NPAC defers January 14 Nagaland shutdown

Postponed pending meeting of ‘8 Naga tribes’ on January 17

Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 13 

The statewide (Nagaland) bandh on January 14, called by the Nagaland People’s Action Committee (NPAC) has been deferred. The decision to defer was taken at an emergency meeting of the NPAC held on January 13, evening, in Dimapur. Subsequent to the announcement of the shutdown, the NPAC drew flak, with various civil society organisations deciding not to observe the bandh.  

The NPAC outlined the grounds for the deferral in a statement, which was released to the media following the emergency meeting held at Hotel Saramati. 

According to the statement, the NPAC received communication from the Central Nagaland Tribes Council with a request to review the proposed bandh pending the meeting of “8 Naga tribes” scheduled on January 17. As the backbone of the NPAC, it said that the NPAC needed to give credence to the CNTC’s advice “as we do not doubt about the sincerity and commitment of our tribal leaders toward solution for election.” 

While stating that the NPAC considered “their mission successful in being able to awaken the primary stakeholders satisfactorily to take their mandated responsibility,” it said that the proposed January 14 bandh was deferred in the hope that the tribal bodies would not fail the citizens of Nagaland. “The NPAC assures our people that we continue to give our unreserved cooperation to anyone whoever is for political solution first before election,” it added.

The statement further explained the basis for the formation of the NPAC. It said that the absence of a “regular common platform for the communities and tribes in Nagaland” had always remained a setback when pursuing common interests collectively. It added that the same predicament was faced by the people of Nagaland in the pursuit to facilitate the political negotiations between the Government of India (GoI) and the Nagas. Given the inordinate delay in arriving at a solution, it said that “the tribal bodies and CSOs numbering 72 organisations under the initiative of NGBF” resolved to form the NPAC at a meeting in Dimapur on June 21, 2022. 

“This committee comprising of limited members headed by Theja Therieh as Convener was empowered to carry out the collective decision to urge the negotiating parties to expedite its logical conclusion. The life of NPAC is co-terminus with the closure of political negotiations, success or failure,” it said. 

While stating the anticipated political solution remains elusive even in the 26th year of political talks, it brought to mind the “several representations and memorandums” submitted to the GoI, particularly, to the Prime Minister, by Naga NGOs, civil society organisations and tribal bodies over the past 25 years, insisting on resolving the Naga political issue without delay. In Nagaland, it said that the public had observed bandhs and organised public rallies against the delay.

In light of the above, it said that the NPAC, at its January 12 meeting in Dimapur opted to observe a statewide bandh on January 14 for 6 hours (6:00 am to 12 noon). 

“Meanwhile, the press statement of the 14 tribes published on January 11, 2023, reiterating and reaffirming their existing resolution of urging the GoI to settle the Naga political issue without delay confirmed the public opinion enough for the negotiators to understand the sentiment of Naga public to not further resort to any other alternative. In the same pulse, the NPAC standing for common cause announced that proposed statewide bandh on January 14,” the statement said. 

Several orgs decide not to observe bandh
The decision to defer the January 4 bandh by the NPAC comes after several organizations said on Friday that they would not observe the bandh. 

The Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) said it would stand with the APO decision not to observe the bandh. 

Similarly, the Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) said that “we have not endorsed or authorized NPAC.” The NPAC as such cannot give any directions to the Apex tribal body of the Chakhesangs in any matter,” a press release from the organization stated. Further, it informed that celebration of the premier festival of the Chakhesangs- Sukrünye is underway. 

The Rengma Hoho while reiterating its stand for early settlement of Naga political talks said that the proposed statewide bandh “at this time without proper consultation is uncalled for.”

The Tenyimi Union Dimapur (TUD), while welcoming any positive steps taken by any organization towards an honourable settlement of the Naga political issue, however expressed skepticism of the “actions of some vested individuals and organizations.” 

The Sovima Village Youth Organisation (SVYO) also decided to abstain from the proposed bandh in line with the directive issued by the Angami Youth Organization (AYO) and Chakhroma Youth Organization (CYO). 

The Nagaland Zeliang People’s Organisation (NZPO) while reiterating its stand for early settlement of Naga Political talks said that the proposed state wide bandh without proper consultation is uncalled for. It informed all frontal organizations that the NZPO have not officially endorsed any of its member to the NPAC meeting.

Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/npac-defers-january-14-nagaland-shutdown