Wokha/ Dimapur, December 9 (MExN): The Lotha Public Organization (LPO) on Wednesday hit out at the ‘disoriented’ Nagaland Governor RN Ravi for his Statehood Day speech, which it said, ‘cold-shoulders’ the Naga Political movement for self-determination.
The organization issued a statement expressing "deep discomposure" over the Governor’s statement saying “RN Ravi cannot play a dual role as both Governor (constitutional head) and Interlocutor in the negotiation and enforce law and order in the peace process, as more damage has been done and created trust deficit within the Naga people and the negotiation.”
The LPO said that it had never seen “such dogmatism and condescension from India counterparts,” and claimed that Ravi, “who himself had signed the Framework agreement (FA)” had failed to act as Interlocutor.
“…RN Ravi could have maintained the diplomacy of the two nations’ agreement (Framework Agreement) for a better and genuine relationship between India and Naga. But RN Ravi had crestfallenly failed to create sanguine atmosphere to hammer out the decades old protracted Indo-Naga political talk to a insightful conclusion with inclusive, honourable, and acceptable solution,” the statement read.
It asserted that, RN Ravi should know that, Indians and Nagas are two different peoples and nations and that their Flags and Constitutions are also separate since time immemorial.
“No force on earth can stop the Nagas to safeguard its “heart and soul of Naga (flag and constitution) so there is no room for confusion nor controversy on this issue,” it maintained.
It also termed the Governor’s statehood day speech as “absolutely despicable,” while stating that “the Naga Nation doesn't need certification of Nationalism from a foreign people.”
It further said that at a time when the world is keenly watching India to exhibit her role to end the longest insurgency in south east Asia by concluding its Indo-Naga political talk with honourable and acceptable political settlement, “unfortunately the Government of India has time and again conveyed her insincerity towards the Indo-Naga political issue.”
The LPO expressed astonishment that the Governor, “chooses to make allegations against the Naga nation,” stating, “Ravi has continuously hurt the sentiment of the Naga people,” with statements that “are wrong as per the history and facts.”
It demanded that the Governor “should apologize for the same before the almighty God and the Naga people,” and desist from making “false statements on the Naga National movement.”
‘Governor should not undermine Indo-Naga peace process’
The Naga Rising group meanwhile said that Nagaland Governor RN Ravi, who is also the interlocutor to the Indo-Naga Peace Talks, gave out a ‘‘conflict-ridden’ message on the eve of 58th Nagaland Statehood Day, terming it as ‘reckless and inappropriate.’
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group stated that “Nagaland Governor RN Ravi should not undermine and destroy the hard earned peace that has been built over many years of patient dialogue and goodwill between the Government of India and the Naga people,” at a time when all Nagas irrespective of tribe, region or political affiliation are eagerly awaiting a peaceful resolution to the Indo-Naga conflict.
It claimed that Ravi’s open criticism of what he terms as ‘endless peace process’ has been approached very differently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that during the signing of the Framework Agreement, PM Modi ‘complimented’ the Naga Political Groups ‘for maintaining the ceasefire agreement for nearly two decades, with a sense of honour that defines the great Naga people.’
“Ravi’s message and intent invalidates everything that honourable PM Modi has said. The Nagas expect that the ‘sense of honour’ as defined by the Prime Minister should be reciprocated by Ravi who also happens to be the Interlocutor, a position that should carry great responsibility and foresight,” it stated.
Referring to an interview with a leading newspaper in Nagaland, the group quoted Ravi as saying, “there is only one peace process…we cannot fragment the Naga issue…the ongoing peace process cannot be undermined.”
“Likewise in his first speech to the people of Nagaland after assuming his duty as Governor, he said the following: ‘My earnest endeavour will be to help resolve it at the earliest ensuring utmost honour and dignity to the Naga people.’ All these good words seem to have been forgotten,” the statement read.
The ‘spirit’ of the Indo-Naga peace process, which has successfully navigated the churning of Indian politics through the last few decades; the broad and sustained support it has received from several Prime Ministers and elected governments, should not be forgotten, it added.
It further said that Ravi has been using his position as Governor to further divide the Naga people and opined that he, as someone tasked with the role of dialogue and bringing people together, “should rise above vested interest and work on the larger goal of a mutually acceptable and honourable solution that has defined the Indo-Naga issue since the beginning.”
The Naga Rising meanwhile referred to the appointment of BK Nehru as Nagaland Governor in 1968 and said that the former “did everything at his command to discredit the Naga cause and the Church-led peace efforts,” and eventually led to the collapse of the 8 year old ceasefire in August 1972.
However, it said that after 25 years, the Indian establishment realized that the policy of divide and rule and treating the Naga issue as a law and order problem was a failure and, the GoI entered in another ceasefire and political dialogue from 1997 onwards.
As such, it asserted that “The incumbent Governor should realise that the Naga problem cannot be solved by sowing division, creating ill will and use of force. “
“...As Interlocutor his role is to solve the Indo-Naga problem that could not be resolved either through the 16-Point Agreement or the Shillong Accord. Otherwise, there is no relevance for RN Ravi as Interlocutor. If Ravi cannot handle the dual role, he might as well step down as Interlocutor and enjoy his remaining tenure as Governor,” the statement read.
The group reiterated its ‘vision statement’ to oppose “the indiscriminate attempt to undermine the Indo-Naga peace process and undercut the ‘historical and political rights’ of the Naga people,” and at the same time, affirmed support to a “negotiated political settlement mutually agreed upon between India and the Nagas.”
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