Indo-Naga issue must be settled at the earliest: Adani
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 30 2014 : The first Indo-Naga Cease-fire which came into effect from September 6 in 1964 and lasted till 1967 was operational in the entire Naga areas of the north east region, but could not proceed with concrete progress due to lack of political will of the Government of India, asserted outgoing UNC president L Adani in a statement today.

The former president said the second Indo-Naga Cease-fire agreement signed in 1997 between the GoI and the NSCN as two entities without any pre-conditions was welcomed by the Naga people with great hopes for permanent peace after decades of the Indo-Naga armed conflict.

With the recognition of the unique history and situation of the Nagas by the then NDA Government under Atal Behari Vajpayee, it was felt that an honourable and acceptable settlement would emerge from the peace process.

Unfortunately the current peace process has dragged on for the last 17 precious years with no tangible result for want of political will on the part of the GoI, he added.

Adani claimed that delay in settlement of Indo-Naga issue has created space for the Government of Manipur (GoM) and the dominant elements that inform their policies to put spanners in the peace process in order to derail it.

The events of 1997, 2001 and 2005 that engulfed Imphal valley in chaos and violence, was engineered by the GoM and communal forces with a view to disturb the peace process, Naga leader alleged.

Claiming the recent situation in Ukhrul on the pretext of maintaining law and order was purely the machination of the GoM, Adani recalled that a peaceful public rally on May 6 in 2010 at Mao Gate to protest against the ban of GoM on the visit of Naga negotiator, Th Muivah to Naga areas in Manipur was fired upon by the state police killing two students and injuring over a hundred including women folks.

The statement also charged that communal actions and policies of the GoM on the Nagas and tribals well orchestrated with notifications, legislations, administrative orders & Acts that seeks to usurp inherent rights of tribals over their ancestral lands and also to perpetuate the denial of identity, due opportunities and political empowerment of our people and to destroy the traditional institutions/village republics of the Nagas/tribals.

On July 1 in 2010, Nagas declared to sever all political ties with the GoM and demanded an alternative arrangement outside the GoM pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue, Adani narrated, while adding that consequently the GoM initiated democratic dialogue at the tripartite level between GoM, GoI and the UNC which has progressed up to the 7th round.

It was agreed that the GoI would set up a high powered committee to translate the demand into a political reality.

Even though bombings and shootings are routine in the valley areas, the Disturbed Area Act has been lifted from 7 Assembly segments of greater Imphal, said Adani while pointing out that militarisation continues in hill areas where there is "cease-fire" and "suspension of operation" .

The President urged the GoI to expedite an acceptable and honourable settlement of the Indo-Naga issue based on the unique history and situation of the Nagas.

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