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04/04/2006: "Press Communiqué issued by NPMHR, Delhi Unit."
Press Communiqué issued by NPMHR, Delhi Unit.
Office of the
Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights, Delhi Unit
B-39, Janta Flat, Vasant Enclave, New Delhi-110057
Date: 02/04/06
Press Communiqué
We, the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights, Delhi Unit, are extremely taken aback by the unhealthy and unconstructive statement of the honourable Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh during a press conference he addressed in Guwahati on the 1st of April 2006 Saturday, the April fool day, especially in the context of the Indo-Naga political negotiations which has reached a crucial stage. The following are the statement: “the territorial integrity of any state in the northeast would not be disturbed without its consent.” “The territorial integrity of the northeastern states will not be disturbed unless there is a consensus among them. We are committed to protecting the territorial integrity of all states.”
This statement was given when asked by the Medias about the persistent demand for integration of all Naga areas made by the Nagas in the context of the peace talks between the Government of India (GoI) and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) since 1997. It is unfortunate that such an unhealthy and unconstructive statement is coming from the Prime Minister of India during his two-day campaign for Congress in Assam. The statement is unhealthy and unconstructive in the sense that just for the sake of election in Assam, the Indian PM’s statement has the tendency of amounting to dismissing the history of the Naga People’s Movement and their aspiration to live together as one people as a distinct nation among nations. This is nothing but an aged old appeasement policy of the Party to which he is a member. The Indian PM has done a great damaged with his statement to the ongoing Indo-Naga political dialogues which has lasted more than eight years. We are let to believe that the PM has deliberately said this to carner more votes for its party while totally forgetting the Indo-Naga political negotiations.
It is pertinent to point out here that the Nagas since the inception of its National Movement has time and again stated that the Nagas contiguous geographical areas has been divided first by the British and then by the Indian and Burmese Regimes. What has been clearly stated is the fact that this divided Naga areas by artificial boundaries is brought back under one roof for honourable and dignified existence as a people. And, the issue of integration of all Naga areas as the first step towards Naga sovereignty has been sufficiently told to the Indian Government in the past more than eight years of political negotiations. It is to be noted with care that the PM’s talk of consensus has no place even in the Constitution of India for it is very clearly enshrined in the Constitution that the Parliament is the sole authority under Article 3 to enlarge the area of any state, alter the name of any state, decrease the area of any state, alter the boundary of any state while the states have only the right to be afforded an opportunity to express their views.
As per the Indian Constitution under Article 3, the integration of all Naga areas does not require any consent or consensus among the states. It is amply clear from the Indian Constitution itself that the Parliament is the sole and legitimate authority to implement the constitutional provisions. We have come to believe that the Indian Government is not living up to its words of seriousness and concern it has always been raising in the past years about the Nagas cause. It is a matter of great concern that the most responsible PM has shown scant concern to the aspiration of the Naga people. The Indian Government has always been and is still playing double talk with the Nagas by pleasing the other neighbouring communities. However, it must be stated that the Nagas are in no way to accept imposition of anything against their aspirations and rights.
The NPMHR has strong reservation and objection to the PM’s statement on the territorial integrity of the northeastern states which has gone directly against the aspiration of the Naga people. This particular statement of the PM will in no way strengthen the peace process. It will rather have a negative implication on the political negotiations between the parties. The PM’s statement does indicate that he seems to have no concern for saving the hard-earned ceasefire between the Indian Government and the Nagas. It is implicitly clear now that if the Indian Government is not committing itself to solving the problem through peaceful talks as at present, then we are of the opinion that the GoI is still having an option to go for military measures to crush the Naga National Movement. However, we are certain that militarization will only weaken the human rights of the people for which we urge both the GoI and the NSCN to come out with a concrete policy statement for solution within the extended six months ceasefire. We firmly believe that aspiration of the Nagas to live together as one people under one umbrella is legitimate and inherent human rights of the indigenous Naga people. Long Live Naga People! Long Live Naga People! Long Live Naga People! Long Live Naga People! Long Live Naga People! Long Live NPMHR!
KUKNALIM
Ms. R.S. Mayori Mr. Kent Chara
Convenor, NPMHR Delhi Unit Co-Convenor, NPMHR, Delhi UNIT
