Former Nagaland CM SC Jamir reflects fears of Naga people
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 03, 2012: Former Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir lamented that fear has been preventing the people of the state in expressing their opinions over the 'Naga political conflict' and also curbing them from raising their voice against tyranny and persecution.

Jamir, the only living signatory to the 16-point Agreements of 1960 leading to the formation of Naga-land as the 16th state of the Indian union, in his latest booklet said that an apparent suppression of free speech, popular thoughts and participation of the people by the armed groups has made the political movement intractable.

"Today, Nagas have been broken into pieces morally because of gun culture and became visionless," the Congress leader said.

The booklet noted that an unambiguous, united and single Naga political agenda had been 'hijacked' by innumerable groups, factions and parties, which were often indistinguishable from each other.

The booklet 'A Realistic Perspective on Unification-Peace-Reconciliation-Efforts' was distributed during a function organised by Nagaland Law Students' Federation at Dimapur yesterday where Jamir was the chief guest.

The booklet said a section of people have not manifested their preference or given mandate in favour of any political party,group or faction, whether overground or underground.

"In the absence of mass appeal and general public support, the Naga political movement has become totally lifeless and listless and everyone is merely paying an ostentatious lip service to the Naga cause".

The octogenarian leader rued that the Naga people reeling under decades of oppression, violence, brutality and threats, were shattered physically, mentally and emotionally because of the regime of threats, intimidation, violence, killings and extortion.

Jamir said political groups and factions had abjectly failed to scrutinize the role, relevance and rationale of the concept of 'sovereignty and separate homeland' in relation to modern times and its challenges.

He said that unity among the Nagas should be the first and foremost agenda to evolve a common framework where a definitive, pragmatic, amicable and a progressive action plan could be charted out for resolving the festering Naga political problem.

Narrating a few personal experiences, Jamir said corruption had also eaten into society, and called upon the young people to confront these challenges to bring about a change.

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