DIMAPUR, May 4 - The Naga Hoho today appealed to the United Nations to intervene against the alleged violation of human rights in Naga-inhabited areas in the North East region of India and northwestern part of Myanmar amidst the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic.
In a letter to UN Secretary General Ant�nio Guterres, Hoho president HK Zhimomi and general secretary K Elu Ndang urged him to recognise the Nagas as indigenous people under the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People.
The letter appreciated Guterres for his �timely appeal� for immediate global ceasefire in all armed conflict areas across the world. The Hoho said it was greatly encouraged by his call to put armed conflict under lockdown and focus together on the true fight against the Covid-19 pandemic with solidarity, unity and hope.
Expressing grave concern over the rapid deterioration of the security situation in Naga-inhabited areas in the North East region of India and northwestern part of Myanmar, it requested the United Nations to intervene to prevent the violation of ceasefire between the Naga armies and the Indian state.
The Hoho alleged that the Indian armed forces are indulging in most provocative, wilful, premeditated and systematic operations against the NSCM (I-M) and other Naga armed groups in the North East region of India and Myanmar with utter disregard to the enforced ceasefire ground rules.
The Hoho urged the UN Secretary General to direct the Government of India to stop its �military operations� and settle the Naga political issue by honouring the framework agreement of August 3, 2015 for an honourable and acceptable political solution.
It also said several joint military operations by the security forces of India and Myanmar are being carried out in the northwestern parts of Naga self-administered zone in Sagaing region of Myanmar bordering India.
�The innocent Naga villagers are living in constant fear and trauma due to war-like situations created by the joint military operations and the covid-19 pandemic,� the letter said.
It added that tension is growing due to deployment of a large number of armed security personnel in many of the Naga villages along the border districts of India and Myanmar.
The Hoho alleged that the Unified Command of Manipur, consisting of the Assam Rifles, Manipur Police and Indian Reserve Battalions, are moving in full combat gear to raid the camps and hideouts of the Naga armies in the border villages.
It said the women Covid-19 vigilantes intercepted and stopped many of these combined forces braving cold weather and incessant rain at the risk of their lives and security as no social distancing can be maintained in such confrontations.
The Hoho said the massive deployment of armed security forces who often camp in the jhum fields has denied the indigenous Naga people living in the border areas the right to livelihood.
�The innocent Naga villagers are now going through the most harrowing time as they fear spread of the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic on the one hand, and harassment, physical torture and trauma unleashed by the war-like situation created by the security forces on the pretext of operation against the NSCN,� it added.
