Expedite peace process: UNC
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Senapati, June 17 2018:
The United Naga Council (UNC) has urged the Government of India to expedite the Naga peace process and bring it to its logical conclusion.
In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi today, the UNC reminded the former about the situations of the Naga struggle at varied durations.
According to the UNC, the "protracted Naga political problem exhibiting a distinct struggle results from its contrasting characters" .
The UNC also said those characters are "behind its survival and growth during the past seven decades" .
The UNC also said that these past experiences are to be noted for better understanding of the Naga political problem and compulsions/ urgencies for the settlement of the problem.
According to the UNC, the "Naga Nation" was rooted in ethno-cultural principle posing itself as unshakable under any circumstances so far.
"So, even defectors, factionists, bigoted within Naga community think and work as Nagas wherever and whatever they are," it stated.
The UNC added, "The principle enables the Nagas to see any territory/geographical barriers set for them as arbitrary and their inhabited areas contiguous and compact have qualified them to think and work for common homeland" .
The past history has then reinforced the dream of the Naga homeland, it added.
"The story of Naga political struggle is long enough to be ignored; the further consolidation of Naga inhabited areas through its historical process is firm enough to be shaken and its political aspiration is loud enough to be unheard.
"So, the Nagas cannot and shall not retrograde from their established position", the UNC memorandum to the Prime Minister further said.
According to the UNC, the Naga problem is not only political but it is a genuine claim of their inalienable historical rights that exhibit a struggle distinct from other political struggles.
"Therefore, Nagas have posited unique history of the Nagas which was recognised and accepted by India.
The unique history of the Nagas is not primarily a position of attainment but it is the position in history," it added.
The UNC reminded in its memorandum that the Indian authority particularly the military leadership has correctly perceived the historical position and political nature of the problem.
It elaborated that the "authority" has widely averred that Naga problem is a political problem and has ruled out military solution to it.
''In this regard the then Indian Army Chief, General Thimaya is to be mentioned for having declared it first in 1969", it stated.
"Lieutenant General Pramjit Singh and General JJ Singh followed suit in 2008 and 2013 respectively," the UNC memorandum pointed out.
The UNC then said that the Nagas are positive about it and work for political settlement forthwith.
According to the UNC memorandum, the Naga political struggle has survived several turbulent times such as Indian political betray (1949), rift between Naga moderates and the hard cores and imposition of AFSPA upon Naga people purposed to contain Naga militancy, the episode of Shillong Accord (1975), the splits among the Naga National workers and host of other internecine internal crises.
"Yet, Naga freedom struggle has endured political betrayal, factionalism, defection showing matchless political struggle in India and Asia.
The unflinching spirit is still in the Nagas to meet any fate," it asserted.
The UNC memorandum urged, "Therefore, no issues/demands raised by other community(s) affecting or tending to affect the Nagas' position on land, political aspiration will be tolerated under any circumstances" .
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