‘Centre, Naga talks brokers must not back out of pledges’ | Kohima News
DIMAPUR: United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairman TR Zeliang said both the Centre and the Naga negotiators should not back out of what has been committed to each other for a logical conclusion to the Naga issue at the earliest.
In a video message, Zeliang said the UDA had conveyed to the central leaders that the Centre should not deviate from what had been committed to the Nagas. He said this sentiment of the Naga negotiating groups was conveyed through former interlocutor RN Ravi and incumbent representative of the Centre for Naga talks, AK Mishra.
The former chief minister also appealed to all right-thinking Naga leaders to refrain from making “loose remarks” on the Naga peace talks based on speculations and hearsays as they caused misunderstanding and confusion among the Nagas.
“We understand that everyone, including lawmakers and public leaders, has the right to speak out for common welfare of the Nagas. However, one must remember that unlike the 1960s when the overground groups were part of the (peace) negotiations, it is the Naga nationalist groups that are part of the negotiations today,” he said.
According to him, the armed conflict continued as the Naga National Council, the undivided armed group, was not consulted prior to the signing of the 16-Point Agreement in 1960 by the Centre and the Nagas. “The UDA wants that all Naga nationalist groups are part of the long-awaited peace accord in order to not repeat the mistake of the past,” Zeliang said.
He said any unwarranted statement made by Naga leaders, which is outside the parameters of ongoing negotiations between the Naga negotiating groups and the Centre, will mislead the Naga people before the draft agreement is formulated by New Delhi and placed before the Naga leaders.
He appreciated the “genuine effort” of the negotiating parties in resolving the issue. “We believe that once the negotiating parties have arrived at a common ground, they will surely consult all apex tribal leaders and the state government before signing the accord.”
He added that one should not believe that the final agreement on this complex and sensitive Naga issue would be inked secretly and imposed on the Nagas.
In a video message, Zeliang said the UDA had conveyed to the central leaders that the Centre should not deviate from what had been committed to the Nagas. He said this sentiment of the Naga negotiating groups was conveyed through former interlocutor RN Ravi and incumbent representative of the Centre for Naga talks, AK Mishra.
The former chief minister also appealed to all right-thinking Naga leaders to refrain from making “loose remarks” on the Naga peace talks based on speculations and hearsays as they caused misunderstanding and confusion among the Nagas.
“We understand that everyone, including lawmakers and public leaders, has the right to speak out for common welfare of the Nagas. However, one must remember that unlike the 1960s when the overground groups were part of the (peace) negotiations, it is the Naga nationalist groups that are part of the negotiations today,” he said.
According to him, the armed conflict continued as the Naga National Council, the undivided armed group, was not consulted prior to the signing of the 16-Point Agreement in 1960 by the Centre and the Nagas. “The UDA wants that all Naga nationalist groups are part of the long-awaited peace accord in order to not repeat the mistake of the past,” Zeliang said.
He said any unwarranted statement made by Naga leaders, which is outside the parameters of ongoing negotiations between the Naga negotiating groups and the Centre, will mislead the Naga people before the draft agreement is formulated by New Delhi and placed before the Naga leaders.
He appreciated the “genuine effort” of the negotiating parties in resolving the issue. “We believe that once the negotiating parties have arrived at a common ground, they will surely consult all apex tribal leaders and the state government before signing the accord.”
He added that one should not believe that the final agreement on this complex and sensitive Naga issue would be inked secretly and imposed on the Nagas.
