Vested interests hit peace: Nagaland guv
RAVI’S MESSAGE CAME DAYS BEFORE ROUND OF MEETINGS TO THRASH OUT A FINAL AGREEMENT FOR THE DECADES-OLD NAGA ISSUE ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN NEW DELHI NEXT WEEK
GUWAHATI: Nagaland governor R N Ravi on Saturday blamed “vested interests” for misappropriating dividends of peace and not allowing them to reach the state’s people. He said “waves of positive change” sweeping other parts of the country seem to have bypassed Nagaland.
“When the security forces and Naga armed groups agreed to suspend operations against each other paving way for a political settlement, the legitimate expectation of the people of Nagaland was dividends of peace—freedom from fear of guns, better health, better education, better infrastructure, better livelihood opportunities, an atmosphere to dream and an eco-system to pursue their dreams,” said Ravi, who is also the interlocutor for the ongoing Naga peace talks, in his Independence Day message.
“Incongruously, a deep entrenched network of vested interests has emerged during the period which has misappropriated the dividends of peace and didn’t allow them to reach the people.” In June this year, Ravi had written a letter to chief minister Neiphiu Rio mentioning how armed gangs have been running extortion rackets and spreading fear while the state machinery had failed to rein them in. Though he didn’t name anyone, the Governor was referring to the various rebel outfits in the state including NSCN-IM who were collecting ‘taxes’ from the public. The letter had peeved NSCN-IM as they were unhappy with Ravi terming them as armed gangs.
Ravi’s message came days before another round of meetings to thrash out a final agreement for the decades-old Naga issue are scheduled to begin in New Delhi next week. Senior National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-muivah), or NSCN-IM, and Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) leaders are expected to take part in the meetings. NSCN-IM on Tuesday demanded Ravi’s removal as the interlocutor while accusing him of creating hurdles in the final settlement of the issue. It said the peace process is in a state of “simmering tension” and reaching “tipping point” because of Ravi. NNPGS and seven other outfits, which are part of the talks, have opposed the demand for Ravi’s removal.
NSCN-IM chief Thuingaleng Muivah on Friday reiterated the demand for a separate Naga flag and constitution.
NSCN-IM, which is the biggest and oldest Naga rebel outfit, had declared a ceasefire and has been in peace talks with the Centre since 1997 and signed a Framework Agreement in 2015, which was to be the basis for a final deal on the long-pending Naga political issue. Incidentally, Ravi, as interlocutor was also a signatory to the Framework Agreement.