DIMAPUR, Feb 28 - Naga Mothers� Association (NMA) and United Naga Tribes Association of Border Areas (UNTABA) submitted separate memoranda to Centre�s interlocutor for the Naga talks, RN Ravi, expressing their dismay over the ongoing negotiations on the Naga political issue. Ravi concluded his two-day visit to Nagaland on Wednesday to brief Naga organisations on the status of the talks.
In the memorandum signed by its president, Abei-� Meru and joint secretary, Malsawmthangi Leyri, the NMA called it �most unfortunate� that the Government of India failed to facilitate a meeting point among different Naga political groups. The association explained the reason for boycotting the meeting with Ravi due to the alleged �insincerity� of the Centre in resolving the Naga political issue.
The NMA said it would not be in a position to listen to �another litany of updates� as long as the Government of India does not acknowledge the role that the Naga mothers have played in trying to bridge differences amongst �our armed brothers and bringing a cessation of hostilities�.
The NMA also expressed shock that the Government of India, instead of withdrawing NIA cases against government officials, are further harassing them by trying to shift their cases outside Nagaland.
The UNTABA, on the other hand, demanded that the Government of India should fulfil the promises made earlier by bringing back to the Naga people all the transferred reserve forests in Assam and amalgamating all the contiguous Naga areas with Nagaland in the �impending political settlement�.
The UNTABA representation signed by its president, Hukavi T Yeputhomi and general secretary, Imsumongba Pongen cited the agreements signed earlier in this respect.
�In the impending political settlement for which you have been working tirelessly these few years, if the commitments and promises made to the Naga people by the Government of India are again sidelined, then the Naga people will not accept any political settlement that you may be working on,� the representation said.
