Nehru downgraded Tuensang: Muivah

TUENSANG, JUL 3 (NPN):

NSCN (I-M) general secretary, Th. Muivah arrives at Tuensang on Saturday. (NP)

  NSCN (I-M) general secretary, Th. Muivah on Saturday said Tuensang area which was a freeland was downgraded by former prime minister Late Pt. Nehru as "no man's land" and described it as "wrong" on the part of Nehru. He said Nehru called Tuensang by that name as he did not want the land to be called Naga land but a land that anybody could claim. "This is disrespect to the Nagas and to the six tribes of Tuensang which must be corrected. We have to understand our history and our right that we are the master of ourselves," Muivah said according to statement from the MIP of the NSCN (I-M).
He was addressing a mammoth gathering here at town hall on Saturday.
Muivah mentioned the names of NNC leaders like Phizo, Imkongmeren, Kughato Sukhai, Khodao Yanthan and others who saved the Nagas.
"Had NNC not taken the right decision at the right time the Naga would have been a lost people," he said. The MIP said Muivah narrated the historical fact of how the Nagas proved Nehru wrong by standing against the mighty force of India and how the realization on the futility of seeking military solution came to take hold of India when Chief of Indian Army Gen. Choudhury openly declared, "military solution is no longer possible."
He reminded the Tuensang people that Nehru was a person who showed no respect to the historical rights of the Nagas. He said Nehru was never able to crush the Nagas despite sending 200,000 troops into Naga areas.
Muivah also talked on the "tragic history" of NNC and Shillong Accord and how Phizo proved himself wrong by not condemning the Shillong Accord because it was not the decision of the Naga nation. As Shillong Accord was the conflicting point in Naga history Muivah explained in detail and how the nation was saved, the MIP said.
Muivah called upon the people of Tuensang to stand firm on the process of reconciliation which he said would bring a positive response in the near future.
Short speeches were also delivered by various tribal presidents including, Chang Khulie Setshang, Yimchungrü Tribal Council, Khiamnuingan Tribal Council, United Sangtam Likhum Bumji and GB's Federation Tuensang district.
The programme was chaired by ENPO vice president, K. Khaming while the invocation was pronounced by secretary Pastor Union Tuensang Town.

Chang questions GoI sincerity

DIMAPUR, JUL 3(EMN): Lone Lok Sabha MP from the State CM Chang has questioned the sincerity of the Government of India in finding a solution to the decades-old Naga political issue.

Talking about the ongoing peace talks between the GoI and the NSCN-IM, the MP said thirteen years is a long time for any government to address any issue. He was interacting with news persons at his residence in Dimapur on Saturday morning.
He further said he would be bringing up the issue in Parliament at the upcoming monsoon session to press for a time frame and the nature of package in outcome of the talks. Reiterating that thirteen years is a long time for any issue to be settled, Chang said the Government of India would be answerable to the Nagas if it fails to address the issue within the given time frame.
On the development front, he said new projects would be considered after completion of the ongoing projects while quoting the secretary of the DoNER Ministry. The DoNER is reportedly not willing to sanction new projects in the State unless the ongoing developmental activities undertaken by the State government are completed. With regard to railway connectivity, the Lok Sabha MP informed that he had made it clear to the Railway Minister for Simalguri to Naginimora rail link as well as Amguri to Tuli link. The same was assured by the Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee in her railway budget speech in Parliament and Chang was optimistic that the assurance would be accomplished.
Meanwhile, Chang has appealed to Union Communication Minister A Raja to revoke one tenure of BSNL officers posted in Nagaland and restore the earlier tenure of two years in the greater interest of BSNL and the people of Nagaland. In a letter to Raja, the MP said after the declaration of one tenure the mobile service in Nagaland has deteriorated as the network is sleeping and always shows error, network busy etc.
Stating that the reduced tenure of the officers has started affecting the basic telecom service in the State, he said one year tenure will only serve the interest of the officers while the interest of the people will totally be ignored. The MP further cautioned that if the tenure is not increased to two to three years, there will be serious problem which may go out of control.