Nagas want a solution that protects their future: NSCN-IM

NSCN-IM vice president “gen” (retd) Kholi said the Nagas are for a kind of agreement that is rooted in the principle of mutual respect and recognition of sovereign rights and territories.

Nagas want a solution that protects and guarantees their future, Kholi said in his address at the “39th Republic Day” celebrations of NSCN at its headquarters at Hebron, 45 kms from here, on Wednesday. Kholi’s speech was read out by NSCN-IM steering committee convenor Rh Raising.

NSCN-IM collective leadership that includes vice president “gen” (retd) Kholi and general secretary Th Muivah did not attend the celebrations.

Quoting history, Kholi said no genuine and lasting solutions to any political problems have ever been brought by military might and that all enduring solutions to the problems are arrived at only through bilateral dialogue and mutual agreements.

Describing the Framework Agreement as the foundation of a new relationship between India and the Nagas, the NSCN-IM vice president said it is a bridge that connects two people that will help dispel the doubts and fears nourished in their hearts against each other for decades.

“It will protect the future of the Nagas and guarantee the future of India. Betrayal to it will be an irreparable loss for both the parties,” he maintained.

In his address, NSCN-IM kilo kilonser (home minister) Hukavi Yepthomi said the Naga peace process is above party politics and added there are no differences that cannot be resolved through dialogue. He was apparently referring to the disunity among the Naga groups over the talk process with the Government of India.

According to him, the heritage and legacy of the Naga struggle is the precious gift the Naga ancestors have left for the Naga people.

Representatives of Naga civil society organisations that included Naga Hoho, Naga Students Federation, United Naga Council Manipur, Eastern Naga People’s Organisation, Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights, Naga Council Dimapur, Tirap Changlang Longtim People’s Forum of Arunachal Pradesh, Rengma Naga People’s Council of Assam and Eastern Naga Students Association of Myanmar who attended the programme hoped for early solution to the Naga issue and also inclusion of all stakeholders in the “final agreement”.

Drill display with Chinese SKS rifles weighing 3.4 kg each by cadres of general field training headquarters of NSCN-IM was the main attraction of the celebration.