Kohima, December 15 (MExN): The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has appeal for wisdom and patience in finding an “amicable settlement of the in-house disagreement” over Kezoltsa area and blamed third party interference for escalation of the dispute.
As a Forum that believes in all Nagas across political and artificial boundaries uniting behind the Naga people’s continuing struggle for human and indigenous rights, the GNF is deeply troubled, it stated in the appeal.
GNF understands that the dispute was to be settled according to Naga tradition and customary law, whereby due process was to be exercised and adjudicated by the Tenyimi Public Organisation (TPO), the Forum said in a press statement issued on December 14.
“This was the procedure agreed to by both the Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) and the Mao Council - until a third party (State government on the Mao Manipur side) came into the picture and the dispute took a retaliatory turn,” it alleged.
Accordingly, the GNF condemned the interference in the “Naga people’s exercise of indigenous rights to our lands and cultures, especially interference by state actors aimed at causing further divisions among the Nagas who live arbitrarily separated in several states in two countries.”
The issue is about legitimate indigenous rights guaranteed by the Indian constitution and supported by the United Nations and international conventions and we expect Government of India and state governments to uphold them, not trash them, it added.
The GNF further appeal for understanding and restraint on the part of Nagas everywhere for the sake of peace and unity among our people, noting that there are no dearth of leaders and enough of wisdom to resolve the land dispute within the Tenyimi family.
“Let us do so especially during this season of traditional Naga community festivities and of Christmas,” it added.
