NGBF Peace Committee seeks withdrawal of NSCN/FRGN statement, citing concerns over community relations, public apprehension and peace in Nagaland
DIMAPUR — The Nagaland GaonBura Federation Peace Committee (NGBF PC) has demanded the immediate and official withdrawal of a statement issued by the newly floated NSCN/FRGN on October 23, stating that it has created unnecessary apprehension among Naga and non-Naga communities and could undermine peace and harmony in the state.
In a statement issued on Friday, the NGBF PC expressed concern over what it described as an “immature and unwarranted” statement, saying such publications had the potential to create apprehension and undermine the prevailing atmosphere of peace and harmony in Nagaland.
The committee said the Naga people did not support the formation of new factions or further fragmentation of the Naga political movement. It maintained that personal differences and internal disagreements among leaders should be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding rather than through defection or the formation of another faction.
The NGBF PC also stated that the NSCN/FRGN statement neither reflected the substantive political issues between the government of India and the Naga people nor addressed the socio-economic concerns and aspirations of Naga society.
Reiterating the need for an early political solution, the committee said an honourable and acceptable solution based on negotiated and mutually agreed terms between the government of India and the Naga negotiating entities, namely the NSCN (IM) and the Working Committee of the NNPGs, must be realised without further delay.
“Negotiations cannot continue indefinitely,” it stated, adding that an early solution remained the foremost concern of apex Naga tribal bodies, civil society organisations, Naga political groups and people, including families and churches across Naga towns and villages.
The committee further said the October 23 statement had caused concern among Nagas living outside the state, including families, Central government employees, entrepreneurs, private-sector employees and students residing in mainland India. It said the implications of the statement had created unnecessary anxiety and sent negative shockwaves across Naga communities.
The NGBF PC also acknowledged the contributions of non-Naga communities who have lived in Nagaland for generations, dating back to the British colonial period, stating that they had contributed to business, education, healthcare and the overall development of Naga society.
While noting that many non-Naga families had made Nagaland their permanent home, the committee firmly opposed what it described as dictatorial directives, intimidating pronouncements and unauthorised publications that threatened the security of non-Naga communities and undermined longstanding friendship and peaceful coexistence between Naga and non-Naga communities.
It appealed to all concerned to exercise restraint, uphold mutual respect and act responsibly in the larger interest of peace and unity, stating that the Naga people deserved peace and reconciliation rather than further division and confrontation.