DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 5 (MExN): The Eastern Konyak Union (EKU), Myanmar has urged Naga political groups not to forget how they “restarted the national political strategies from eastern Naga areas,” and reminded that the border area villages are the “cradles of Naga sovereignty.”
A press release from K Akham Honwang, General Secretary, Eastern Konyak Union (Myanmar) said that since the 1950s, Naga national workers have come to eastern Naga areas for shelter.
“We are living in the core of armed occupation from India on the west, Myanmar on the east and Naga National Workers forces in the centre,” the union stated and lamented that till today people in the area facing the brunt of armed operations from the three governments.
Meanwhile, it said that there is lack of basic facilities despite being at the international border between India and Myanmar.
The union appealed to the NNPGs Working Committee and the NSCN/GPRN presently engaged in talks with the Government of India to look at “your political cradle ground while re-formation of Naga National Workers government from NNC/FGN to NSCN/GPRN.”
Whatever the outcome of the present talks, the Eastern Konyak Union (Myanmar) hoped that the people in the border areas would also be included. Any dialogue terming these areas as a “different country” is “unacceptable,” the union said.
It asked the Naga political groups not to ignore the eastern Naga people. “We received the Naga leaders and provided what we had. We saved your lives from the many adversaries” based on the commitment to work for Nagas without any differentiation, the union reminded. It added that the people in these areas have been serving the Naga cause, providing resources, physical labour and protection.
It further stated that from 1996 to 1997, many Naga national workers and leaders were welcomed in villages like Chen Hoyat and Chen Throilu. The people here, it stated, felt that after the leaders departed “they will bring independence.”
However, the union said what followed was severe operations by the Myanmar Army every year in the entire Knoyak area. It said that the operations and bombings caused inhuman conditions for villagers of Chen Hoyat, Chen Throilu and Chen Nyanching. “Till today villagers are unable to settle even in their own villages,” it added.
The union further expressed regret that some political leaders are now blaming the people for the lack of development in these areas. The Eastern Konyak Union (Myanmar) termed such rhetoric as “unacceptable” and said that the lack of education, communication and development in these areas need to taken up and recognized by the Naga national leader as well as Naga apex bodies.
It said that the people “don't want to hear Myanmar Naga or out of Nagaland,” and do not want to see “different faces when you leave from our soil.” The union that that people in the border areas still have hope that the Naga political groups would bring a political settlement for all Nagas.
