Organizations support Ao Senden stance on making ‘competencies’ public
Several Mokokchung based civil society organizations have expressed concern over the NSCN (IM)’s statements against Dr. SC Jamir even as they supported the apex Ao Senden’s stand that the competencies that are being negotiated with the Government of India based on the Framework Agreement be made known to every one without further delay. The Ungma Senso Mungdang, the Ongpangkong Students’ Conference, the Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem and the Watsü Mungdang have, in separate press statements, aired concern over the NSCN(IM)’s statements against SC Jamir.
Ungma Senso Mungdang
Ungma Senso Mungdang (USM) said that it is profoundly disturbed by the recent accusations and claims leveled against Dr. SC Jamir by the NSCN (I-M) about statements made on the Naga political situation. “As the last living Naga political icon who has observed the course of the Naga political struggle, it is only fitting that he speaks the truth, and whatever he says represents his personal opinion and views as a true bona fide citizen of Nagaland,” I. Tiajungba Tatar and Senmoaba Imsong, president and general secretary of Ungma Senso Mungdang said in a press release.
USM said that the accusation made by the NSCN (I-M) on Dr. SC Jamir of “scheming with the Centre to destroy the very foundation of the Naga political identity that the Naga people have shed blood, sweat and tears over the decades,” is a highly cruel statement and cannot be dismissed lightly.
USM added that it is particularly irked by the statement made by the NSCN (I-M) that Dr. SC Jamir is a “destructive person” and that he has a “fondness for creating bloodshed.” Describing Jamir as a true Naga citizen who has given his life for the greater good and served at the highest levels of government, USM said he cannot be described as “destructive.”
USM also said that the statements made by Dr. SC Jamir on the Naga political issue has been “openly voiced out by many other Naga politicians and political figures on various occasions” and added that it was perplexed as to why the NSCN (I-M) wants to single out Dr. SC Jamir. “Will the personal accusations and counter-allegations, as well as the verbal battle, lead to a solution?” it asked.
It was also mentioned that the USM has been contributing in “every possible means even in the darkest of time” since the “conception of the Naga political aspiration” and that they long for an early Naga political solution.
Declaring support to the Ao Senden’s stand, USM also added that the ‘competencies’ that are being negotiated with the Government of India based on the Framework Agreement be made known to every one without further delay.
Saying that the NSCN (I-M) has been leveling accusations against Dr. SC Jamir for a long time, USM said that Jamir has “handled them with dignity” and added, “If our leader is subjected to any form of harm or threat, the Ungma Senso Mungdang will not remain a silent spectator.”
Ongpangkong Students’ Conference (OKM)
Saying that the recent “charges and claims” made by the NSCN (I-M) against Dr. SC Jamir about statements made on the Naga political situation have deeply disturbed them, the Ongpangkong Students’ Conference (OKM) stated that every individual has the right to free speech and expression as a genuine Naga and Indian citizen. “Dr. SC Jamir’s utterances on Naga political matters are his own opinions and beliefs, and the OKM believes that his statements are not intended to do any damage,” OKM said in a statement issued by its president Limatongzuk Jamir and assistant general secretary Supongmeren Jamir.
OKM said that the NSCN (I-M)’s “defamation of Dr. SC Jamir’s name, branding him a traitor and a destructive person, is an extremely cruel statement which should not be discarded lightly” and called it “irresponsible” to label someone like Jamir as “destructive and harmful.”
“The OKM feels that the war of words, accusations, and counter-allegations will not result in a beneficial outcome, rather it will only weaken and create more division among the Nagas. The OKM urges all stakeholders working for a peaceful Naga settlement to strive diligently for a timely political solution for the Nagas,” it concluded.
Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT)
MTLT has, meanwhile, said that it is much distraught over the recent development in the Indo-Naga political issue where the NSCN (IM)’s constant attack on Dr. SC Jamir is gaining much “unhealthy” publicity. “This animosity between a Naga political organization and Dr. SC Jamir is not a healthy development in our Naga people’s quest for an honorable and acceptable solution,” MTLT said, and urged for a “broad-based consensus based on mutual respect and vision for the Naga people.”
MTLT also asserted that the “present acrimony between NSCN (IM) and Dr. Jamir is a sad and unwelcome episode, especially at this crucial juncture of the Naga political history, which might destroy the decades of peace parleys between the Naga political groups and the Government of India.”
“The MTLT declares that every Naga is a stakeholder in this Naga political issue and every Naga, more so a leader in the personality of Dr. SC Jamir has every right to speak out and share opinions about the Naga issue. Stifling a person’s political opinion at this juncture, especially when all the issues are hopefully on the verge of being finalized, is something which the MTLT finds very disconcerting and unwarranted in a democratic society like the Nagas,” the MTLT press note read.
“It is our hope that all the stakeholders, especially those at the negotiating table and also those whose lives will be determined because of this much awaited Indo-Naga political problem, to show maturity and foresight as we endeavour for a better future for the Naga people,” MTLT said.
The MTLT statement appended by Imnaonen Pongen, president, and Imkongchuba Pongen, general secretary, also said that MTLT has resolved to endorse the stance of the Ao Senden, the apex organisation of the Ao community, calling for a stop of this ‘blame game’ on May 22, 2022.
Watsü Mungdang
The Watsü Mungdang in a press release stated that it was “flustered and disturbed by the recent Indo-Naga political talk where veteran Dr SC Jamir has been singled out” and trying ways and means to make him the “scapegoat.”
“A political icon and signatory of the 16 point agreement and a leader of his stature and on invitation by GoI, it is only befitting to speak his mind on the Naga issue,” the Watsü Mungdang press release said. The accusations made by NSCN (IM) on Dr SC Jamir is very destructive, Watsü Mungdang said, and added that such accusations will only bring division and commotion among the Nagas.
The Watsü Mungdang also said that it fully supports the Ao Senden stand. “It is our hope and prayer that the political settlement is made at the earliest without any discord or division among the Nagas,” it added.