Kohima meeting: Nagaland groups urged to unite for ‘one solution’

GUWAHATI: The consultative meeting with all the stakeholders convened by the Nagaland government on Thursday to discuss the ongoing Naga peace talks by the Centre being held parallely with NSCN (IM) and its rival cluster of seven other outfits, known as Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), resolved to urge the two groups to reunite for “One Solution for One People” as early as possible.
While the state’s principle opposition, Nagaland People’s Front, and Congress boycotted the meeting saying that the NDPP-BJP coalition government led by chief minister Neiphiu Rio has failed to handle the issue, Naga Hoho, an apex tribal body, walked out of the meeting held at the chief minister’s residential complex in Kohima.
Naga Hoho president HK Zhimomi said, “We, along with our delegates, walked out of the meeting. We will not say in public what transpired here. We are dissatisfied with the way in which the meeting was conducted.” Rio, in his opening speech, said the state government appreciates the (two) negotiating parties for the signing of the Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015 and the Agreed Position on November 17, 2017.
He added that during his meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah on September 19, the Centre had “made it clear and further reiterated that there will be only one solution for the Indo-Naga political issue. This message from GoI has been very clear, and one of the reasons for today’s consultative meeting is this message.”
On the way forward, Rio said, “The only way forward is unity and oneness as one Naga family. And it is in this spirit that we must all relentlessly continue to pursue realisation of genuine peace through a “political settlement based on Naga historical and political rights” and on the “unique history and position of the Nagas”. An agreement that is based on “contemporary realities, one that will end violent confrontation and will usher in a future vision that will be built with the genius of the Naga people”.
After 23 years of negotiations that first started between the government and NSCN(IM), the Centre brought the NNPGs on board the dialogue process but put them on a separate platform. The NNPGs have declared that they have concluded the dialogue and have signed a preliminary agreement, called the “Agreed Positions”, in 2017 with the Centre and are ready to sign the final accord.
On the other hand, NSCN (IM), which has also signed a “Framework Agreement” with the Centre in 2015, which formed the basis of shaping the final agreement, has refused to agree to a settlement which is short of fulfilling its two key demands — separate flag and constitution — leading to the current stalemate.
The official statement by the government said, “After intensive and extensive deliberations, the house unanimously adopted as many seven resolutions, the first being appreciating the Government of India for acknowledging the unique history of the Nagas and for recognising the Naga issue as a political issue.”
Among all the resolutions, one was that the meeting “urges the Naga political groups to honour and respect the Covenant of Reconciliation and maintain the sanctity of non-violence in letter and spirit for a shared Naga future as members of One Naga Family.”
The meeting also “appealed to the negotiating groups to come together under a spirit of oneness, mutual trust and understanding with sincerity and commitment towards achieving ‘One Solution for One People’ as early as possible.”
The meeting also resolved that it “acknowledges the sacrifices and contributions of the nationalist workers in the course of the Naga political journey and towards the Naga political cause,” and to “expresses gratitude to the civil societies and the church for consistent support towards the Naga cause and making constant efforts towards reconciliation and oneness.”
Another resolution was to “affirm our commitment to continuously work towards a political settlement based on Naga historical and political rights to determine our future on the unique history and position of the Nagas.”
The state government invited tribal hohos, mass-based organizations, civil societies, church organisations, political parties, NGOs and prominent individuals to the meeting.
The only way forward is unity and oneness as one Naga family. And it is in this spirit that we must all relentlessly continue to pursue realisation of genuine peace NEIPHIU RIO, Nagaland chief minister