DIMAPUR, JULY 26 (MExN): The Naga Indigenous Peoples Alliance (NIPA) has stated that “this is the most opportune time for all Nagas to unitedly rise up again from where we’ve fallen apart and seek together God’s providence in making a good ending of the long-drawn peace processes of this new millennium.”
The NIPA, in a press release from its Convener, YL Ramgui said that “like any other nation or people around the world, unity is the inherent birthright of the Indigenous Naga peoples.” The historical lessons Nagas have learnt from their most determinate and united struggle for recognition of their long cherished nationhood must now be constructively put for making public policy and consumption, it added.
“Nagas indeed are very grateful to a democratic India, a country that is rapidly in a rising trend in the current global scenario. India must realistically realize that it is the direct impact of the long-drawn 23 year old Indo-Naga political peace processes coupled with Nagas’ fervent prayers for India that has paved her a standing ground on global peace mission. The lengthy nature of peace talk implies the complicate nature of Naga national issue. India is supposed to showcase human maturity and broad political mindset as far as her association with the Nagas is concerned,” the NIPA stated.
It however stated that India cannot afford to “forfeit every bit of peace, goodwill and trust that Nagas have gradually bestowed upon her since the early part of the new millennium.”
It condemned the recent killing of the 6 NSCN (IM) cadres in Arunachal and said that “it amounts to violation of ceasefire, human rights and humanity.” The NIPA stated that the active response of the Naga peoples represented by Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers Association, Naga Students Federation, and all concerned Naga organizations from different regions “reminds us again the inevitability of Naga unity & solidarity at this most challenging stage of a Naga history making of our own time.”
It further expressed concern at the letter issued by the Nagaland Governor to the Chief Minister on July 16. The NIPA also called for withdrawal of the memo dated July 7 for compulsory self-declaration of Nagaland Government employees having relations in Naga politica groups.
“Such calculated profiling of data with an intent and ulterior motive to link and/or propel a collective criminal complicity is alien to the Nagas and antithetical to criminal jurisprudence. Such coercive application of rule will sure result into alarming human rights crisis leading to extreme line of polarization between the Nagas in their own land,” the NIPA said.
It added that “international laws, international human rights law, and domestic laws of India prohibit such untenable bad laws & dogmas that may be tantamount to forcible self-incrimination and violation to individual’s right to silence.”
It asked the Nagaland Government to abide by “just laws and duly advise the incumbent Governor to follow suit in the interest of the state and the welfare of the Naga people as a whole.”
It meanwhile noted that “we are nevertheless yet to see a defined model-structure of Naga solution.” The NIPA said that Nagas have “long failed to build our own common political market based on consensus where the Naga narrative and the objective materials on the structure of solution be made available for all public consumption within and without our territorial homeland.”
It stated that Nagas cannot but export their own narrative of solution to the wider spectrums of Indian political markets. “The digital age and highly rated literacy of the Nagas can do some favour in this regard. Meaning, it appears to be more imminent and fair enough for all the Nagas to collectively work out a consensus on the issue of Naga Constitution (Yezabo). It will be good if a composite expert committee for an in-depth study on the nature, unique historical rights and feasibility of Nagas to have their own constitution for determining their own system and structure of self-government be initiated before anything is hectically walked over,” the NIPA said.
The NIPA said that “structural use of Naga native terms or nomenclatures such as, Tatar Hoho, Leacy, Ato Kilonser, etc. as proposed in the talks will be ultimately bereft of political logic and constitutional legitimacy unless and until Nagas’ right to have their own separate constitution or Naga Basic Law at the least is duly recognized.”
