WC, NNPGS: Naga people ready for hon’ble settlement

September 14, 2019 134 Views No Comment

WC, NNPGS: Naga people ready for hon’ble settlement

By Nagaland Post | Publish Date: 9/12/2019 10:55:31 AM IST

God has given each Naga, be it a leader or a follower, the wisdom to reason, understand, assess and decide what is best for him, his society and ancestral land. Naga plebiscite of 16th May 1951 was God’s plan for the Nagas and the visionary leaders, then, were His chosen instruments.

The Agreed Position signed on 17th Nov. 2017 between the WC, NNPG and GOI as two entities entrenched, in spirit and essence, the Naga Plebiscite of 16th May 1951.

The Working Committee (WC), Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) and GOI first held preliminary dialogue in September 2017. It had to be from ground zero, brick by brick, layer by layer on a rough platform. What was acceptable to GOI was not the point, rather, what should be accepted by India was the focus. On this principle, the right of the Nagas to self determine their political future, anchoring on mutual co-existence considering the contemporary political realities, but with a distinct political and administrative system in consonance with Naga identity, customary practices and procedures.

WC, NNPGs makes it clear to the Naga people that Mr. R.N Ravi comes to the negotiation table as GOI interlocutor on Indo-Naga talks and not in the capacity, status and protocol of a state Governor. Prior to his appointment as Governor of Nagaland state, the GOI Interlocutor was also the Deputy National Security Adviser (Dy. NSA). Therefore, WC is comfortable in all round issues and prepared to get agreement incorporated into the constitution.

WC, NNPGs having signed the Agreed Position with GOI in 2017, held wide range of consultations with Tribal bodies, GBs, Civil Society groups, intellectuals, Churches, past and present Legislators, legal and constitutional experts, scholarly senior citizens etc., seeking opinions on major issues. The Responses and opinions on historical, political, social, cultural, economic, administrative, constitutional and legal matters were all absorbed and systematically formulated into a blueprint and added to charter points for negotiations. In all these extensive exercises, the WC has never deviated from the core values and principles of Naga historical and political right. What is agreed upon in principle, thus far, is therefore a people’s negotiation, a people’s charter, will remain a people’s historic document.

Any unresolved contentious issues needing political and democratic process and consensus will continue in the future, with greater participation of the Nagas and people to people dialogue with neighbours where necessary. The position of Nagas in the context of political configuration is handled with collective wisdom to fulfil Naga aspirations.

The rainbow with a star, to the Naga people, remains a source and force of Naga political struggle. It has a supernatural and divine connotation which lives in every Naga hearth. The sentimental value and spiritual inspiration behind its origin makes it an emblem, an insignia and a Naga totem.

There is absolute clarity on all issues between the two entities. Although the political structures may differ in Naga lands. The impending agreement shall ensure that Nagas exercise absolute sovereign “rights, power, authority control, make own laws and administer” as per the system so envisaged as per Naga Customary Laws and Practices together with the contemporary democratic political system.

The two entities have also identified possible transitional and operational difficulties owing to constitutional and legal mechanisms which prevented Nagas to exercise their sovereign rights over their land and resources in the past. Therefore operational clauses shall be added to remove all difficulties. The agreement, once ratified and incorporated, will ensure that neither the parliament nor the constitution will intrude on these matters. Eventually, this is how GOI and Nagas will co-exist acknowledging Naga Political and historical right and our distinct identity.

WC, NNPGs believes that the best possible Indo-Naga political solution is at hand. There is ample space for younger generations to compete with the best in the world in all fields. Narrow differences must be buried for the greater glory of the Nagas. GOD BLESS NAGA LAND!

Media Cell, WC, NNPGs

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