ANSAM pitches for separate flag
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 26 2020: The All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) is submitting a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah tomorrow demanding recognition of Naga flag and Constitution and "integration" as inalienable rights of the Naga people for a logical conclusion of the peace talks.

A copy of the memorandum available with this paper said that any agreement without the Naga flag, Constitution and integration will not address the political aspirations of the Nagas.

"..The 23 years of political talk demands a logical conclusion with due recognition of "Naga flag, constitution and integration" as our "inalienable rights".

Any agreement without ensuring these will not address the political aspirations of the Nagas as a people," said the memorandum.

The protracted Indo-Naga issue must of necessity be inclusive, honourable and acceptable, and based on the unique Naga history and its situations.

It should not be subjected to the misplaced and concocted sentiments drummed up against the peace process by some communities in the State of Manipur or by those in the neighbouring States.

This is for the simple reason that Nagas do not claim even an inch of land that lie outside "our clearly defined ancestral domain nor do we object to the legitimate rights and aspirations of neighbouring communities and States", said ANSAM asserting that the Government of India must focus on one "mutually negotiated solution and discard any exploration for piecemeals' imposed solutions, which will not serve the end of lasting peace".

ANSAM also appealed the Union Home Minister for "immediate cessation of all military campaigns and political witch-hunt against Naga leaders, human rights activists and National workers which are contrary to the spirit of the cease-fire and peace talk and of vital importance for creating congenial environment, necessary for the impending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue".

It also asserted that the Nagas from entire Naga areas comprising of all the Tribe Hohos, apex CSOs-Naga Hoho, Naga Students' Federation, Naga Mothers' Association, Eastern Naga People's Organisation and United Naga Council; and Church leaders had "unanimously" given their mandate to the NSCN to negotiate with the Government of India an honourable and acceptable solution on January 21, 2005 at Camp Hebron, Dimapur.

Comment