Dimapur, February 2 (MExN): One of the senior-most politicians in the country SC Jamir has released a new booklet in which he has unequivocally censured the unspoken but apparent suppression by the Naga armed groups, of Free Speech, suppression of popular thought, common discussion and participation of the people. Illustrating the situation, the former governor and chief minister elaborated the fear that people have now come to have in expressing opinions on issues revolving the Naga political issue and how they can no longer raise their voices against tyranny and persecution.
A booklet “A Realistic Perspective on Unification-Peace-Reconciliation-Efforts” of the former Governor of Goa and Maharashtra, SC Jamir was distributed along with his speech during a program of the Nagaland Law Students’ Federation in Dimapur today. In his booklet Jamir vehemently reminded of the “absolute suppression of popular thought, free expression, common discussion and peoples participation in the decision-making process by the underground groups.”
Already reeling from decades of oppression, violence, brutality and threats, he states that Naga citizen is today shattered physically, mentally and emotionally. The regime of threats, intimidation, violence, killings and extortion has replaced the virtues of the movement, he writes.
The former chief minister also said that the “political groups and factions,” both “overground” and underground have abjectly failed to scrutinize the role, relevance and rationale of ‘sovereignty’ and “separate homeland” in relation to the modern times and its challenges. In fact, the booklet says, an unambiguous, united and single Naga political agenda has now been “hijacked” by innumerable groups, factions and parties “which are often indistinguishable from each other.”
This has created confusion and disorder not only for the Naga public, he stated, but also for the India leadership. “So far, in Nagaland, the common Naga people have not manifested their preference or mandate in favor of any political party, group or faction, whether over-ground or underground,” SC Jamir said. “In the absence of mass appeal and general public support, the Naga political movement has become totally lifeless and listless and everyone is merely paying an ostentatious lip-service to the Naga cause.” The Naga leader has opined that the unity of the Nagas should be to; first and foremost, evolve a common framework where a definitive, pragmatic, amicable and progressive action plan can be charted out to restore the festering Naga political problem.
