DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 18 (MExN): The Working Committee (WC) NNPGs today stated that the Agreed Position which it signed with the Government of India “has clear space and scope for Naga Flag.”
A press release from the media cell, WC NNPGs said that the Naga flag remains within the ambit of the ‘Agreed Position.’ It added that since Nagas and Indians will co-exist, the Naga Flag will be honoured and given due respect and space it deserves.
“The flag has a cultural and spiritual significance. It is Naga identity. Above all it is a covenant between God and the Naga people and so it will be an integral part of Indo-Naga solution. This, the GOI has clearly been told and reminded on the negotiation table,” it added.
It encouraged all Naga tribal bodies and GBs in towns and villages to place Naga flags in cultural and traditional institutions such as in Morungs and village customary courts or in the residences of village chiefs.
Urging the people not to be confused on the flag issue, the NNPGs said that the GoI “respects and honours Naga sentiment, spiritual orientation and cultural identity the flag denotes.” “It is wrong to seek GOI’s permission on its usage.
The destabilizing propaganda at play behind Naga flag and constitution is a greater mischief against Naga tribes and general public,” it claimed.
It further stated that the Agreed Position reaffirms and entrenches Naga political milestones; particularly the 1918 formation of Naga Club, 1929 submission of memorandum to Simon Commission, August 14, 1947 declaration of independence, and the 1951 Naga plebiscite.
The WC NNPGs however claimed that the “Framework Agreement says, ‘the political conflict is about six decades old...,’ meaning, the Indo-Naga political conflict began only after or around 1955.”
“An entity that describes Naga political conflict as being about six decades old must explain to the people as to who and why the pre 1955 conflict decades became inconsequential and erased. The cardinal error in the political document must be corrected,” it said.
Further, the WC stated that the signatories of the Framework Agreement “imply they understood and appreciated the intricacies of Indian constitution, based on which the talks, in their own words, successfully concluded.”
It claimed that the Framework Agreement “as a political document has no real substantial ground on the issue of Naga self determination, Flag, Constitution or Integration.” It said that the FA neither answers the aspiration of the living nor comforts the martyrs in their cold nameless graves.
The WC NNPGs further alleged that a group of “de-recognised, self appointed civil society leaders” are “further disintegrating and severing the fabric of Naga unity with their sponsored views and motives.”
It meanwhile asked the Naga Hoho, NMA, NSF, NPMHR, GNF and “Naga intellectual forums,” scholar clubs etc “on why there is pin-drop silence on the glaring ommissions of historical milestones in the FA.”
Stating that “one dimensional organisations are the real impediment to Naga society’s growth,” the WC said “it is time for the learned and educated civil society leaders to go home, walk among the common folks and listen rather than lecture.”
Meanwhile, it informed that the status paper of the WC NNPGs states that the Naga Tatar Hoho shall be the apex body to legislate on sovereign matters concerning culture, customs, and procedures as with land and resources of the Nagas.
“A new political structure shall be extended to our land and people living in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh in the manner of Regional Territorial Councils, in the interest of Nagas as well as neighbours while similar reforms shall be undertaken for Nagas in Assam. This will ensure enduring peaceful co-existence between Nagas and Indians and also between Nagas and neighbouring communities,” it added. The WC added that the “interest of Nagas in Myanmar too has been outlined and boldly expressed.”
It further claimed that the 14 Naga tribes and other sub-tribes, NGBF, NTC, ENPO and CNTC etc “are the real representatives of the people.” “They act on common sense and logic and not on the whims and fancies of anyone. They are not remote controlled,” it added.
While recognizing that occupational forces redrew boundaries without Naga consent, the WC said that “in order to regain the trust of neighbours, one must learn to respect them, be rational in approach and exhibit patience and acceptance.”
“Nagas must still respect and accept the indigenous character of each other and domiciles therein, in order to build a robust future,” it added. The WC however said that certain social, political and historical truths in the Naga tribal spectrum and characteristics cannot be altered either by political solution or by intervention of UN, UNPO or friendly third country.
