11 political parties pledge to refrain from election; civil organisations threaten with Nagaland ‘bandh’
Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Jan. 29 (EMN): Barely two days before the scheduled date to issue the statutory notifications for the Nagaland assembly elections in Nagaland, 11 political parties have on Jan. 29 signed an undertaking declaring solidarity with the call of Naga civil society organizations demanding ‘solution before election,’ and to refrain from participating in the election process.
“We firmly believe that it is expedient for all the political parties, both national and regional, to come together in the greater interest of the state in solidarity with the call for Solution before Election and defer the elections to the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly and allow the Naga political process to reach its logical conclusion by giving space and time to the negotiating groups to bring out an early solution," a joint declaration from the 11 parties stated on Mon..
The declaration was given in the presence of members of apex tribal bodies and civil society organizations under the banner of the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organizations (CCNTHCO), following a four-hour long meeting on Mon. at Hotel Japfü in Kohima.
It was signed by representatives of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Nagaland Congress,United Naga Democratic Party (UNDP), and the state units of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Janata Dal (United), and the National People’s Party (NPP).
“And therefore, we the undersigned on behalf of all the political parties and the intending candidates have, in compliance with the wishes of the people, decided not to go ahead with the issuance of party tickets or filing of nominations.”
Is Nagaland headed for a crisis?
Nagaland is likely to face a constitutional crisis by the second week of Feb.: all the political parties, both national and regional; two groups currently in talks with the government of India-NSCN (IM) and working committee of the six NNPGs; the apex tribal 'hohos' and Nagaland civil society organizations concur with the popular slogan ‘solution before election’ and have decided not to issue tickets or file nomination or to participate in the forthcoming assembly elections.
Addressing a press conference after signing the joint declaration, CCNTHCO's convener Theja Therie said it was 'historic that Nagas from different organisations had come together for the first time on the decision of solution before election and no organization has opposed the call for ‘solution before election’.
Therie said that the committee had 'good' discussions with the two parties negotiating with the government of India for a solution to the Naga political issue. Both the parties showed a lot of differences but ultimately agreed that the Nagas were one and that they cannot sail in 'two boats' when their destination was the same. He termed the joint statement of the NSCN (IM) and the NNPGs ‘a big breakthrough.’
Therie said that the core committee had taken up a responsibility: whatever solution comes, unless the people collectively decide to accept it then that solution was not going to work. “What we are asking is that it has to be honourable and acceptable. It can be honourable if the people can accept it,” he said.
He said it was fortunate that all the political parties in Nagaland preparing for the ensuing elections showed respect for the sentiments of the people; they have given their ‘wholehearted support’ to stand by the call of ‘solution before election’ even to the extent of 'not hesitating to sign a joint declaration.'
Therie asserted that if all the political parties stand by the joint declaration which they made today, there would be no candidates. The committee is optimistic that no independent party or candidate would come and 'defile' the objective. He expressed hope that the districts' administrations and the election department would cooperate. He expressed hope also that the Home Ministry would 'recognize the Naga people’s sentiments' and take a positive call.
“The ECI may have to go ahead as per the announcement. We cannot blame the ECI but definitely the government of India will take a call and they will also notice the people’s expression and we are hoping for the best,” Therie stated.
If the election is announced on Jan. 31 and the statutory notification is published, the CCNTHCO has warned that it would be compelled to take the issue to the streets. “We have decided that we will impose a total bandh in Nagaland on Feb. 1,” the committee's convener Therie told reporters.
Citing repeated representations to the government of India and despite the two negotiating parties having conceded that the talks have reached a ‘very advanced stage’ where solution could arrive anytime, the committee viewed that if there was a 'will' from both the entities- the Naga groups and government of India, there was no reason to prolong the ongoing peace talks.
“It is our prayer that nothing will go wrong and we will have our solution at the earliest. We are not against India’s democratic process, nor the constitutional process of the country. This is not an anti-India movement. What we are asking is, at the moment if election is announced, and the electoral process is set on the roll, we know that there will be lots of polarization, lots of activities will take place and those who are negotiating with the government of India also will be divided. They will go towards their own candidates and political parties and we are sure that this will hamper the political process. That is the reason why we say political process is a priority and election is not,” Therie said, adding the Naga people want solution first so that they can have ‘one government’ with legal authority.
When asked if some parties or individuals went ahead to file their nominations, CCNTHCO co-convener HK Zhimomi stated any party/candidate filing nomination would automatically be considered “anti-Naga.” However, the committee is not devoid of apprehension that if no one files nomination, by the second week of Feb., there will be a constitutional crisis and more or less, a President’s Rule will be imposed in the state. Members admitted that they could not ask the government of India to continuously defer the election. Whether solution comes within the time the election is deferred, we cannot guarantee, they stated.
“Definitely there will be a crisis, and that is why we need a solution. Whether we allow election or not, whether PR comes or not, that is a constitutional process, we have no comment about that,” Therie said. But, as long as the Naga political solution remained pending, there would be a crisis, he added, asserting, “When all the Nagas are coming together, including the negotiating groups, what is the difficulty? What is holding them back”.
On being asked if there was a repeat of the 1998 scenario, the CCNTHCO members maintained that the situation was different then because the talks was at a nascent stage and solution could not be expected from signing of a ceasefire pact alone. The NSCN (IM) had signed a ceasefire agreement in 1997.
With the electioneering process underway, if the people in the grassroots will agree with the decision of the committee, Therie said tribal bodies being traditional bodies are bound by a system which binds all the villages together under the tribal community, so definitely the information will be disseminated to the grassroots and the latter are expected to go by it. As for political parties, it is expected that they should send out the message to all its units and they should all fall in line, he added.
On the steps initiated by the CCNTHCO with regard to appealing to the NSNC (K) to revive its ceasefire with the government of India, the committee members informed that in the process of the peace process, when all the political groups were being appealed to come together, they were continuing to appeal to those who are yet to come on board. “They must listen to the people. They must come together because that is the aspiration of the Naga people as a whole,” they said.
CCNTHCO has on Jan. 25 resolved to reach out to the NSCN (K) to revive ceasefire with the Centre and engage in the peace process. It claimed that several missions were on the move to get in touch with the NSCN (K) leadership. While admitting that the committee was yet to receive any response, the message of the people has reached them loud and clear and the committee believes that the group will take a call on it soon.
On the ban on the NSCN (K) by the centre as a ‘terrorist organization’, committee members said National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Interlocutor for Naga peace talks RN Ravi have made it clear that the sanction on NSCN (K) would automatically disappear if they were willing to come to the negotiating table. It was also informed that the NSCN (K) had conveyed taking a call after holding its ‘parliament meeting’ or a ‘Tatar Hoho sitting.’
The CCNTHCO acknowledged the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum for bringing all the civil bodies together.
