Naga Talks: Civil Orgs ‘unhappy’ over exclusion, NSF shoots memo to PM Modi

KOHIMA | Oct 23, 2019:

A day before the much-awaited formal talks between the Government of India with NSCN IM on October 24, various civil society organisations and students' unions have expressed their disappointment over the non-inclusion of their organisations in the political talks.

The influential Naga Students' Federation (NSF) has stated that by excluding them from the exercise, the Government of India is depriving the Naga students and youths of the opportunity to express their aspirations and desires from the impending solution to the protracted Indo-Naga political issue.

"It is an undeniable fact that the NSF is the oldest pan Naga civil society organisation formed to represent the voice of the Naga people. But in the recent series of consultative meets, the federation has been left out as an uninvited guest," said the NSF.

In view of this, the NSF, on Wednesday, has sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to air their grievances over several matters pertaining to the Naga Talks.

Resentment against RN Ravi's dual role

The NSF observed that RN Ravi in his dual role as the GOI interlocutor as well as the Governor of Nagaland was viewed with skepticism by the Naga people at large. "However, the federation refrained from making our disagreement public hoping that he would discharge his dual duty with the highest degree of integrity which, to our utter dismay, was not to be," they noted.

They alleged that the Governor has been indulging in rhetoric words and practices which has resulted in much chaos and confusion in the Naga society. "Though his cunningly concocted attempt to divide the Naga society into primary stakeholders and secondary stakeholders was an utter failure, he has gone about painting a glossy picture of the same through media …

"It has come to light that the Indian interlocutor has been adopting the practice of twisting and misinterpreting the words enshrined in the historic framework agreement against agreed terms and principles to suit his political overlords," they stated.

While stating that such a practice is inimical to the unique history and legitimate rights of the Naga people, the NSF pointed out that, " it has also become crystal clear to the Naga people that GoI is approaching the peace process from a bureaucratic lens which is leading to the misinterpretation of competencies that has been mutually worked out so far between the entities."

Imposition of deadline

The Indo-Naga peace process has been ongoing since the last 22 years making much progress. "However, the recent development wherein the GoI interlocutor has been resorting to imposing a unilateral deadline of Oct 31, 2019 upon the Naga negotiating team is against the universally accepted principle of the peaceful and mutually agreed negotiation," they said.

Economic Packages not enough

The has also stated that economic packages alone is no solution at all. "Mere monetary assistance cannot purchase the rights of the Naga people; rather the GoI should not hesitate from allowing the Naga people to retain their legitimate rights," they stated.

Furthermore, the Naga people have come a long way by denouncing the 16th point agreement or the Shillong Accord and that any sort of agreement that is going to be signed between the GoI and the Naga negotiators should not be mere reaffirmation of expansion of the 16 point Agreement, they added.

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Demands

The NSF has demanded that the unique Naga identity be recognized through the Naga national flag, the GoI should honor the 3rd August Framework Agreement both in letter and in spirit, solution to the protracted Indo-Naga political issue should be inclusive, honorable and acceptable basing on uniqueness of the Naga history, GoI should focus on mutually negotiated solution instead of imposed solution, it should desist from provoking the situation by sending Indian Armies to the Naga Homeland and issuing statement of threat.

Naga Mothers' Association disappointed over exclusion 

Similarly, the Naga Mothers' Association has objected to the exclusion of civil society like Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers' Association, Naga Students Federation and the Naga People's Movement for Human Rights that have supported the peace process and peace dialogue for decades, by the state agencies and the interlocutor of the Naga Peace Talks.

NSCN-IM acknowledges the approach of the church organizations

Meanwhile, the NSCN-IM, in its statement issued here on Wednesday, fully acknowledged and appreciated the approach of the church organizations in giving utmost importance to unity and reconciliation among Naga political organizations.

"We feel humble enough to admit that this is certainly the will of the Naga people at this decisive moment of history. Let us continue to pray earnestly to open the way for the will of God to prevail upon the hearts of all Nagas in general and political groups in particular," read the statement.