Rights body urges PM to free Naga political prisoners

The Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), while seeking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention in expediting the ‘ Indo-Naga‘ peace talks, also demanded the release of all Naga “political prisoners”.

In a memorandum submitted to Singh on Monday, the NPMHR said the ‘Indo-Naga’ ceasefire and peace talks have been in process since 1997. The Naga people have been waiting patiently for a solution that will end the cycle of violence and bloodshed that took place before the started of the peace talks, the memo said. “However, almost 16 years since the ceasefire, no end or honorable solution is in sight,” the memo added.
The memo said the “Indian state forces” and their various agencies were functioning with total impunity, which is against the spirit of the ceasefire in which Indian representatives and Naga leaders are collectively working towards an honorable solution for all concerned.
The NPMHR added that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had on September 27, 2010, “illegally” arrested Ningkhan Anthony Shimray, head of “foreign affairs” of the NSCN (IM) from the Kathmandu international airport on the allegation that he was to procure arms to wage war against India. Shimray was on his way to New Delhi on the invitation of the NSCN-IM leadership to participate in the ‘Indo-Naga’ peace talks, which was scheduled to be held on September 29, 2010 in New Delhi, the memo said.
The NIA and other agencies have, in many other instances, arrested and attempted to apprehend important senior Naga leaders, even going to the extent of summoning such leaders to the NIA office.
“The attempt to isolate and segregate the leaders, who represent the aspirations of the Naga people for peace, forces us to question whether New Delhi has any sincere intent to arrive at any solution with the Nagas,” the NPMHR said.
“We urge you and your office to expedite the peace process. Further, we urge that political prisoners like Ningkhan Anthony Shimray be released immediately in the greater interest of peace and respect for rights and dignity,” the memo said.

Source: The Times of India 13/5/2013: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Rights-body-urges-PM-to-free-Naga-political-prisoners/articleshow/20036301.cms