Source: The Sangai Express
Dimapur, February 08 (NNN):
The NSCN-IM and the Dima Halam Daoga (DHD) are once again at loggerheads over Dimapur.
Reacting to the reports published in today�s edition of The Telegraph which carried the claims of the DHD that Dimapur belonged to the Dimasas, NSCN-IM leader V Horam informed Newmai News Network that history "reveals everything" and added that "Dimapur has been the land of the Nagas".
The Dimasa outfit�s chairman Dilip Nunisa had told the Guwahati based daily demanding that the commercial hub of Nagaland be returned to the Dimasas.
"Th Muivah has said that the Nagas respect the rights of others.
By that token, the Nagas must rightfully return Dimapur to the Dimasas," The Telegraph quoted DHD chairman Dilip Nunisa as saying.
However, NSCN-IM deputy home minister V Horam said today that "the Nagas never said that Dimasas had never lived in Dimapur but they had lived at one point of time but that does not mean that Dimapur belongs to them".
V Horam further said that the Dimasas had come and lived in Dimapur at one time and they left by themselves and were not chased away by the Nagas.
"The land of the Nagas include not only the plain of Dimapur alone but vast plain stretches in present State of Assam," claimed Horam.
Three years ago the Dimasa outfit had raised the same claim.
The NSCN-IM leader also said that Isak Chisi Swu was very much in New Delhi and he had participated in the recently concluded talks with the GoI.
Meanwhile, the NSCN (IM) termed as "historic" its meeting with members of the Indian civil societies held at Samrat Hotel in Delhi on February 7 where its collective leadership, members of Naga civil societies, journalists, students and faculties from three central universities in Delhi came together to explore common interests and interacted with one another, according to Nagaland Post.
According to a press communiqu� issued by NSCN (IM) MIP deputy secretary A Akaho Assumi, Isak Chishi Swu, during his interaction with the participants, appealed to the Indians to act as think-tank for both the parties involved in the political negotiations and play a balancing role towards resolving the issue.
Pointing out India�s �lofty� declaration "Satyamav Jayate" (truth triumphs), the NSCN (IM) chairman stressed that it would be difficult for both the parties to understand each other without admitting the truth.
It said Swu also appreciated the Govt of India for recognizing the unique history and situation of the Nagas.
Muivah while interacting with the groups blamed the then Indian leaderships for the over fifty years of bloody armed confrontations and said initially instead of trying to understand the Nagas, India insulted and cracked down on the Nagas using force.
The NSCN (IM) general secretary said the Nagas had responded positively and signed the armistice only after the Indian Army Generals admitted that military solution was no longer possible.
Muivah appealed to the Indians to place themselves in the position of the Nagas to understand the issue in correct perspective.
"Nandita Haksar thanked the NSCN for providing the unique opportunity and said she had felt a deep humility because she knew many of the NSCN members present were brutally tortured and jailed in India but despite this they had been so warm and hospitable", it said.
Ms Haksar, it said, also announced the formation of an Indo-Naga Friendship Forum which would dedicate itself to bringing a deeper political understanding between the Indians and the Nagas.
She further said the Naga national movement had strengthened the Indian democracy.
Nandita Haksar is a human rights expert and activist fighting for the cause of the Nagas rights.
She is based in New Delhi.