Shillong, October 28 (MExN): The North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) today urged upon the Government of India and the Naga Political Groups to consider forming a Committee with government and civilian representatives to monitor anticipated violence and human rights violations during the negotiation process and during the period of the signing of agreements
NEDF Consultant, Dr PBM Basaiawmoit, in a press release, spelt put concerns for both the parties to consider.
It urged both parties to respect provisions of Articles - 19, 21, 22, 14 and others of the Constitution of India and allow the civilian population to exercise their freedom of speech, movement, association, peaceful assembly and “not turn to invoking various sections of the IPC and Cr PC and AFSPA to silence the majority who totally are out of sync with the whole process of peace negotiations.”
NEDF further urged the Government of India to respect the UN Declaration on Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP, 2007) and “to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent of the people for deploying so much security forces with frequent frisking by State and central security forces thereby driving a fear psychosis in the minds of the public who have to move here and there for means of livelihood, studies, etc.”
It urged upon the negotiating parties to make the official peace negotiations “very inclusive by inviting representatives of various CSOs from various ethnic communities who reside in the named States.
That the parties encourage and provide space to a substantial number of women to participate in the negotiating process.
It advocated for seeking “opinions of victims of extrajudicial execution, involuntary disappearances, of rape, child soldiers, land mine survivors, and victims of undeclared war between the NSCN and Government forces for the last so many decades and that they be included in the Framework Negotiations.”
NEDF further urged to make it mandatory for para-military forces deployed in Manipur and Nagaland to be under the supervision of the respective State Police including Women Police.
Meanwhile it urged upon the parties that the negotiated Framework be put in the public domain with the inevitability of public referendum within a given time frame “before it is signed, declared and implemented.”
Peace is what we will have, with communities of peace now and always.
