Naga Hoho (NH) has come out in support of the Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees’ Association (CANSSEA) demand for removal of the National Investigating Agency (NIA) probe against state government officials while Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) in a representation to the President of India, RN Kovind urged the latter “to withdraw the NIA during the peace talks, if the Government of India was serious in finding a final solution to the Naga issue.”
In press communiqué, Naga Hoho general secretary Mutsikhoyo Yhobu and assembly secretary, K. Elu Ndang said it was an undeniable fact that various agreements/MoUs and accords had failed miserably, since the British colonial times, to suppress the self determination rights of the Nagas.
NH stated that the post Indian independence administration had attempted to subjugate the Nagas and their territories under the guise of a law and order problem, but later realized the need to deal with the issues politically and peacefully towards a permanent solution.
In this regard, NH said no sensible person could expect to have conducive atmosphere in Naga areas since the people’s resistance movement had been “guerrilla warfare” in nature.
“As such any struggling nation or people cannot survive without depending on the people’s contribution and cooperation. The need of the hour is to focus seriously towards early political settlement,” NH stated.
It called attention to the activities of the NIA in Nagaland, investigating almost all government departments and arresting officials for providing financial aid to different Naga political groups/national workers.
While stating that these actions may be to fulfil constitutional provision and the laws, NH urged the Indian agencies to look at the problems from a social and political perspective.
NH strongly felt that be it government employees or businessman, they were providing assistance “willingly or unwillingly but under compulsion.” Therefore, NH said the arrested officials should not be treated as law breakers. It appealed to the NIA to ponder these things and “avoid misdemeanours while dealing with such issues”. NH further called the conduct of the NIA, with the accused officials, as uncalled for and beyond tolerance. It recalled that the arrests of innocent Nagas by the armed forces, under various sections of infamous laws, where many were tortured mercilessly and executed in the past, were unacceptable. NH fervently urged the authorities to stop the investigations and drop the cases against the officials as demanded by CANNSEA and further, to “look beyond the horizon by realizing the plight and rights of the people.”
NMA appeals: In a memorandum to the President of India, Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) urged the latter to withdraw the NIA if the Centre was serious in finding a final solution to the Naga issue.
The memorandum signed by NMA president, Abieu Meru, joint secretary Sawmi Leyri, advisor Sano Vamuzo and Dr. Rosemary Dzüvichü, NMA placed on record of its serious concern over the arrest made by NIA on state government officials who it said were victims of duress for collections of taxes by NPGs over the years.
“Like any other situation of conflict, most employees have no choice in such situations,” it added.
NMA also urged the Centre to be more sensitive in view of the present ongoing peace process and to avoid any kind of harassment by the agency or create situations by such unwanted labels of calling legitimate government employees as terrorists.
NMA also asserted that though Naga women were ardent supporters of peace and non violent settlement of the Naga issue, they had been witness and victims of militarization and conflict during the seventy odd years of Naga struggle.
The ongoing peace process and peace talks with both NSCN (I-M) and now the six NPGs must culminate in an inclusive, just peace, NMA stated.
It also appealed for inclusion of other groups into the peace process and efforts to bring the NSCN (K) into a ceasefire at the earliest.
Further, NMA reiterated its demand for removal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) and lifting of the Disturbed Area Act from the state of Nagaland in the interest of the peace for the land and its people.
NMA also said that the imposition of AFSPA in Nagaland in the midst of the peace process has witnessed excessive army atrocities and violations of human rights and such records continue as recent, as the last few years.