RIIN is against inherent Naga rights — NSCN (IM)

Dimapur, July 12 (EMN): Contending that all Nagas are indigenous in their ancestral homeland, the NSCN (IM) on Friday termed the state government’s move to implement Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) contradictory to the inherent rights of Nagas. A press release from the group stated that it is the legitimate right and political decision of the Naga people to live together under one political roof. “The Nagas do not and will not accept their division by imposed artificial state and international boundaries. This is the key focus of all Nagas and any political steps to be taken must be in conjunction with this decision.” It stated that nothing on the Naga issue is conclusive until and unless a mutually agreed honourable political solution is signed “between the two entities.” According to the NSCN (IM), any attempt to dilute the final political settlement by justifying any “past accord of treasons” should be viewed seriously by all Nagas. The RIIN exercise is politically motivated to suit the interest of the groups advocating the ‘16-Point Agreement’, the group stated. “The ‘Nagaland state’ does not and will not represent the national decision of the Naga people. It was formed purely to divide the Nagas. Integration of all Naga territories is officially acknowledged by the government of India as the legitimate right of the Nagas except by a few treacherous opportunists who are opposed to it. “All Nagas, wherever they are, are indigenous in their land by virtue of their common history. We uphold this principle to the last and it should not be distorted by anyone under any circumstances,” the statement read.