The Working Committee (WC) of Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) has termed the ambush on Indian paramilitary forces near Chanlaishu village in Konyak region by Myanmar-based armed groups on May 25 as a blatant violation and disrespect of Naga people’s hope for an honourable and acceptable political solution.
In a statement issued by its media cell, WC said it was a clear indication that there were elements that were hell-bent on sabotaging the ongoing political negotiations between NNPGs and Government of India (GoI).
Regretting that the elements carrying out ambushes on Indian paramilitary forces did not know the value of blood or the price of peace, the committee said for their “inglorious action”, innocent Naga villagers were paying the price and bearing the brunt of enraged Indian forces.
Mentioning that the present hour was a crucial time in Naga history, WC, NNPGs stressed that Naga people on the Indian side could not effort to have gun-toting elements running amok when political negotiations were critically placed.
Seven NNPGs had formed the Working Committee and negotiating with GoI, while Naga civil society groups and tribes were expressing solidarity and prayer support to the groups, the statement pointed out.
Terming the attacks and ambushes on Indian paramilitary forces and vice versa as “anti-people, anti-peace and anti-solution”, WC said in spite of extending olive branches on many occasions to come forward for negotiation along with NNPGs, these elements never responded as they really had little concern for the people, especially the younger generation.
“Yet, they resort to another bloody war that is condemnable by all. Why are the Nagas made to feel like a sandwich in their own land?” it wanted to know.
WC said Naga people’s renewed demand and call for honourable and acceptable peaceful political solution reverberated across India and Myanmar and accordingly the Agreed Position was eventually signed between it and GoI on November 17, 2017. The “transparent, consultative and progressive nature’ of the dialogue thus far was clearly visible even to “eternal pessimists and critics alike”, it added.
The committee conveyed to both India and Myanmar that indigenous Nagas were one by blood and they inhabited their ancestral land. It claimed that their land, culture, heritage were their own.
Asserting that usurping centuries-old tradition, administration, deciding their future and dividing their land without their consent would forever be opposed peacefully or violently, WC stressed that as on Indian side of Naga homeland, political dialogue and negotiations with Nagas in Myanmar too must begin by “accepting, respecting and recognising” their historical and political rights.
It demanded that Naga people in Myanmar must be made masters over their land and natural resources with guaranteed legislative, executive and judiciary powers to administer their ancestral land.
Alleging that innocent Nagas were being victimised in Konyak Naga country and Naga villages elsewhere on both sides, WC said villagers were not allowed to cultivate in their fields and confined in their villages in season meant for cultivation of crops.
“The Nagas are again experiencing nightmarish savagery and brutality as in the decades past. Use of guided missiles, employing fighter aircrafts and other sophisticated weapons against Nagas are reported. Nagas, be it in India or Myanmar, cannot be wiped off militarily,” the committee declared.
WC, NNPGs said now was an opportunity for the Indian government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the back of overwhelming electoral triumph, to play a constructive role as the world’s largest democracy and stop Myanmar’s military aggression against Nagas in their own land. This will certainly add to India’s growing influence and maturity among the international community, it pointed out.