TR Zeliang in Myanmar
Source: The Sangai Express

Dimapur, November 27 2016: Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang emphasized on the need to shun the culture of violence and the necessity to take up peaceful negotiations to find a lasting and honourable solution to the protracted Naga political issue.

Interacting with various Naga organizations in Yangon, Myanmar, on Saturday when they accorded him a warm reception at the airport and later at Hotel Sedona, TR Zeliang asked the Naga leaders in Myanmar to approach the NSCN (K) Supremo SS Khaplang and persuade him to "drop the gun and talk for the rights" of the Naga people.

The Nagaland Chief Minister was received at the Airport by leaders of the Naga Public Organisation, Naga Students' Organisation, Naga Women Organisation (NWO) and church leaders of Yangon on his arrival to the neighbouring country yesterday.

TR Zeliang in Myanmar

He appealed to them to try their best to persuade Khaplang to enter into a ceasefire agreement with the Governments of Myanmar and India.

"If there is peace here in Myanmar between the Naga community and the Government, I shall personally take up the matter with the Prime Minister of India and I am confident that he will tie up with the Government of Myanmar to resolve the Naga problem here in Myanmar as well as in India simultaneously," Zeliang said.

On the concerns raised by the Naga leaders on border fencing between the two countries, Zeliang said he had repeatedly taken up with the Government of India on various occasions that instead of border fencing, the border stretches in many parts of the Northeast India with Myanmar needs to be opened up rather than fenced "so that the unreached areas can be opened up for better development." "Unlike other international boundaries with countries like Bangladesh or Pakistan, there are Naga areas falling in the two countries of Myanmar and India and fencing of these areas would not be advisable," he said and added that "Naga areas along the Indo-Myanmar border should not be allowed to become the permanent hideout for insurgent groups of the Northeast" .

"If there is peace in the area, I shall try my best to persuade the Government of India undertake major road constructions and other developmental works in the area so that Nagas on both sides of the border are benefited," Zeliang said.

It may be mentioned that TR Zeliang had earlier written to the Government of India to review its decision banning construction works within a radius of 20 kilometers along International boundaries.