The Liberation, an NGO, through a written statement, made a number of recommendations to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations (UNHRC) in order to bring an honourable lasting political solution to the protracted Naga political issue.
The NGO stated that they are deeply concerned about the growing opposition and continuing protests against the Indo-Naga peace process between the Government of India (GOI) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland- Isaac Muivah (NSCN-IM), by the neighbouring States.
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The neighbouring States, it stated, threaten to derail the peace process and result in continued violations of the rights of indigenous Naga people.
“With the signing of the historic Indo-Naga ceasefire between GOI and NSCN-IM in 1997, Nagas hope for peace was founded. The Nagas appreciate the GOI for recognising the unique history of the Nagas and it is our hope that the political solution will be based on historical facts and legitimacy,” it stated.
However, since the signing of the most recent Indo-Naga Framework Agreement 2015, the governments of neighbouring Indian States as well as some sections of the civil society organisations, particularly in the State of Manipur, are spreading wrongly alleging that this agreement “compromises territorial integrity of the state”, it stated.
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“This propaganda is being deliberately carried out to sabotage the Naga peace process and continues till this day with increased hostile protests that threaten to negatively impact social harmony,” the NGO stated.
In such a situation, the NGO requested the President and Members of the Human Rights Council of the UN to urge the Government of India to welcome third neutral parties, including UN bodies, to aid in expediting the Indo-Naga peace process.
The NGO has also recommended that the Indian Government and the negotiating parties be urged to respect democratic processes and the rights of indigenous people with particular reference to article 3 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous.
It also recommended that a team of experts be sent to assess the developments surrounding the Indo-Naga peace negotiations and advise the GOI in devising mechanisms around the obstructive forces against the Indo-Naga peace process for ensuring early settlement of the issues involved.
Besides, the UNHRC was also requested to send human rights delegation, including the SR on the rights of indigenous people to assess the human rights situation in Northeast India to ascertain facts on the ground and to encourage and/or initiate dialogue among the communities in the region based on universally accepted standards and principles.