|
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,
-
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".
-
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.
-
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,
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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,
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
|
View
My Guestbook
Sign
My Guestbook
Send feedback!
|
