Dimapur, December 6 (MExN): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh assuring “untenable status quo” and territorial integrity of Manipur states has irked the NSCN/GPRN (Isak-Muivah). The statement of the PM “may adversely affect the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process,” the group asserted in a press release issued by its ‘MIP’ today. The statement was appended by the NSCN/GPRN co-convener of ‘steering ‘committee’ Q Tuccu and “kilo kilonser” Rh. Raising.
A ‘joint council’ meeting of the organization’s ‘steering committee executive members’ and “the cabinet” took a strong exception to what it called the “unfortunate statement” of the Indian Prime Minister on December 4 in Imphal. He committed to the “untenable status quo of the so-called territorial integrity of Manipur and other North Eastern states,” the MIP note stated.
The statement of Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India is a “serious cause for concern as it may adversely affect the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process,” the group said and that his statement is “a u-turn to the commitment of seeking the Indo-Naga solution outside the box and walk the extra mile to seek an honorable political solution in the shortest possible time.”
The NSCN/GPRN expressed shock that the PM’s statement ‘contradicts’ the ‘recognition of the unique history and situation of the Nagas’ by the Government of India. “Historically speaking, Nagas have their distinct culture and territory under the administrative jurisdictions of the respective chiefs /kings of the villages from time immemorial. Nagas were not a part of the Manipur durbar (assembly). Under the colonial policies of the British India and India, the land of the Nagas were divided into many pieces and placed them in different administrative units in total suppression of the inherent rights of the Nagas,” the organization asserted. “In protest against such diabolic divide and rule policy, Nagas have been resisting in many forms till date and they will do that till the end.
At the invitation of the Government of India to resolve the seven decades old conflict between “the Indian and the Nagas,” the NSCN/GPRN said, dialogue has been on for the past 14 years seeking solution through political means. Stating patience and commitment to solving the decades old “problem” through negotiations based on “mutual respect and recognition of our inherent historical rights” the MIP press release said “we will always be faithful to this commitment.” It however added that “the statement of Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Honorable Prime Minister of India is a serious cause for concern as it may adversely affect the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process.”
