Representatives of several political parties, civil society groups, human rights bodies and leadership of tribal organizations from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat extended their solidarity with the cause of peace being advocated by the NPMHR.
TFM Desk
In continuation of the ‘Save the Peace’ initiative and also commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Naga people’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) organized a meeting in Delhi, on December 9, 2022. The meeting expressed concern at the lack of any significant progress in the peace talks since the signing of the Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015.
The house further noted that there have been attempts to retract from the intended spirit of the peace process when attempts were made to dictate the peace process from the prism of law-and-order concern rather than as a process for resolution of Naga political issue, said a release issued by NPMHR.
The meeting resolved that the “stagnation and reversal of Indo-Naga peace process is detrimental to peace in the Naga areas. Given the geo-strategic significance of the Northeastern region of the country mishandling Indo-Naga peace process is unwarranted”.
The participants of the meeting urged the Prime Minister to personally ensure that the peace talks are successfully concluded as per the provisions of the Framework Agreement. “We believe that it is appropriate that the Indo-Naga peace process, which was initiated by the highest political leadership of the negotiating party, must be concluded accordingly at the Prime Ministerial level”, said the release.
The meeting was participated by individuals and organizations from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Assam, West Bengal, Manipur and Nagaland, including Parliamentarians & ex-Parliamentarians, Legislators, lawyers, Academics, human rights defenders & activists, political parties, Media persons, women leaders, community leaders, students etc.
They discussed the current state of Indo-Naga peace process. “We were very happy that parliamentarians attended the meeting and assured their help in facilitating the Indo-Naga peace process”, said NPMHR.
The meeting began with a brief talk by Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel of India in the Government of India. He said that while he was not conversant with the details of the current Indo-Naga peace process, “yet as a human being and as a tribal he understood the value of peace and dignity”.
Former Parliamentarians DP Roy and Kirp Chaliha also attended the meeting and suggested that the Nagas should meet the Members of Parliament, especially that of the opposition to make them aware the current situation of the Indo-Naga peace process.
Representatives of several political parties, civil society groups, human rights bodies and leadership of tribal organizations from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat extended their solidarity with the cause of peace being advocated by the NPMHR. Speakers from Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh expressed that the Framework Agreement has the potential to lay the foundation of lasting peace in Nagaland.