DIMAPUR, Aug 1 (MExN): The Manipur-based Naga National Party (NNP) has welcomed the extension of ceasefire between the Government of India (GOI) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM) for another 6 months hoping that the extension would precede a more intensive and meaningful talk intended on peaceful means, with both the parties upholding utmost sincerity towards finding a political solution.
The NNP, in a press release, while appreciating the Indian leaders’ resolve to find a solution through negotiations and peaceful means, after decades of intense armed conflict, stated that the GoI had at last acknowledged that the Indo-Naga Issue was political in nature which cannot be solved by guns. “This indicates a change in perception and attitude towards the Naga issue and renews a sense of hope among the Naga people to their right to live together as one people through unification of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas and would help the peace process” it stated.
Asserting that it was the common desire of the people to live together as one political entity to decide their own destiny, the NNP appealed to both the sides to focus on facilitating the reclamation of rights of the Nagas to exercise their sovereign will as expressed and desired by the Naga people. The NNP also asserted that the eight year old Ceasefire had entered a “democratic space” for the Nagas to begin ‘picking up the threads of life and start the slow process of rebuilding their homes, family, community and society’. It further observed the present situation in Manipur and appealed to all political parties, politicians, civil organizations and individuals not to engage in wild allegations and counter allegations, through provocative statements against particular communities when dealing and asserting their respective rights since it would only create more misunderstanding.
Considering the turmoil in Manipur arising out of Chief Minister’s ‘illogical’ declaration of June 18 as State Integrity day and the consequent agitation launched by the All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) by imposing an indefinite Economic Blockade, the NNP appealed to all the peace loving peoples’ of the region to remain calm and peaceful. “The NNP do not believe that the attitude of the CM Okram lbobi Singh will help to promote unity among the various communities to strengthen Manipur’s integrity” it added.
.jpeg)
