NSCN (IM) Kilo Kilonser calls on GoI to solve Indo-Naga political issue on high-priority
Dimapur, December 13 (MExN): The Government of India (GoI) through its Amsterdam Declaration dated in 2002 officially recognized the ‘unique history' of the Nagas, and that the “Naga nation has never signed any documents of accession with India during the process of the formation of the Indian Union,” a top functionary of the NSCN (IM) stated on Monday. This, according to him, means that the ‘Naga issue’ “is not a case of secessionist insurgency.”
“These historical facts was given personal stamp of approval by the then Deputy Prime Minister of India LK Advani. Thus, there is hardly any dispute with regard to the established status of the Nagas as a 'People' and the same has also been recognized by other sovereign nations including International bodies such as Unrepresented Nations and People's Organization (UNPO),” the group’s Kilo Kilonser M Daniel Lotha said in a statement.
Stating that the UNPO promotes the importance of self-determination as a fundamental human right, he went on to say that that the Nagas being a People under colonial and alien subjugation are entitled to the right to self-determination. “The history of armed suppression and immensity of war crimes and human rights violation committed by the Indian Armed Forces under the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 would unquestionably entitle the Nagas to assert their rights to fight back to safeguard their identity as people,” he asserted. Stating that the International Court of Justice recognised East Timor’s right to self-determination, Lotha contended that the “Naga people’s right cannot be treated under different yardstick.”
Further referring to the 1951 Naga Plebiscite as an affirmation of the Naga declaration of Independence on August 14, 1947, he said that “This collective truth demonstrates the moral and political consensus of the Naga struggle for self-determination and reiterates the uniqueness of Naga history and situation.”
The spirit and aspirations of the Naga Plebiscite continues to guide the Naga political movement, he added. Stating that it is not up to an alien country to decide whether the Nagas are a peoples or not, he said that the “Naga public must shoulder the responsibility to take the call on Naga Independence deliberately and genuinely.”
With regard to the Oting killings on December 4, the Kilo Kilonser said that the time has come to show a resolute stand in solidarity with all the victims. He also stated that the “National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) has discovered that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on Oting massacre in the Indian Parliament is a despicable lie,” and said that the “outrageous statement” was a show of Shah’s “true color of immaturity, incapability and frivolous mentality towards the Naga people.”
Therefore, the Naga People should urge the United Nations (UN) and the International community to respond to the call of the Naga People for justice and peaceful co-existence, he added.
Calling on the people to “respect our legitimate rights and save our political movement,” he further stated that “India should also know that despite the differences among the Nagas the unique history and the right to self-determination will remain intact.”
“The ongoing Naga political solution is equally important and beneficial to both India and Nagas as two entities. If Indian sub-continent has to become an economic power, the Nagas holds the gateway towards this targeted economic growth. Therefore, the GoI should take high-priority in solving the Indo-Naga political issue at the earliest for a peaceful co-existence once and for all,” he added.
