Motion for a resolution of urgency on Nagaland

pursuant to article 47 par. 1 of the Rules of Procedure

tabled by Olivier Dupuis and Gianfranco Dell'Alba

on behalf of ARE Group

The European Parliament,

- considering the declaration of the UN Human Rights Committee from the 10th of August 1995 on the situation in Nagaland;

A. considering that the Naga population, originally Mongolic, has immigrated into the territories of Nagaland - a region 70.000 km2 situated among India, Burma and China - more than 1.000 years ago, that these populations were the first settlers in the region and count about 3 millions peoples today;

B. considering that over all their history untill 1881 the Naga populations have maintained their independence;

C. considering that in 1881 the British Empire conquered only a small portion of the territory of Nagaland;

D. considering numerous manifestations and declarations of the Naga populations concerning their will to reassume their independence after the departure of the British;

E. Considering the "Nine-point agreement" of June 1947 negotiated between the representatives of the Naga population and the authorities of the Indian Union, according to which the Naga populations were to enjoy the very large autonomy for a period of ten years, at the end of which the national referendum was to be organized upon the independence or entry into the Indian Union;

F. considering that India did not respect the content of this agreement;

G. considering the declarations made by Mahatma Gandhi on the right of the Naga populations to preserve their independence if it was their desire;

H. considering that despite the promises done by the first Governor General of free India, Shri C. Rajagopalachari, and by the Prime Minister Nehru regarding the Naga populations, India sent its armed forces to Nagaland;

I. considering that the military occupation that followed have caused the deaths of some 150.000 persons between 1954 and 1964;

J. considering that since 1995 Burma employed the military actions to confirm and reinforce the annexion of the eastern regions of Nagaland to Burma;

K. concerned that the armed conflicts between Nagaland and India on one side, and Nagaland and Burma on the other, have been lasting for more than 43 years causing serious harm on the Naga population;

L. considering the preliminary talks for formal negotiations between the Indian Government and representatives of Nagaland that took place in February and May 1997.

M. considering the armistice agreement from 1 August 1997 between the Federation of India and the Nagaland;

1. Encourages the Indian Government to continue its commitment to start, as soon as possible and on the neutral ground, formal negotiations with the representatives of Nagaland;

2. Condemns the position of the Government of Burma that continues to refuse the negotiations with the representatives of the Naga people;

3. Calls on Burma to stop employing military action, and to begin political negotiations with the representatives of the Naga people;

4. Demands that India and Burma allow international observers and the media to visit Nagaland and to move there without restrictions;

5. Agrees to send an ad hoc parliamentary mission to Nagaland as soon as possible.

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the Member States, as well as the Government and Parliament of Indian Union, the Government of Burma, the Secretary General of United Nations and the representatives of the Naga people.