Jun 12, 2007

Naga: Meetings Held with Assam NGOs


In order to solve shared problems, NGOs from both the Naga and Assam communities have met in an attempt to coordinate their approach to resolving common obstacles.

In order to solve shared problems, NGOs from both the Naga and Assam communities have met in an attempt to coordinate their approach to resolving common obstacles.

Below is an article published by The Telegraph:

Several voluntary organisations of Nagaland and Assam, active at the grassroots level, have decided to work together to resolve all common problems.

A meeting was held here between the Peoples Committee for Peace Initiatives in Assam (PCPIA), a conglomerate of 27 organisations, and Nagaland mass-based groups, which include the apex Naga tribal body, the Naga Hoho, the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights, Naga Mothers Association and the Naga Students Federation. The meeting ended today [11 June 2007].

The groups resolved to uphold their common solidarity for asserting their right to political self-determination. They resolved to oppose all exploitative designs of external forces, including the “divisive aims” of Delhi’s policymakers.

The NGOs accused the Centre of fomenting enmity between the people of the two states, particularly in border areas.

They resolved to make sincere efforts to prevent further misunderstanding and division between the Naga and Assamese communities.

This was the second such meeting among prominent NGOs of Nagaland and Assam. The voluntary organisations of the two states also resolved to settle the long-pending border dispute without any external intervention or interference.

PCPIA chief co-ordinator Dilip Patgiri described the dialogue as an important beginning that will clear the air of misunderstanding and strengthen the amicable ties between the two communities. “We have to live in peace. To do this, such people-to-people dialogue must continue so that amicable relations are restored between the two communities.”

Lachit Bordoloi, another PCPIA member, alleged that there had never been any major conflict between Assam and Nagaland, but at present the Centre was trying hard to create misunderstanding between the two states.

Naga Hoho president Bendangmayang Jamir asserted that before the British arrived, the Assamese and Nagas had strong ties and this historical bond needed to be renewed and strengthened.

The dialogue between the two communities assumes significance against the backdrop of the NSCN (I-M)’s demand for integration of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas.