NTC asks NSCN (I-M) to make competencies public

Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has called upon NSCN (I-M) to be transparent and bring out the competencies on public domain.
NTC media cell, informed that after an in-depth deliberation on the current situation vis-à-vis Naga peace process at its general session held at the Conference Hall of Red Cross building, Kohima on Tuesday, NTC noted that the negotiations between the Centre and Naga negotiators had reached its silver jubilee and the people could not wait any longer.
As the Centre was absolutely clear on its parameters of negotiations with the understanding that was reached on October 31, 2019, NTC said it was incumbent on NSCN (I-M) to take a call without wasting anymore time.
Noting that Core Committee on Naga Political Issue (CCoNPI) formed under UDA tended to misuse its role while projecting itself as the indispensable broker between the Centre and Naga negotiators, NTC said the CCoNPI was at best a facilitator as any other facilitator and therefore its members giving statements on any agenda of the negotiators was uncalled for. NTC said this was not the season for any facilitator, including CCoNPI, to make claims for political mileage on the prevailing situation by misguiding the gullible public and said that such ambition had to be restrained.
“Indeed, everyone’s effort, be it the negotiator or the facilitator, must be focussed on solution alone and not otherwise,” NTC said.
Citing local news reports of May 29, 2022 that CCoNPI was also likely to apprise Assam chief minister and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma on the outcome of Saturday’s meeting so as to take this forward to the Centre; NTC said this implied that whatever was the outcome of the meeting between NSCN (I-M) and the committee at Chümoukedima had to be submitted to Sarma, who would then convey this to the Centre.
NTC however pointed out that there were official Naga negotiators, viz., NSCN (I-M) and WC/NNPGs, and a legitimate State government that has equal status as Assam.
NTC rejected the modus operandi of CCoNPI of involving another personality, as though the Naga negotiators did not have access to the Central government through their official emissaries and as though Nagaland was secondary to other States. It warned CCoNPI not to over indulge or expose the competencies on the negotiating table sacred to the Nagas.
Hits out at UNC: NTC has also taken serious note of United Naga Council (UNC) over the latter’s resolutions on May 27, 2022 which asked, what was the hurry for a solution? NTC in-stead asked UNC as what dividend it expected from a longer period of negotiation which has already completed 25 years?
It also asked UNC whether it could ensure retention of the indefinite ceasefire between the Centre and Naga negotiators under which environment such dialogues took place?.
NTC maintained that such senseless resolutions exposed the ground reality that the loss and sufferings of the Nagas of Nagaland was a gain and enjoyment for Nagas in Manipur.
NTC said that people of Nagaland were tired of multiple taxations and whoever –facilitators or negotiators – was using delaying tactics to thwart the political solution , were exploiters of bona fide citizens of Nagaland and therefore it totally disagreed with UNC.
Opposes bid to suppress freedom of expression: NTC asserted that Nagas are basically democratic people and that Naga democracy was one of the purest forms of democracies in the world which Nagas inherited this culture of democracy from their forefathers. NTC pointed out that dissent was the quintessence of democracy and that it remained an inalienable part of the culture and tradition of the bona fide Nagas in whatever they had to be transparent in expressing their true feelings for the wellbeing of all.
Therefore, NTC said it detested the attempt of political groups to curtail or intimidate Nagas from expressing their opinion or observations as such attempts were “alien to our culture”.