The Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), in a statement on December 10 stated that multilayered tools have been engaged to silence the Naga’s resolve for freedom. The statement was made on the 75th anniversary of the UN’s declaration of Human Rights.
Following the Naga’s resolve for independence exhibited through the August 14, 1947 declaration and the 16 May, 1951 Plebiscite, the NPMHR stated that the Government of India immediately resorted to the military occupation of the Naga nation. The multilayered tools included the repressive, oppressive and inhuman Armed Forces Special Powers Act, of 1958, that legally empowered the Indian army to “shoot to kill” any Naga on any ground of their making. *Engaging some pro-India Naga literate individuals, some of whom are still alive and wrecking our society, the Government of India has systematically divided our house. The GOI rendered a blow to the very fabric of our political body by engaging some of its members to signing a dictated political arrangement within India such as the 16-Points Agreement. And we still are stunned by it, “ stated the NPMHR in its statement issued by Neingulo Krome, Secretary General.
The organization also pointed out that the Naga struggle for political freedom from the military occupation has been repleted with repressive subjugation and denial and violations of human rights. “For decades together, the dominant Indian military have been systematically disseminating our people not just physically but psychologically to a point where many of our people are now devoid of the basic Naga peoplehood attribute. Forces from within and beyond are in collusion to strip our people of our peoplehood,” stated the NPMHR.
Under the given unbridled political and social situation, the NPMHR claimed that ‘now is the opportune time to assert our rights and reclaim our Naga peoplehood that only will lead to redemption of our Naga Nation from annihilation’. “We assert our peoplehood and reserve our right to live with dignity in the manner we choose to govern ourselves and commune with other Nations on equal footing,” maintained the Organization.
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To this end, the NPMHR asserted and re-affirmed its resolve and Declaration made by Naga people from all over the Naga country from the present imposed states of Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and the present Naga Self-Administered Zones of Myanmar (Burma) during the celebration of NAGA WEEK in 1993, from December 1 to 5, in observing the United Nation’s International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, which states;
- Our Right to live as a people through unification of all Naga areas;
- The Right to be free from the clutches of occupational forces; and,
- The Right to have the United Nations recognition of the Naga country as a Sovereign Nation.
The organization further implored upon the signatory members of the United Nations to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in letter and spirit and ensure peace in the Naga land and the world.
