NH submits memorandum to PM; calls for durable peace

Naga Hoho (NH) has called for “durable peace between India and Nagas in the spirit of peaceful co-existence as agreed in the Framework Agreement (FA)”.
In a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signed by NH president HK Zhimomi and general secretary K Elu Ndang, the hoho said: “Naga people yearn for permanent peace with India during your time and partner together towards progress and prosperity of the two people.”
NH recalled how the past agreements–– 9-Point Agreement of 1947, 16-Point Agreement of 1960 with Naga People Convention and Shillong Accord of 1975– had failed to bring about lasting peace between the Government of India and the Nagas.
Employing the same method to resolve the Naga issue would only breed more suspicion than understanding between the two parties, it cautioned.
NH said Nagas have become very restive with the way peace talk has been conducted. It said that the signing of the historic Framework Agreement under PM’s guidance and leadership brought about great joy and hope to the Nagas. However, seven years have passed since the signing of the agreement and instead of resolving the issue, the negotiation has run into brinkmanship, NH stated.
“We anticipated the solution which could have arrived early had the Government of India translated the Framework into practical reality,” NH said.
NH said that the Nagas were now polarized between the two agreements– Framework
Agreement of 2015 and the Agreed Position of 2017, adding that it was tragic that the long-cherished dream of Naga people to solve the Naga political issue, which was then so close, was now apparently a distant dream.
The memorandum reminded Modi that the current peace process was initiated by Government of India in 1997 with three conditions – i) that the talks should be unconditional, ii) should be at the highest level, i.e., the Prime Ministerial level and iii) the venue of the talks should be outside India, in the third country.
While addressing the core issue of Naga political issue, NH said India with a strong global leadership with sensitivity to geo-political dynamics in the region should realistically formulate a mutually agreeable proposal to resolving the protracted political conflict.
As the nature of the case required and demanded a political solution, it urged the Prime Minister to demonstrate statesmanship and will to personally monitor the talks that were the only way forward to resolving the Naga issue.
And in order to create a favourable environment for constructive engagement, the hoho demanded repealing of the infamous AFSPA of 1958 from all Naga-inhabited areas.
The memorandum acknowledged that many Prime Ministers – PV Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, HD Deve Gowda, IK Gujral and Dr Manmohan Singh – had taken keen interest in resolving the Naga political issue, which was still continuing.
It expressed confidence that under Modi’s strong leadership, the Naga issue would find an honourable solution that would be acceptable to both the parties and bring about enduring peace in “this strategic geographical location” that was considered a gateway to South East Asian countries.
NH also recalled PM’s statement during his visit to Kohima during the Hornbill Festivsal– “Come! Let us together build a new, resurgent, stronger and more prosperous India and Nagaland”.