Dimapur, October 19: Chief Minister TR Zeliang opined that the August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) was the preamble only containing directions and guidelines as to how the final solution should be worked out.
The Chief Minister told a gathering of Southern Naga villagers on the occasion of the 1st Conference of the Naga Village Authority of South Nagalim at Tagaramphung local ground in Senapati (Tahamzam) district in Manipur on Wednesday that though the contents of the Agreement have not been made known officially so far, the interlocutor, RN Ravi, had explained in detail about the same to various tribal organisations, a CMO release said.
“As per my understanding, it is basically like a preamble only, containing the intention and commitment of both the parties to the talk to settle the Naga political issue amicably, without the use of force or violence, on the basis of shared sovereignty, and understanding of each other's situations and viewpoints, including the recognition of the unique history and situation of the Nagas,” the CMO quoted Zeliang as saying.“The details of the final agreement are to be finalised later, after having wide ranging consultations with the stake-holders,” he said and stressed that the Naga political problem should not be allowed to linger on indefinitely. Considering the “the positive approach of the Central Government under the dynamic leadership of our Hon'ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modiji, this is the opportune time to bring the Naga peace talk to its logical conclusion,” he stated.
The Chief Minister said, “Let us not leave this problem behind, and bequeath it to the future Naga generations. Let us be positive in our approach, and let us have faith in the wisdom and good intentions of our leaders, who are negotiating the final agreement,” the CMO release added.
Emphasising on the need for the Nagas to remain united wherever they may be, Zeliang said if the Nagas are united, and stand firm to protect our land and our way of life, “no Governmental authority, or any other community will be able to divide us, to dominate us, and take away our land and our birth right.
“This kind of unity and oneness will also enable the Southern Nagas to work together for the correction of the imbalances in economic development, as well as in the delimitation of Assembly constituencies between the hills and the valley areas of Manipur state,” Zeliang said.
Introducing the Naga People’s Front to the audience, Zeliang said the party “NPF stands not only for the cause and the unity of the Nagas: it also stands for the cause and the unity of the tribals of the North East,” the CMO said.
“As the state Assembly Election in Manipur is only a few months away, let the Nagas unite under the banner of the NPF, and also make understandings with other tribal bodies, so that together, we can defeat the anti-tribal forces, and the anti-tribal measures, including the recently passed anti-tribal legislations in Manipur,” Zeliang said drawing happy cheers and applause from the crowd.
“In the present-day world, top priority is given to peace and the world welcomes any peaceful resolution to conflicts rather than armed confrontation. I wonder why the Government of Manipur is not happy when various political groups have chosen the path of negotiation and have come forward to hold talks with the Government of India,” Zeliang said and stressed that “Naga political and peace dialogues will not infringe on political rights of the Meiteis” and that “upholding the rights of the tribal people or granting more autonomy to the tribal people of the State would not adversely affect the rights of the Valley people.”
He also said his Government is “persistently asking the NSCN (K) to have peace talks with the Government of India and to have Ceasefire with the Government of Myanmar so that permanent peace can be ushered in for the people of Myanmar.”
He added that if necessary he would request the Prime Minister of India to talk to his counterpart in Myanmar to ensure early and peaceful resolution to conflicts so that the people can live in peace and harmony and to enable development to take place in the border areas.
The CM was accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues Tokheho Yepthomi and Yitachu and Rajya Sabha MP KG Kenye.
