Nagaland CM wants to see Naga issued solved during ‘our lifetime’

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Pointing out that there were already five NNC and four NSCN factions, the chief minister said it was already difficult to bring them together to present a single voice and opinion. “At present, we have five NNC groups and four NSCN groups whose goals are the same, but it is difficult to bring them together to present a single voice and opinion to the Government of India,” Zeliang said.

The chief minister, who identified the absence of a resolution as the “main stumbling block” for all-round development of Nagaland, also wondered what prevented the different factions of political groups from coming together for an early solution. While the government of India had signed a ceasefire agreement with NSCN(IM) in 1997, the NSCN(K) had last year abrogated the ceasefire it had signed in 2001. On Monday, New Delhi had extended its ceasefire agreement with the NSCN faction of Kitovi Zhimomi and Neokpao Konyak for another year effective from April 28.

Referring to how all 60 members of the state assembly had come together and become part of his government, Zeliang also appealed to different factions to come together in the interest of a permanent solution to the Naga issue. “When erstwhile political opponents can come together for the cause of the Naga problem, why can’t the Naga political groups come together? Why can’t all sections of the Naga society come together for an early resolution of the problem which has been the main stumbling block for peace, harmony and all-round development in our society?” he asked.

The chief minister made these observations at the silver jubilee celebration of the Phom People’s Council at Longleng, about 200 kms east of Kohima on Sunday. The Phoms are among 16 major tribes of Nagaland, has a population of about 1.6 lakh, constituting about 7 per cent of the state’s total population.

Asserting that the Naga political problem was not a factional or tribal problem, the chief minister said it was a “common problem” of the Nagas. “We have also made it very clear that the Naga political problem is not a factional or tribal problem, nor is it a problem of Nagas living in a particular administrative jurisdiction, but a common problem of Nagas as a whole since sacrifices and contributions have been made to the Naga cause over the six decades or so by all Nagas,” he said.

Zeliang also appreciated that various civil society groups like the Naga Students’ Federation, Naga Hoho and Naga Mothers’ Association had recently come together to work for an early solution. “For the first time in many years, civil societies such as NSF, ENSF, NMA, Naga Hoho and the ENPO have come together to work out an early solution. The Naga political problem can be solved only through the active participation of all sections of the society including Church organizations,” he said.