Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) has expressed shock at a report in the local media of a draft proposal doing the rounds as the original draft supposedly submitted by it (ENPO) to the ministry of home affairs.
ENPO said it was constrained to issue its official statement with regard to the ongoing talks between the government of India and ENPO on the new arrangement for socio-economic uplift of eastern Nagaland.
ENPO termed the supposed draft proposal as “completely false and misleading” and urged upon all to desist from “such unscrupulous and malicious practices in true christian spirit.”
According to ENPO, the “fake draft contains certain points such as (a) to pursue for laying down of arms by the national workers hailing from eastern Nagaland region (b) to put up border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border, touching the areas of eastern Nagaland.”
In the wake of confusion and mistrust created in the minds of Nagas by some people with vested interests, ENPO said it denounced the “fake draft” proposal and sought to dispel any misgivings by putting to rest all speculations and apprehensions point by point.
On point (a) ENPO reiterated that nowhere in the original draft proposal submitted by it to the government of India, is there any mention of “surrendering of national workers from eastern Nagaland along with arms, in the event of singing of Memorandum of Settlement(MoS); as the Naga national movement” is a greater movement for a common cause.”
ENPO disclosed that it had inserted a point in the initial draft that read “it (ENPO) shall continue its initiative with the Naga national workers, belonging to members from eastern Nagaland, in order to ensure peace and progress in the region”. However, since the point lacked clarity and created confusion, ENPO said this was altered as “ in order to pursue peace and progress, the ENPO landmark resolution of 18th December 2007 ‘There shall be no bloodshed, killings, intimidation or any form of violence within ENPO jurisdiction” shall continue to be in force in the entire region of ENPO.”
Further, ENPO clarified that nowhere in the original draft was there any mention about fencing the international border as every Naga know that though divided by artificial borders, Nagas have ethnical brothers and sisters across the border especially those in the border areas who have immediate kina across.
ENPO reminded that in 2016 when there was an attempt to construct border fencing at the Myanmar border, it strongly opposed it and held protest rally at Pangsha helipad and block the move.
ENPO said its officials along with Khiamniungan Tribal Council submitted a memorandum to the prime minister in 2017 against the border fencing. Therefore, in the light of the above, ENPO said such a proposal does not arise.
ENPO clarified that the proposed new arrangement was to fulfil people’s aspiration for self-governing administrative set up under Article 371A of the constitution of India so as to enable the people of the region to attain social, political, economic, educational, cultural and linguistic aspirations.
ENPO also disclosed that in the initial draft proposal, there was a point on Article 371A (i) (d) to be suitably amended in order to repeal the earlier provision for Regional Council by incorporating provisions relating to the new arrangement.
Finally, ENPO said it was making it absolutely clear, that there no point exist in the draft proposal that would hamper the Naga national movement since it is a greater and common cause for all Nagas nor was there any attempt to infringe upon Article 371A of the constitution of India.
ENPO therefore appealed on all Nagas and the state government and stakeholders to extent moral support so as to pave way in anticipation of a peaceful signing of the new arrangement.