The GPRN/NSCN under the leadership of Gen. (Retd) Kholi Konyak and N. Kitovi Zhimomi has issued four press statements in the last four years making it crystal clear that under no circumstances will the exploration of oil be allowed in Nagaland unless oil refinery is set up first by the company. The oil deposits anywhere in Nagaland belongs to the people and the coming Naga generations. The present governmnt cannot be allowed to draw the Naga people’s precious oil to wipe away huge fiscal crisis resulting from embezzlement of people’s money into their own pockets. Irrespective of political affiliations, irrespective of tribes, the agreement between the Nagaland state government and Metropolitan Oil and Gas Pvt. Ltd. (MO & GPL) is utterly against Naga people’s aspiration. GPRN/NSCN demand that the agreement with MO & GPL be kept in abeyance till the company in question agree to invest in infrastructure and install refinery machines in Nagaland and positively declare the quantum of job opportunities for Naga youths. Till such clarifications comes to the public domain and promptly initiated, not an oil tanker with crude oil shall proceed out of Nagaland.
The interest of the Naga people is greater than the personal benefits and interests of the Chief minister or any cabinet. Any firm or company desirous of venturing in Nagaland for oil exploration is cautioned that the Indo-Naga political struggle is more than sixty years old. The blood and guts of thousands of patriots have been spilled. MO & GPL is advised against proceeding to Champang and Tsori oilfields as it would tantamount to insulting Naga history and their decades of resistence. The struggle is ongoing and it is to protect and defend the Naga people, their ancestral land including natural resources above and below the ground. Before the drilling machine makes its first noise in Champang and Tsori areas, the Chief Minister and MO & GPL must think twice prior to going on a honeymoon as Nagas do not appreciate forceful intrusions.
How can one forget the calamitous action in proposing to roll out red carpet to so-called investors through NSDZ and allowing immigrants to permanently settle in Nagaland? It has horrified all tribes in Nagaland. The students community and yound people must come out of the shadows of party politics and protect their prized possessions for the future. GPRN/NSCN will not be silent anymore. Clearly the present government is attempting to fill up Nagaland with immigrants from other states on all empty fields and empty Nagaland of all its underground mineral wealth as well. Somebody must tell the Hon’ble Chief Minister Mr. T.R Zealiang that thousands of Nagas did not sacrifice their lives over sixty years to allow him to play this haphazard games today. As Chief Minister, he shall be solely responsible should Nagas decide to confront and protect their wealth. When the thieves ransack the house, must the owner simply watch and lose his lifelong possessions? Surely not!
MIP, GPRN/NSCN.
