IMPHAL, April 23 (Newmai News Network): The Naga Peoples` Front (NPF), Manipur State Unit has urged the National Socialist Council of Nagalim – Isaac-Muivah (NSCN-IM) leadership and the Assam Rifles to withdraw from their standoff position in the larger interest of the public and for return of peace in the region.
General secretary, NPF, Manipur state unit S Kho John has stated that it is going to be about a century that the Naga people have undergone such circumstances as human rights violations, provocations and suppressions in their hometowns and villages. The Front further stated that among the paramilitary forces, the Assam Rifles in particular have been operating in the North East region, particularly in the Naga areas since the introduction of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 and series of counter violence have resulted in heavy human casualties affecting everyone including Indian soldiers, civilians and Naga underground cadres before the ceaseless declaration. However, with the ongoing ceasefire and the peace process, violence has been drastically reduced to a great extend, the press note stated.
The NPF thanked the wisdom and farsightedness of Indian political and military leadership who believed in political solution and initiated a meaningful dialogue, which led to the signing of the first ceasefire agreement between the government of India and the Naga underground leaders in 1964, which unfortunately ended in a deadlock due to the rigid stance adopted by different parties.
The second ceasefire agreement was again signed in 1997 during the prime minister ship of I.K.Gujral with great expectation from the Naga people, and since then the dialogue has been continuing till date for the last 15 years involving many personalities as interlocutors appointed by the Indian government, the press note stated.
The initiation of political dialogue began from the time of Indira Gandhi in 1964 and continued with the successive government led by (L) P.V.Narasimha Rao, Deve Gowda, I.K.Gujral, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh till date, and it sufficiently indicates that there is a problem and it needs some serious concern and efforts from both the parties including all right-thinking people and organizations, added NPF.
“Therefore, at this critical juncture, the NPF Manipur State Unit strongly feels that the need of the hour is not to hamper and complicate this crucial negotiation that is delicately on track, but help build confidence and mutual trust between the two concerned parties so as to enable them to take a bold decision for any political solution relevant at the given time. The ongoing peace process is a result of a hard-earned effort of both the political leadership of the country”, the NPF said.
The NPF appealed to the NSCN-IM leadership to wisely avoid any such temptation of retaliation in the ongoing impasse, while, at the same time, it also appealed to the Assam Rifles to refrain from unnecessary over-indulgence, and expressed belief that Delhi is capable enough to look into the matter and deal with judiciously for an immediate solution.
