Questions all 24 NPGs in Nagaland on their policy for Myanmar Nagas
Mokokchung, 23 March (MTNews): The Rising People’s Party (RPP) expressed concerns on Saturday regarding the Myanmar military regime’s plans to conscript Naga youths as reported by the NSCN-K (YA). Calling attention to the underlying issues contributing to this situation, the RP noted the inevitability of the crisis and questioned the stance of Naga political groups in Nagaland regarding the Nagas of Myanmar.
“The claim of the NSCN-K (Yung Aung) that the Burmese army is going to conscript Naga youths in Burma is alarming. However, after having scrutinized the short-sighted Naga policy in Burma, this situation was inevitable,” the RPP said in a press release.
The RPP also stated some NSCN factions in Burma and Nagaland have “a tacit understanding with the military Junta” instead of supporting the People’s Defence Force (PDF).
“At a time when the entire ethnic peoples including the majority Burmans are with the Pro-Democracy Forces (PDF) fighting the Junta, the Nagas in Burma have lost their national vision. Instead of strengthening the PDF – like the Chins, Shans, Kachins and other ethnic groups have done, it’s alarming that the Naga armed factions in Burma have chosen to side with the Junta,” the RPP observed.
The RPP went on to say that the danger with this “short-sighted approach” is that when the PDF eventually wins the civil war in Myanmar, “the Nagas with their zero contribution – or rather anti PDF stand – will be inevitably sidelined or marginalized when the future federal structure of Burma eventually materializes.”
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According to the RPP, it has been brought to light that the Junta has already taken census of men and women in Naga Self-Administered Zone and other Naga inhabited areas, and that forced conscription is only a matter of time.
“The Burmese Nagas are in a dire situation and it’s imperative that Naga CSOs and armed groups formulate a national vision for Burmese Nagas against the context of civil war in that country,” the RPP pointed out.
The RPP also questioned “all the 24 NPGs stationed in Nagaland as to what is their policy as far as the Nagas of Burma are concerned.”
“The Burmese Nagas are possibly facing the worst times akin to what Nagas in India faced during the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. When the Burmese Nagas have already sacrificed so much for the Naga national struggle, what is the stand of the 24 NPGs regarding these people?” the RPP asked.
“Should the national struggle be reduced to taxing the common man in Nagaland to the point of exhaustion, or should the NPGs do something concrete for the aspirations of a forgotten people during their time of existential crisis?” the RPP further questioned.
