DIMAPUR, JULY 30 (MExN): Naga organizations such as the UNC, ANSAM and the NWUM sought to dispel any “misgivings and irrational assumption” that their groups including the NSF were working at the behest of the NSCN (IM).
Through a joint release issued by their respective Presidents KS Paul Leo, (UNC), Grace Shatshang (NWUM), and Paulhring Langhu (ANSAM), the organizations declared their resolute stand on the shouldering of the aspirations of the Naga people.
According to the release, “The Nagas in the present state of Manipur firmly support the early negotiated political settlement and the Peace Talks, because peace is universal. The Naga frontal organizations is just carrying out its NPC declaration for non-payment of hill house tax and the school affiliation to NBSE as desired by the Naga people.”
The release stated that “the Naga Peoples Convention held on November 4, 2005 at Taphou Naga village under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC) is the conclave of the Naga people necessitated by ‘peoples will’ to protect the identity and history of the Nagas and to realize the resolute aspirations to unify the arbitrarily demarcated Naga homeland by the alien forces.
It was further mentioned that “the Naga people restrained themselves when the anti-Naga ceasefire agitation took an ugly turn in Imphal valley in 2001” and that “it was attempted to sabotage the Nagas’ struggle for self determination. It was also designed to deny the physical existence of the Nagas. The Nagas were provoked but the Ceasefire extension to the Naga areas and peace is inevitable to establish cordial atmosphere in the region.”
The organization leaders termed as unfortunate and far from the truth the allegation by the NSCN (K) Zeliangrong Region that they were working on the instigation of the NSCN (IM).
Vowing not to be swayed by any pressure, they added that the Naga people’s support for the ongoing Peace Process was to create peaceful environment in the Naga areas as well as in the region.
They hoped that factions would “create understanding among themselves to work together to pursue the Naga aspiration. It is the unanimous stand of the Naga people in the present state of Manipur to support the Peace Process of the rightful Naga Cause.”
“The Naga people earnestly appeal all the concerned groups under this circumstance not to implicate the factional conflicts and ideological differences to the mass based organizations.”
On the declaration to “award capital punishment to any Naga individual(s) and civil organization(s) who are shouldering to strengthen the Universal Peace,” the organizations termed this as unjustified and “detrimental for the Naga people; violence against our Naga brethren cannot enhance the struggle movement to achieve our political objectives.”
The Naga Organizations offered to resolve any misunderstanding through peaceful means.
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