Naga Human Rights Body Decries Sufferings Inflicted by Indian Armed Forces

Kohima, March 15, 2020:

The Naga People's Movement for Human Rights, at the end of its General Assembly (NPMHR) held on March 14, resolved to "continue in our struggle to arrive at our rightful place." The Naga body further chided the Indian Armed personnel for inflicting suffering upon the Nagas during the course of the separatist movement.

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The organization, that has condemned the alleged sufferings inflicted upon the tribal Naga populace by the Indian armed forces, in a "reaffirmation and solidarity" note issued at the end of the Assembly wrote thus: "The story of the Naga people's struggle for independence has been shared with people and organizations in the sub-continent and across the globe. Their sufferings in the hands of the Indian military for over seven decades have also found place in the hearts of many people and organizations who truly understand human suffering."

The organization has also lamented the sufferings on the Nagas still being inflicted by the army. "(...)our story still goes on and our suffering continues without any respite, inspite of ceasefire agreements and political negotiations."

Extending solidarity with the people who have stood by the Naga populace, the human rights body wrote, "Your commitment to humane values and to alleviating human sufferings have enabled you to empathise our situation and stand by us. We are truly strengthened in our resolve to continue in our struggle to arrive at our rightful place and to partner with struggling and suffering people of the world in their search for just future."

The movement's reaffirmation to keep fighting for human rights in Nagaland comes at a time when the peace process between the Government of India and the Naga side led by the Isaak-Muivah faction of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim has hit a roadblock.

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Recently, the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) has strongly condemned the remarks made by Governor of Nagaland (and Government interlocutor) R N Ravi wherein he accused the group of misinterpreting the Framework Agreement with “new and mischievous interpretations”. Ravi had also alleged that Nagaland’s largest insurgent group is “not prepared for a settlement.”

The NSCN, via a statement, has condemned Ravi’s remarks as “immature” by reiterating that it does not consider the Framework Agreement as “contentious” or ambiguous but one in which the foundation for solving the “decades old Indo-Naga conflict”. Further the insurgent body claimed that the agreement was  “each other’s history and sharing of sovereignty or sovereign powers between two entities.”

Further NSCN (I-M) asserted that during the negotiations Ravi agreed that the proposed Pan Naga Hoho (PNH) shall be part of the political Agreement and recognized that integration of all Naga areas as the “legitimate rights”, and expressed surprise the Ravi had termed the framework as “contentious”.

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