Calls for accepting ‘contemporary realities’
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 2 (MExN): The Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) has called on Naga tribal bodies to recognise “contemporary political realities,” and avoid “selective amnesia” regarding the Indo-Naga political issue. According to it, while Naga history and identity are shared ideals that transcend political boundaries, the physical integration of Naga areas — both in terms of geography and population — is “not possible at this time.”
The statement comes in the backdrop of the Naga tribal hohos cold-shouldering a recent move, spearheaded by the Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation, for merging the Framework Agreement (FA) and Agreed Position (AP) into one vision document through the establishment of a Naga Common Platform.
The statement was also critical of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) allegedly ceasing its activities from 2015 to 2022. “From the Autumn of 2015 to 2022, the FNR had locked its shop and threw away the keys,” it said.
In contrast, it held that the AP of November 17, 2017 was the result of the WC, NNPGs engaging in extensive meetings with tribal hohos and leaders, from 2016 to 2019, most of who are alive and remain relevant to the Indo-Naga political context.
The committee described AP as a “refined political thought process” derived from consultations with churches, prayer groups, and village custodians, unlike the Framework Agreement’s alleged unilateral nature.
It asserted that the WC, NNPGs delegation adopted a "calm political position" without being "belligerent, pompous, or rhetorical." It said, “The Indo-Naga Political Negotiations entrenched Naga history and identity because it is a pre-independent India question for which solution must be honorable and acceptable. The hours were precious and precise. All agreed points were noted, put into papers and officially shared between entities.”
As opposed to the notion of an agreement arrived in consensus, it held that the NSCN (IM) severed all communication lines with the “FNR, Naga political groups, apex Tribal bodies, GBs and other CSOs” prior to and immediately after the signing of the FA.
The Naga general public was allegedly left uninformed about their political future. “That night, not a single candle was lit in Nagaland celebrating the event while in Manipur, Nagas organised candle light programmes,” it said, while stating that the Government of India (GoI) soon realised “the soul and spirit of the Naga political movement was absent from the ceremony (FA).”
According to the WC, NNPGs, it is not the time to “indulge in philosophy, sentimental browbeating or pursue metaphysical exercises” when thousands of Naga youths are returning home with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees each year. “They are Nagas and know exactly what Naga history is. They know which Naga leaders are playing with their futures,” it said.
While stating that “Extraordinary days” are confronting the Nagas whether in Myanmar, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam or Nagaland, it said that it is not a time to “lecture Nagas on Naga history.”
They acknowledged that Nagas will continue to coexist with neighbors, including Meiteis, Kukis, Mizos, Ahoms, and Arunachalis.
The WC, NNPGs referred to the understanding reached with the then GoI Interlocutor, RN Ravi, noting that the 2017 agreement recognised the Naga right to “self determine their future in consonant with their distinct history and identity.” However, this recognition was coupled with the acknowledgment that such rights must be exercised "with due regard to contemporary political realities."
