
“In the present scenario, the NSF is of the apprehension that the worst will happen if the GoI fails to honour its commitment and exhibit its utmost sincerity by ensuring that the rights and dignity of the Naga People is upheld,” it said in a representation addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The NSF also said that the policies of the Government of India to ‘undo everything’ achieved through political negotiations has created distrust in the minds of the Naga people, in the representation appended by President, Kegwayhun Tep and General Secretary, Süpuni Ng Philo.
The Federation stated that during the 75 years after India’s independence, the Naga homeland was militarised; and there were two ceasefire and peace negotiations between the GoI and leaders of the Naga national movement.
“We have heard only stories of the first ceasefire, while in the second ceasefire, we the present Naga generation are now living through it. We have also heard and read about earlier Agreements and Accords which were imposed and superimposed to bring in so-called ‘peaceful solutions’ which only created more problems and conflicts, rather than solving the problems,” it said.
The NSF maintained that “after the British colonials left the Naga country, the Government of India unleashed the ‘dogs of war’ equipped with the most draconian laws, including the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA). The AFSPA was and continues to be destructive to the rights of life. This Act was used and is still used against innocent Naga civilians, the latest incidents being the Oting massacre on December 4 and Mon killing on December 5, 2021.”
In this connection, the NSF maintained that “it is the insincerity of approach of the Government of India that has brought about this grim situation.”
It further went on to state that the Nagas today are looking forward to inherit the inclusive, honourable and acceptable solution basing on the unique history and situation of the Naga people as assured by the Indian government; “However, the various developments wherein the policy of the GoI to undo everything achieved through hard earned political negotiations has created great distrust in each one of our minds as we strive to uphold our God given identity.”
It should be reminded that the Naga peoples’ assertion for self-determination is never a secessionist movement, it asserted.
According to the NSF, the Naga youth and students will never accept an economic package based piecemeal solution.
“Such exercise will only eventually deepen the protracted Indo- Naga problem rather than being the solution the Naga people has long desired. The failed agreements and accords of the past bear testimony to this assertion of ours,” it added.
Further, it urged the Prime Minister to put a stop to the “divisive role that is being played by the various agencies of the GoI,” stating that such elements are deepening the crisis. Stating that it would only ‘lead to a fall-out in the ongoing peace process,’ it requested the PM to take direct control of the situation in the same letter and spirit that the ceasefire and political talks were declared and initiated, without any conditions and at the highest level, that is, the Prime Ministerial level.
