Asserting the year 2025 cannot be “just another year” of waiting and hoping, the Naga Hoho (NH) on Monday stressed that this year must be the year of Naga political solution.
In a statement, NH president Sulanthung Lotha maintained that a political solution to Naga issue lasting more than seven decades “cannot be postponed forever” and Naga political issues cannot be put off forever.
The hoho asserted that the issue of “political disagreements that exist between the India and Naga must reach a final resolution.” The hoho said it welcomed the efforts of all the Naga political groups (NPGs) to bring solutions. It also expressed belief that such movements were important for achieving peace. However, NH stressed the need to prioritise the Naga solution when discussing any political settlement.
NH said the Naga people have witnessed in the past how the golden opportunity had dwindled when opportunities arose to settle the Naga political issue. NH said the divide and rule policy instead spoiled the Naga destination, which it added “never ceased.”
The Hoho has urged all the parties involved in the Naga peace talk to engage in constructive dialogue “to comprehensively end the media war” and swiftly implement effective solutions to address the Naga problem resulting from the conflict and division amongst Nagas.
Further, NH suggested that NPGs should come together with a common draft to usher in the required solution for Nagas, be it small or big, if they were “really fighting for the betterment of Nagas”.
The hoho maintained that unless the Nagas voice out their desire for all entities to come together, the government of India would unlikely take steps in this regard. NH said Naga tribal leaders were also ignoring certain aspects of unifying all sections.
The hoho underscored that the government of India must also reach out to the people of Nagas and convey its position on the Naga issue by providing the common draft. “This will surely help to build trust and bring about a peaceful solution to the Naga issue,” NH stated.
The Hoho expressed hopes that the government of India would complete the signing of the agreement in 2025 itself.