Demand acceptable and honourable political settlement on time bound manner
Dimapur, Aug. 23 (EMN): The Naga Hoho and United Naga Council (UNC) have expressed disappointment over the delay in finalising the “historic” Peace Accord, a framework agreement that was signed between the government of India and NSCN (IM) three years ago in an attempt to end the long-standing Nagas' struggle for self determination. They passed several resolutions in connection with the Indo-Naga political issue at a joint review meeting on Indo-Naga Peace Process held on Thursday at TNK Community Hall, Senapati. The United Naga Council (UNC) organised the joint review meeting under the aegis of the Naga Hoho to assess the progress of Indo-Naga peace talk. UNC President Gaidon Kamei addressed the gathering of over 500 Naga delegates coming from across Manipur state and Naga Hoho President Chuba Ozukum spoke on Indo-Naga Peace Process. Two minutes of silence was observed before the meeting started to pay homage to late former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who acknowledged the “unique identity” of the Nagas. The Naga Hoho and UNC, in a joint declaration, expressed “discontentment for inordinate delay in finalising the Historic Indo-Naga Framework Agreement” and “strongly urged the negotiating parties to bring an acceptable and honourable political settlement on time bound manner.” They urged the people to remain united and support the on-going peace talk at the centre till “we achieve our cherished political aspiration.” Kamei told Eastern Mirror over phone the phone that Naga Hoho and UNC executives had conveyed the sentiments of the people to the Naga collective leadership, who are engaging in the Indo-Naga peace talk in Delhi, during their recent visit to the city. “We have told them (Naga collective leadership) to come back home and lead the people if there is no scope of solving the Naga political issue even after 21 years of talk with the Indian government,” said Kamei. He added that they have told them to come back home and discuss the issue if things don’t work out in Delhi because “people have to decide” at the end of the day. The joint declaration by Naga Hoho and UNC said that “Naga people will not compromise our inherent rights under any circumstance.” It said Nagas have been “living in a village republic free from external forces since time immemorial” with every village “governed by a set of traditional and customary laws, and justice was delivered accordingly.” It went on to say that ceasefire was signed between the government of India and the NSCN (IM) on July 25, 1997 after decades of arms struggle for self determination before the Indo-Naga framework agreement was signed on Aug. 3, 2015 in the hope of solving the Indo-Naga political issue. The joint declaration also cautioned Naga elected representatives, political leaders, political parties, unauthorised Naga individuals or groups not to “participate in any assembly or meeting that will sabotage the Indo-Naga peace process” and those who defy would be treated as anti national and banned from entering the Naga territory. About 500 delegates, including leaders from four districts — Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul – and executives of several civil society organisations like All Naga Students Association Manipur, Naga Women’s Union, and Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights attended the joint review meeting.