NPMHR of Nagaland observes Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Kohima: The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), in collaboration with the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), observed the 10th Anniversary of UNDRIP and the 25th Anniversary of AIPP yesterday at Kohima, which commemorates the annual International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples under the theme ‘Reaffirming our Roots, Embracing our Future’. In a press statement, the NPMHR, on the occasion, expressing solidarity with the indigenous fraternity worldwide called for the need to be prepared to face “challenges that are inimical to us as a people.” “We are today faced with many challenges which are trying times for our people, which come in the form of new governance systems, militarization, market forces and developmental aggressions.” The statement stated that the organisation maintained that the process of alienation is rapidly taking place, which include our cultural systems or indigenous knowledge systems, therefore, only through the universal right to self-determination, it is possible for indigenous peoples, including Nagas, to assert their rights over their land, the political, economic, social and traditions. NPMHR made a clarion call on every Naga to solemnly review and reaffirm where they all began, the very foundation and recognition of the Naga peoples as a nation, and, more importantly, work in unison even as they journeyed towards the threshold of their political future, it said. (UNI)