- August 7, 2017
TO INCLUDE ALL APEX NAGA TRIBAL BODIES BEFORE FINAL SOLUTION
NAGALAND POST ————— Nagaland GB Federation (NGBF) has made a strong plea on prime minister Narendra Modi to also include all apex Naga tribal bodies, apex civil society groups, the six-member Working Group (WG) comprising of Naga political groups, revive cease-fire with NSCN (K) before hammering a “final and permanent solution.”
NGBF had submitted a representation of its views, as echoed by various apex Naga tribe organisations of Nagaland including Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) that all stakeholders be included before signing any final agreement.
The meeting with prime minister Modi in presence of NSA Ajit Doval took place in New Delhi on August 3,2017 which also coincided with the second anniversary of the signing of the ‘Framework Agreement’ between the government of India and NSCN(I-M). A day earlier, NGBF met with Interlocutor R.N. Ravi.
In the representation, NGBF expressed profound gratitude to Modi for “exhibiting courage and commitment towards finding an honourable and final solution to the Indo-Naga political issue.”
NGBF president Shahlem Konyak and general secretary Shikuto Zalipu, informed that as custodians of Naga traditions over customary law, usage and practice and frontline mediators and facilitators, GBs have the ardent desire for a permanent and peaceful solution for the people.
Since NGBF constitutes all Naga tribes of Nagaland, it drew the attention of the prime minister to the below mentioned issues pertaining to the Naga issue which it said, should be implemented practically and honestly for a comprehensive permanent solution.
*** Indo-Naga issue’ was based on Naga sovereignty and integration and by which the government of India should be clear and direct about its approach.***
***Naga issue was a legacy of colonial powers. NGF said this implied that it was political in nature and a peoples movement.***
NGBF said it was sceptical about the August 3,2015 ‘Framework Agreement’, pertaining to geographical demarcation as it feared that there could be serious political and social ramification negating the efforts of the government of India.
***the government of India to be “very practical and sincere concerning this issue.”**
NGBF also said it acknowledged formation of the Working Group (WG) comprised of six armed political groups– GPRN/NSCN, NSCN (Reformation), NNC (Parent Body), NNC/FGN, NNC/GDRN and NNC/NPGN.
***It said the unity among the six was “unprecedented” and also welcomed by people of Nagaland.***
The WG had “thoroughly deliberated with all apex tribal bodies and apex civil societies in Nagaland on the present socio-political condition” confronting Nagas.
NGBF requested the government of India to initiate official invitation at the earliest to the Working Group (WG) for a preliminary round of dialogue.
NGBF also conveyed its wishes to the government of India to include the NSCN (K) in any final solution as it is also part of Nag armed political group.
*** It said ignoring NSCN (K) would only give birth to another new conflict that would worsen the Naga political situation.
NGBF appealed to the government of India to revive the cease fire with NSCN (K) and take it on board for the final agreement.
(EDITED BY N.S.S.)
