Dimapur, March 4 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), President, K Therie has condemned the Global Naga Forum’s (GNF) rejoinder to Dr SC Jamir as “indecent” and “hateful.”
“No one is stopping anyone else from achieving greater political spectrum than that of the 16 Point Agreement but without doing so, rebuking the 16 Point Agreement without achieving any improvement is unacceptable,” Therie stated in a press note on Friday.
“Making such pre-meditated statement against an individual and against Statehood exhibits a mindset of hatred,” he said.
According to Therie, in the process of negotiation, both parties have made clear that “the issue of Sovereignty and Integration are not negotiable.”
The Framework Agreement (FA) according to the 213th Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs (30 Members of Parliament, represented by all parties) is interpreted as: settlement will be within the Union of India; interstate boundaries shall not be changed; and generous economic package was recommended.
“The interpretation of Parliament cannot be wrong,” he said adding that the FA was signed between the Interlocutor representing India and by General Secretary of the NSCN (IM) in the presence of Prime Minister and many more dignitaries from both sides.
Expressing regret that ‘we have wasted one generation in negotiation’ he said, for GOI, they can wait for 100 years and they have nothing to lose.
“But for stakeholders, we want peace and better avenues for our children. We understand the ‘Peoples Government’ does not want solution. Even after talks have concluded, they want negotiations to resume. When GOI is pressed for implementation of Agreed Position, GOI says we also have to honour the ‘Peoples government,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Therie said, “given opportunity, Congress will implement the Agreed Position. We will strengthen the State and provide modern opportunities to our children. We will facilitate and ensure smooth conduct of interstate economy.”
On the Nagaland Statehood, he said that it is the result of collective wisdom and Dr SC Jamir is the only living witness today.
“The 16 Point Agreement and Statehood are the treasures of the people of Nagaland. Statehood was born out of the noble political movement that began with the Naga Club. Between 1918 to 1959 the four decades of strife and struggle, no tangible solution was found. It was the agility of NPC that envisioned the 16 Points for our today. It is in the line of Naga Hills Memorandum. 16 Point Agreement was one of the greatest outcomes,” he said.
Therie added that “under the 16 Point Agreement a provision was made that contiguous Naga inhabitants may integrate with the new State “if they so desire”.”
Referring to the Interim Body of Nagaland State again constituted Integration Committee under the Chairman of Rev Savino wherein Rishang Keishing, Solomon N Theyo, Dr SC Jamir, to name a few, were Members, Therie added, “Integration committee is said to have set up its candidate to contest in the Manipur Election but were all defeated.”
He added, the Integration committee is said to have submitted a representation to GOI conveying the desire to integrate Naga contiguous inhabited areas. However, GOI replied it can only happen when all states agree. Neighbouring States could not agree. Further, Manipur Chief Ministers have repeatedly declared that not an inch of land will be parted.
The NPCC president said that the matter did not lose hope with peace and negotiations which started in 1996. “However, the Framework Agreement sealed the fate of Integration once again. The signatories are responsible for good or bad. When some quarters make wrong allegations against Nagaland leaders over the integration issue, we remember the failures of Nagas outside Nagaland too. The matter has gone beyond our reach. I think it is best to let the matter rest for now,” he said.
“We cannot continue to live under negotiation indefinitely. It has to end one day. Ceasefire with the Indian forces turned to a nightmare for Nagaland People,” Therie added.
On the matter of AFSPA, he alleged that the “Government of the day had targeted NSCN (K) to derail the ceasefire. Unfortunately in the mistaken identity, Oting citizens bore the brunt of the chilling massacre while to deliver justice, the State Government’s demand to remove AFSPA, is nothing but a lame excuse.”
“AFSPA is not the criminal here. The criminal is the one who has used the armed forces upon unarmed, innocent and defenseless civilians. We have conveyed our view that AFSPA is no more required as all factions are under Ceasefire. If there is any problem, it is law and order and the state police should be assigned to handle the situation,” he added.
