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Wednesday, 29 June 2001

Update on 1700 hrs of June 29, 2001
 
Text of Naga Peoples Convention convened by the United Naga Council at Senapati  on 28 June 2001.

Naga Peoples Convention
Senapati Declaration
28th June, 2001

All the Naga Tribe Hohos in the present State of Manipur and members representing the village grassroot level of all Naga villages present in the Naga Peoples Convention held this day the 28th June, 2001 welcome, appreciate and support the extension of Cease-fire between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) without territorial limit to usher in a process of healing to the land for a lasting PEACE.

The agreement entered into for extension of Cease-fire without territorial limits is an avowed bond and therefore this peace document is inviolable. In the event of withdrawal or violation of this bond, unwanted consequences are apprehended.

The Peoples Convention also declares its commitment for peace and appeal to the neighbouring communities to help resolve the Indo-Naga conflict through understanding the loss and suffering entailed from both sides for the past more than 53 years.

The Convention also appeal to the Government of India to extend its peace overtures to other communities in the region, and also urge the kindred brethren in the region to carefully assess the situation and grasp the chance for peace and justice.

Resolution of the Naga Peoples Convention Held on 28th June 2001, At United Naga Council Head Quarter, Senapati

The Naga Peoples Convention held at the United Naga Council Head Quarter, Senapati on 28th June 2001 in the wake of issues arising from the extension of Indo-Naga Cease-fire for another year beginning August 1st 2001 without territorial limits discussed the development and,

  1. Expressed deep appreciation for the political will of the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) "to proceed with the peace process on substantive issues to bring about a lasting political solution to the issue".

  2. Appreciate the Government of India's recognition for the need of a political solution to the more than 50 years of Indo-Naga conflict. This approach leaving aside the military way solution has ushered in an era of peace in the last more than three years after the Government of India and NSCN ceased fire.

  3. Acknowledge the fact that the hard earned peace process is not only a step towards finding a lasting political solution to the long drawnout Indo-Naga conflict, but a process of bringing an honourable political solution and peace for all the peoples in the region and the Indian Nation.

On the other hand the Convention after deliberating the development of the more than 3 years of the Indo-naga Ceasefire,

  1. Noted with concern, the belligerant and confrontationist approach of the Meitei community in the valley towards the extension of Cease-fire in the Naga areas outside the present Nagaland State including Manipur.

  2. Concluded that the well articulated agenda for the territorial integrity of Manipur by the Meitei Community is a move to deny the rights of the Naga Peoples.

  3. Concluded that any history that promotes intolerance and domination perpetuates racism. hence, any concocted history should be revised.

As a result of these developments the Naga peoples representatives in the Convention decides to convey the following points to the Meitei people in the Imphal valley.

  1. The traditional homeland of the Nagas was arbitrarily divided by the former colonial rulers, which resulted in their traditional homeland being divided and left under different administrative areas of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, as well as between Nation States across international border between India and Burma. And that the just demands of the Nagas to live together as a people was denied to them all these years.

  2. The opposition by the Meiteis and others to the initiative for ushering in peace to the Naga areas in Manipur and elsewhere will only lead to intensification of militarisation which was experienced by the peoples in the region during the past five decades.

  3. Imposition of the innumerable extra-constitutional Acts including the Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1958 in the name of National Security concern have justified the ruthless suppression of the nagas for the past 50 years leading to large scale violation of human rights.

  4. The Nagas have nowhere at any point of time given their allegiance to the Meiteis or their Maharajas to decide their future, orally or through an agreement. Neither in history were the Nagas given land by the Meiteis nor by their Maharajas. The Nagas were the first settlers in the land where they are today.

The Naga peoples convention after discussing and considering the issues arising from the extension of Cease-Fire without territorial limits resolve,

  1. To call upon the Government of India to handle with wisdom the agreement reached between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and enter into a meaningful dialogue inorder to enhance the peace process for bringing about a lasting political solution to the long drawn out Indo-Naga conflict.

  2. To move the Naga Hoho to appeal to the Government of India to lift the ban on various Naga Organisations inorder to facilitate a conducive atmosphere for peoples democratic discussion in the peace process.

  3. To appeal the Meitei community to interact with the Naga Peoples by visiting the Naga areas and put in their effort in understanding the history and struggle of the Naga Peoples.

  4. To form a Co-ordinating Committee on Cease-Fire (CCCF) to be constituted by members from the tribes, student bodies, women organisations and also includes individuals nominated by the United Naga Council. The committee shall function under the aegis of UNC and All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) as Convenor and Co-convenor respectively.

  5. To endorse the CCCF to draw out the line of action for the smooth and peaceful implementation of programmes that will be conducive to the peace process. The CCCF will also commit itself to negate any move from any quarter that is detrimental to the peace initiative.

  6. To call upon the State Government to look into the reported coercive steps taken by the Meitei Organizations in the valley to force the Nagas and other non-Meitei communities to tow their line.

  7. To call upon the Central Government and Government of Manipur to support actions to provide security and protection to the Nagas in and around Imphal valley and other sensitive hill districts.

  8. That no Naga elected representatives in the Manipur Legislative Assembly and the MPs have the mandate to represent the Nagas if their views and statements does not reflect the views of the Naga Peoples.

  9. To implement the following programmes in support of the extension of Indo-Naga Cease-fire without territorial limits,

    a) organized a solemn peace rally in all the Naga Areas of the hill district of Manipur on the 4th of July.

    b) To send a delegation to the Prime Minister of India to convey the decisions taken by the Naga Peoples in the convention.

    c) Every Naga household in the Naga areas of the district headquarters in Manipur will hoist a white flag as a symbol of welcoming PEACE from the 4th of July onwards.

    d) To appeal to the churches and other religious Naga Community to leave aside the second Sabbath/Sunday of July for fasting and thanksgiving.

    e) Each household of a Naga village will contribute Rupees 10/- alongwith the statistics of the village within the coming two months.

Sd/-
(K.S. PAUL LEO)
President,
United Naga Council, Manipur

Sd/-
(P.A. THEKO)
Convenor,
Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (Manipur Sector)

Sd/-
(MS. ARAM PAMEI)
General Secretary,
Naga Women's Union, Manipur

Sd/-
(SAMSON REMEI)
Speaker,
All Naga Students' Association, Manipur

Sd/-
(R. JAMES)
President,
Naga Peoples Organisation, Senapati

 


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