Dimapur, Feb. 18 (EMN): Eastern Naga National Workers’ Association (ENNWA) has decided not to accept the ‘so-called’ Pan Naga Hoho without land integration saying, “Naga freedom struggle cannot end with a Naga cultural body.” It maintained that Pan Naga Hoho could simply be interpreted as political annexation of Nagaland.
ENNWA is an organisation of the national workers from Eastern Nagaland serving in various Naga political groups involved in the political negotiations with GOI under the banner of Working Committee (WC), NNPG.
ENNWA stated this in responds to the statement of ENNWU under NSCN (IM).
It pointed out that the “Agreed Position” signed between GOI and WC, NNPG on November 17, 2017, leaves nothing to ambiguity or illusion adding it has outlined a clear practical political concept about who the Nagas were, where Nagas are and what Nagas ought to be.
It claimed that cheap lacklustre political lexicons such as integration, supra-state, shared sovereignty, pan naga hoho etc. coined at Hebron camp are diluting the very spirit of Naga nationalism exhibited in 1929, 1947 and 1951.
“The Pan Naga hoho is a noose on the necks of Nagaland tribes and not a cultural garland to bind all Nagas together, as is being propagated. In reality, there is a plan to ensure that Nagaland shall, in their own words, “cease to exist,” ENNWA stated.
It hoped that ENPO leadership and affiliated tribal hohos along with the rest of the Naga tribes would not be victims of ‘dubious propaganda at play.’ It also stated that Eastern Naga national workers, irrespective of political affiliation, must not be forced to chase a bubble called Pan Naga Hoho like little children.
It made its stand clear that the Indo-Naga political solution is not just for Nagaland state but also for Naga ancestral lands in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, without disturbing the present political boundary. It desired that Naga solution should also benefit other communities since all must learn to co-exist in peace and harmony.
It felt that at this point of Naga history, Nagas outside the boundary of present Nagaland state must adopt rationale path and maintain emotional integration instead of playing the role of a bully threatening all and sundry. It stated that Nagas must preserve and strengthen customs, traditions and identity through new political and administrative arrangements and enable neighbouring communities to progress alongside.
It was of the view that the idea of establishing the so-called Pan Naga hoho through an act of Indian parliament would be the end of any hope for Naga unity as it would be seeking GOI’s permission even on those subjects over which Nagas have absolute sovereign rights over their social, cultural and traditional customary practices.
In this regard, ENNWA has decided not to accept the so-called Pan Naga Hoho with land integration as it could be simply interpreted as political annexation of Nagaland.
