Dimapur, May 20 (EMN): Naga frontals, the Naga Hoho and the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), have denounced the military operations in Myanmar against Naga groups and have called for immediate cessation of the military action.
The Naga Hoho denounced “this inhumane arm conflicts” (sic) while the NSF stated that ‘this kind of military offensive by the Tatmadaw is a total violation and mockery to the ceasefire agreement of 2012 between the govt. of Myanmar and the Nagas.’
Tatmadaw is the official name of the armed forces of Myanmar. The two Naga organisations issued separate press releases to the media on Monday.
“The Naga Hoho is highly perturbed and shocked by the news of indiscriminate and unprovoked military operations being carried out in the Naga areas of Myanmar by the military junta,” the Naga Hoho stated in its press release.
‘It is further alarming to note that the ongoing operations are being conducted in coordination with Indian security forces.’
The organisation asserted that while attempts were going on in both Myanmar and India for an honourable settlement “for the Nagas,” the governments of both Myanmar and India have “time and again exhibited actions not befitting their official policy and assurances.”
The group stated that the Naga people in the Naga self-administered zone have been subjected to “untold suffering due to the discriminatory policies of the state.”
The Myanmar government has imposed unwarranted and arbitrary sanctions, fund cuts and disruption of essential supplies at the behest of the military, the Naga Hoho alleged.
“In 2016, the situation snowballed to a humanitarian crisis when scores of children died due to outbreak of measles. In March 2019, ten Naga leaders were arrested by the military junta in-spite of the fact that they were on a mission to lay the groundwork for a peace process between the Nagas and the Myanmar government,” the organisation stated.
“Since then, the ten Naga leaders are languishing in jail. The Naga Hoho unconditionally condemns such arbitrary and treacherous act of the Myanmar government in its action towards the Nagas.”
The Naga Hoho asserted that the organisation was the ‘apex body of Nagas’ and covering ‘beyond borders.’ It stated to ‘urgently urge’ the joint military forces of both India and Myanmar to immediate cessation of the ongoing military action.
“At the same time, we are compelled to remind both the governments that history has demonstrated that Nagas are courageous and bold enough to stand firm even in the face of overwhelming adversity,” the press release stated.
“It has also been time and again proved that the Naga issue could not be tackled militarily since it is a political issue.”
The organisation has cautioned that “such unbridled and indiscriminate military action has the potential to result in a widespread Naga uprising, a conflagration which should and must be avoided.”
According to the statement, the Naga people irrespective of border or “factions,” will “not be mute spectators when their rights are being so mindlessly trampled upon and will collectively do everything in their power to protect our land and the lives of our own blood.”
The Naga Hoho has urged the United Nations and the Democratic front of Myanmar to “join in our endeavour to condemn this inhumane arm conflicts and call for a saner voice so that peace could be brokered with sensible dialogue and love for humanity.”
NSF
Likewise, the NSF denounced the military operations. The students’ organisation condemned the attack on an NSCN (K) camp by the Tatmadaw in the Konyak region of the eastern Naga areas.
“This kind of military offensive by the Tatmadaw is a total violation and mockery to the ceasefire agreement of 2012 between the govt. of Myanmar and the Nagas,” the press release from the organisation stated.
“Such war kind of situation only renders the innocent villagers and public at the receiving end and they are made to bear the brunt of the standoff.”
Further, the federation questioned “the role of the Indian armed forces” where the Tatmadaw is in operation “right under the eye of the Indian armed forces in the so called international boundary between India and Myanmar.”
The organisation has called upon the Tatmadaw and the NSCN (K) to immediately stop the military confrontation and “amicably solve the matter through dialogue in the interest of the people.”
The NSF likewise appealed the ‘international community’ to condemn ‘such acts of war.’
