UT News Service | Dimapur, Aug 11: The Naga Indigenous Peoples Alliance (NIPA) on August 10 issued a press statement affirming it’s full support to the “United Nations’ (UN) genuine belief and conviction that comprehensive world peace will be tangibly attainable only when millions of the oppressed and marginalized indigenous peoples/nations around the world are rightfully given their freedom and justice in the true sense of the term that ‘all men are born equal’”.
The press statement was issued following the observation of the 26th International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9, 2020.
NIPA’s statement termed the UN’s sincere endeavor fully encouraging in protecting and promoting of the indigenous peoples/nations; their land, territories & resources, law & system of governance, rights, interest, and welfare.
The statement pointed out that “every indigenous peoples’ right to a nationality as provided in Article 5 & 9 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 appears to be least addressed”. and that it “appealed to all concerned especially the UN body to cause the transforming of the existing UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 into a binding international law for the world’s struggling indigenous peoples/ nations”.
The statement further appealed that the present UNPO members like that of the Nagas whose long national struggle even predated the formation of UNO, may kindly be granted a workable International status”.