The Naga National Council (NNC) has expressed strong opposition to India’s push for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
According to reports by Northeast Today, a press note from senior leaders of the NNC cited India’s “forceful occupation of Naga country for the last more than sixty long years in complete violation of the United Nations Human Right and the Right to Self-Determination, the North East peoples problem, Jammu & Kashmir political problem, Punjab human problem, the mainland Maoist problem of India also the imposition of Draconian Laws like Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) and Disturbed Area Act (DAA) of military rule in the region” as reasons for their opposition.
These political and human problems should be settled peacefully and permanently, the NNC urged, before India becomes a permanent member of the UNSC. India, it stated “suppresses and oppresses these people…”
It stated that until the Government of India settles these issues in totality, “no nation or people should support” India’s move for permanent membership in the UNSC “since they suppressed and oppressed the political rights of these above mentioned people and Nations for so long.”
The note was appended by Eshithung Lotha, Senior Advisor, NNC; Shanremo Lotha, Midan Peyu; Zhavilhu Angami, President, Angami Regional Council; Kiumukam Yimchungru, President, Yimchungru Regional Council; Keorun Yimchungru, ‘senior most’ NNC member, Gen (rtd) Merentoba Ao, Senior Advisor, NNC; Mejinshilu Ao, Central Executive Council Member, NNC; and Rongsensashi Ao, Ao Sub Regional Council.
The senior NNC members, “who stood for the rights of the Naga people from the inception of our political movement till date” appealed to the United Nations not to accept India as a permanent member in the USC till they “solve and settle all these political and human problems of this sub-continent for the best interest of the UN for world peace.”