Naga body for early solution

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 23: The Naga Intellectual Forum on Sunday submitted a representation to Prime Minister Modi urging him to take personal interest to settle the Indo-Naga peace talk 'once and for all.'
The forum in its representation pointed out that the Government of India's recognition of the "uniqueness" of the Naga's history and situation in 2002 and the subsequent signing of the Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015 had greatly reinforced hope to the Nagas and had even encouraged more Naga national political groups to come out in support of the peace talk. The Joint Legislative Forum (elected representatives of Nagland) has been adopting resolutions after resolutions to this effect while elected Naga MPs have repeatedly voiced for an early settlement both in the Parliament and in written forms. CSOs like Naga Hoho, Naga Students' Federation (NSF), Naga Mothers' Association (NMA), Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), United Naga Council (UNC), All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM), Churches and others have lost count of representations submitted to the Government of India for lasting, honourable and acceptable solution to the vexed Naga political issue, the forum lamented in its representation.
The forum further claimed that more than 70 years of "Indo-Naga conflict" has cost over 200,000 Naga lives, leaving behind widows and orphans.
While anticipating a lasting and acceptable solution to the peace talk, the Nagas have been painstakingly enduring all forms of continued aggression of militarisation and demoralization techniques coinciding with the peace talks under the incessant imposition of AFSPA, Disturbed Area Act (DDA) and National Security Act (NSA) in Naga areas, said the Naga Intellectual Forum asserting that the Acts/laws have challenge the survival of the people, women's dignity and humanity attracting international attention as "existential threat" to the Nagas and a contravention of the UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People, 2007.
The Government of India should translate the Framework Agreement into reality upholding the universal spirit of peaceful coexistence and through shared sovereignty. Unlike the previous failed accords and agreement, the Government of India should bring an early, acceptable and honourable accord to restore trust of the Nagas. Repeated failures may bring uncongenial outcome that may plummet the situation to even greater political conundrum in the region, cautioned the forum.