Unhappy over opposition to Framework Agreement, Naga Hoho-UNC declaration refers to ‘South Nagalim’

August 24, 2018 568 Views No Comment

Naga Republic News

Perhaps showing unhappiness over the way both the Government of India and the Manipur State government was treating the Indo-Naga peace process, the apex body of the Nagas in Manipur, the United Naga Council (UNC) and the Naga Hoho, which represents the Naga people beyond borders, made its intention known by referring to Tahamzam (Senapati) as South Nagalim. This is perhaps the first time that Tahamzam (Senapati) under Manipur State has been officially recorded as South Nagalim.

It may be mentioned that one of the core demands of the Nagas is for integration of all contiguous Naga inhabited areas under one administrative unit. “Demands for the integration of Naga areas or Greater Nagalim by Naga groups involved in peace talks with the Government of India have seen opposition in other states, including Manipur which sees it as an attack on the state’s territorial integrity”.

The Government of India in peace negotiation has made it clear that redrawing of boundaries is not possible and has reportedly worked out some other formula.

Pointing out that the Naga people have been living in a village republic free from external forces since time immemorial, a public declaration signed by the two Naga bodies on August 23 stated that every Naga village was governed by a set of traditional and customary laws and that justice was delivered accordingly.

While acknowledging the signing of the Indo-Naga Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim as also the historic Indo-Naga Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015 based on “unique history and its situation”, the joint review meeting expressed discontentment for the inordinate delay in finalizing the Framework Agreement.

The declaration strongly urged the negotiating parties “to bring acceptable and honourable political settlement on time bound manner”. At the same time the review meeting called upon the Naga people to remain united and support the hard earned “Indo-Naga political issue” and not to “compromise our inherent rights under any circumstances”.

The review meeting and the declaration made thereafter also cautioned that “any Naga elected representative, political leader, political party unmandated or unauthorised Naga individual or group shall not attend or participate in any assembly(s) or meeting that will sabotage the Indo-Naga peace process.”

According to the declaration, any one defying the “Naga political principle and its position shall be treated as anti national and their entry shall be banned in Naga territory”. The public declaration was signed by Chuba Ozukum, President, Naga Hoho and Gaidon Kamei, President, UNC. Significantly the place of the meeting was recorded as Tahamzam (Senapati), South Nagalim.

Meanwhile a report in the Hindustan Times stated that Naga legislators and other members and organisations of the community, who choose to attend the Manipur assembly’s special session or any meeting on peace talks, would be tagged as “anti-nationals” and barred from entering Naga territories.

“The Manipur government is trying to sabotage the peace talks from day one. The state government had planned a special assembly session on August 16. The session has been postponed but there is pressure to hold it soon,” Gaidon Kamei, the president of United Naga Council, said.

“Even if the Naga MLAs attend the session and voice contrary opinion their voices will not be heard,” Kamei said as reported in the Hindustan Times.

Manipur assembly has ten Naga MLAs including four from Naga People’s Front, which is a part of the government, one MLA from the ruling BJP, four who won on a Congress ticket and one from National People’s Party.

Read full text of resolution below