The Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Delhi sector on Saturday issued a press note with regards to recent events that have transpired in the Indo-Naga peace talks. NPMHR made four key points in which it conveyed the following.
1. The NPMHR reiterates that the negotiations should be held on the principle of ‘One Agreement’ lest we experience repetition of a bitter history of bloodshed and corruption, the symptoms of which is already evident and prevalent.
2. We observe that the current negotiations are taking place under arbitrary conditions of AFSPA with a huge presence of Indian army and military confrontation and siege occurring at regular intervals. The period of ceasefire is being used and misused to advance military and intelligence web of India in the Naga territory both in India and Myanmar. Recent diplomatic and military engagement with Myanmar cannot be a co-incidence and the raids, arrests and harassment of the members of Naga Political Groups and their family cannot be seen in isolation from the larger political landscape of the negotiations.
3. The contradiction and confusion by employing parallel negotiation by India must be understood from its past attempts and experiments, partly achieved through the accords and creation of 371(A). We urge the negotiators and stakeholders to recognize that we owe each other as human beings. The Nagas are a People with the right to self-determination and the right to an undivided homeland. All Nagas must understand the importance of recognizing each other as rights-holders. This means that our claim to these inalienable rights must ensure that the disempowered are given equal access to these universal rights. Exclusion is the result of disregarding this caveat and we must be cognizant of this when various representatives claim to speak on behalf of the Naga people. We urge the representatives to bear this weight.
4. Human Rights are Universal. Therefore, any Solution that may emerge from the ongoing negotiations should be ‘Honorable and Acceptable’ for both the Nagas and India. India emerging as a key actor in the global theatre has its own policy compunctions. Nagas must contribute and not hinder the progress that India has achieved in this regard. The Nagas and India must foster the spirit of partnership in its genuine sense.
NPMHR in the public press note also appealed to the Naga people to imagine the future of the Nagas, what they wanted for themselves and for others too and reclaim the vision Naga history gave them.