ZCOs decry 'threats' from NSCN (IM)
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 20 2020:
The Zeliangrong Civil Organizations ZCOs-Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Youth Front and All Zeliangrong Students Union, have strongly deplored the NSCN (IM) for its "warning and intimidation" which stated "any organization or individual falling in line with RN Ravi is anti-Naga" .
"Every Naga has the unquestionable right to express their opinions and views that cannot be gagged or intimidated by anybody as far as the Naga political issue is concerned," said the organisations reacting to the reported statement of the NSCN (IM) in a statement issued under the banner of Zeliangrong Baudi (AMN) today.
The bodies asserted that issuing such "warning and intimidation" by NSCN (IM) under the barrel of guns is a violation of human rights and condemnable by every citizen.
The NSCN (IM) issuing warning to Naga civil organizations and individuals falling in line with RN Ravi while it is engaged in talks with the Government of India represented by RN Ravi as the interlocutor is "quite paradoxical", it said.
Naga political issue cannot be considered as either one man's property nor is it an issue which can be claimed as their own by any particular group or some sections of the people.
Nagas irrespective of regions or tribes have been involved, participated and contributed at their level best to sustain the movement and have suffered enough at the altar of Naga political movement, asserted the bodies.
The public are yearning for peace and an early solution following the peace talk which has been dragging on for more than 23 years.
It is the inescapable obligation of every concerned individual or civil organizations who are representing the interest and sentiment of the people to ventilate the voice of the people.
Issuing warning or intimidation to civil organizations or individuals is suppression of the voice of the people and it will not yield any positive result.
Rather this will make the people raise their voices louder, the bodies said.
During the course of more than two decades long negotiation, the people have seen many Prime Ministers namely; Narasimha Rao, AB Vajpayee, HD Gowda, IK Gujral, Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi.
The people have also seen many interlocutors namely Swaraj Kaushal, K Padmanabhaiah, RS Pandey and RN Ravi.
The observation of the people is that there has been tremendous and tangible progress in the negotiation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra and the "dynamic" Interlocutor, RN Ravi with the signing of the Framework Agreement with the NSCN (IM) and the Preamble or agreed position with the working committee of NNPGs to facilitate an honourable settlement to the vexed issue, added the bodies.
RN Ravi, in the capacity of an Interlocutor has been working for the unity of Naga people and its inclusiveness so that a long lasting honourable and workable solution is achieved.
Because of this observation and ground reality, the civil organizations want RN Ravi to continue as the Interlocutor in the negotiation for arriving at an early settlement without any further delay, they said.
"While engaging in political negotiation with the Government of India for political settlement, the NSCN (IM) should refrain from issuing warning or intimidation to any individual or civil organizations which are representing the voice, interest and sentiments of the people.
Such intimidation under the barrel of guns is outdated and not acceptable in this modern era.
If any untoward incident happens to ZCO leaders or individuals from Zeliangrong community, the NSCN (IM) would be held responsible," said the bodies.
Moreover, the Government of India should also not allow the NSCN (IM) to issue such "threat or intimidation" under the garb of the political negotiation.
For any untoward incident or negative consequences that may arise, the onus shall also be with the Government of lndia for not taking necessary actions on time, they added.
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