Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights
http://www.npmhr.org
The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) was founded on 9th September in 1978, based on the Universal belief that "violation of human rights in any part of the world is a threat to the human race as a whole and protection and promotion of human rights anywhere is a concern for all". NPMHR is one of the only Human Rights platform in the occupied Naga areas of India and Burma. The formation of NPMHR was necessitated by the massive violations and suppression of human rights, in the midst of the political conflict between the Naga peoples and the states of India and Burma. It was also a period when the people of India were suffering immensely under state suppression in the form of the Emergency (National Emergency of India, 1975-77); and a general awareness of human and democratic rights was being created and debated upon. It was in this atmosphere that many people in India began to receive the Naga opinion with an open mind, during which it has been formed after much debate and discussion by a group of Naga students in Delhi. Over the years NPMHR has grown into a mass movement and has initiated a number of campaigns and launched a series of activities in the local and international level.
NPMHR thus emerged to give an organized expression to the Naga peoples fight for their rights while exposing to the people of India and Burma and the world, the imperialist policy that the ruling classes of India and Burma have been pursuing through State machinery against the Nagas. The Nagas have throughout their history maintained their political and cultural independence. The policy of treating a 'Political Issue' as mere 'Law and Order Problem' and the constant application of military force to suppress the Naga National Movement have resulted into a senseless cycle of violence.
NPMHR attempts to give a response to the campaign of annihilation against basic human rights including the right to life and self-determination. The concern of NPMHR therefore is not confined to the violations of civil and political rights but also social, cultural and economic rights against peoples. The activity of NPMHR includes organizing the people for protection and promotion of human rights. It also includes awareness building, campaign, documentation of human rights violations and dissemination of information, including litigation, organizing relief works, fact-finding teams, initiating intensive debates and discussions on the various issues confronting the society, etc
Declaration of NPMHR
Humankind has made history through the struggle for freedom from exploitation and subjugation. And history of the Naga people has taught us that there are forces both 'inside and outside' the society collaborating in strangulating social progress.
Our people have seen economic exploitation, political and military domination social suppression with the imposition of alien cultural and legal systems and the distortion of their history.
In the light of these experiences, the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights takes upon itself the task of initiating organized struggle for achieving the following;
To ensure and safeguard:
The right to life;
The right to work;
The right to live together as a people and the unification of all Naga Lands;
The right to hold and communicate one's beliefs;
The freedom of movement, assembly and association;
Free access to all place of learning;
Maximum participation of the people in the making of decisions affecting their lives;
Freedom from socio-economic exploitation. Political domination and military repression;
Against anti-democratic practices and the dismantling of institutions and social values Which legitimize and perpetuate these within our society;
Against the practices of arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and execution, and the use of unconventional weapons;
Against the imposition of undesirable alien legal systems and socio-cultural concepts and ways of life;
Organizational Structure of NPMHR
WORKING GUIDELINE
The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights is a peoples movement to facilitate, support and strengthen solidarity, unity and peace among the Nagas and also with other indigenous peoples and human rights organizations.
Coordination of the Movement/Organization
Considering the tragic circumstances leading to the imposed division of the Naga people and their land, the NPMHR will have unit offices at Kohima and Senapati with the Secretariat at Kohima. Outside the Naga areas there will be a unit at Delhi for the moment and creation of any new unit will depend on the merit of the circumstances and with the prior approval of the General Assembly. NPMHR will seek to work together with other organizations working on the similar principles and beliefs. NPMHR and its members shall not be a member of any political party.
General Assembly (GA)
The General Assembly will constitute the highest decision making body. All the Executive members will form the General Assembly. The General Assembly will be held at least once in a calendar year.
The General Assembly shall be the highest decision making body of the NPMHR.
The General Assembly will discuss, develop, debate, review and give policy direction to the organizational activities.
The venues of the Annual General Assembly of the organization will shift on rotation within the Naga areas and even outside depending on the circumstantial needs of the NPMHR.
The General Assembly will receive reports from the Secretariat and the various units.
The General Assembly will decide setting up of any unit.
The General Assembly will from time to time, commission specific working groups on issues which are of particular interest to the organization. The working groups will however be organized within a clear time frame and shall be decommissioned at the conclusion of the targeted task. The members to any of these working groups shall be made mandatory to submit a written report of the investigation/study carried out to the General Assembly.
The General Assembly shall constitute Committees as and when the necessity arises.
The Secretariat
The Secretariat will compose of Executive Council headed by the Secretary General that will facilitate general coordination works among the different functioning units and shall act as the clearinghouse for the organization. The Secretary General will be assisted by officials to carry out day-to-day activities of the organization and in accordance with the working guideline.
Purpose of the Secretariat
The goal of the NPMHR is to secure respect for the individual rights of all people and collective rights of the Naga peoples, territories, institutions and processes and to promote indigenous Naga model of consensual democracy which is socially and environmentally sensitive to development and conservation of our resource, land and territory.
It is within these goals that the Secretariat will carry out its works to:
Promote maximum participation of the people in the decision making process in the areas of human rights, ecological justice, social development, culture and education.
Strengthen networking and coordination at all levels.
Establish effective communication amongst various units, Secretariat and the Executive Council members.
Increase general awareness of the goals and activities of the NPMHR amongst its members, social organisations, governments, etc..
Maintain files and timely dissemination of information.
Produce and distribute of bulletin, annual reports and urgent actions.
Raise funds for organizational activities.
Network with other organizations and maintain relationship with the same.
Carry out advocacy and campaigns on local crisis.
Increase the capacity of the NPMHR in research, campaign, advocacy and technical services.
Prepare for the General Assembly and to assist the Executive Council in achieving and implementing the General Assembly decisions, and to ensure effective running of the Secretariat to secure the execution of the above mentioned tasks towards achieving the goal of the NPMHR.
Responsibilities of the Secretary General (SG)
Supervise and coordinate the activities of the Secretariat to ensure the highest quality of services to the Executive Council, units, and other committees appointed by the General Assembly.
Carry out from time to time appraisal of members of the Secretariat.
Designate member or employ consultant as may be required for the execution of assigned task as identified by the Executive Council.
Organize all necessary meetings, including preparation of the agenda and the taking and circulation of minutes of such meetings.
In the event of absence from the office, he/she should designate from the members of the Executive Council to ensure the continuity of the work.
The Secretary General shall work in close consultation with the Executive Council.
Manage the Secretariat in accordance with the working guidelines, its mission, policies, strategies, plans and budget; and carry out the decision of the Executive Council and General Assembly.
Represent the NPMHR as and when required and/or as previously approved by the Executive Council.
Maintain liaison with the Convenors of the different units and other coordination offices including networks and support social organisations to ensure coordination, cooperation and effectiveness.
Promote close contact and collaboration with organizations with similar objectives to broaden the NPMHR network.
Tenure
The tenure of the Secretary General will be for a period of 3 years and can be re-nominated.
Executive Council (EC)
There shall exist an Executive Council to coordinate, manage and oversee the organizational works in between the General Assemblies.
The EC will consist of five (5)-member team, which will be composed of members who will be nominated by the General Assembly.
The EC will have at least two requisitioned meetings in a month and more as and when necessary.
Convenors & Executive members in the Units
Each unit shall be coordinated by a Convenor who will be assisted by the Executive members locally nominated or appointed.
The different units will, if necessary, nominate or appoint some executive members
to assist their respective units.
The Convenor and the Executive members should have proper consultation with the Secretariat in its functioning and see to it, that the members work in full coordination on issues involving the organization vis-à-vis other organizations and matters which needs major political decisions.
The primary function of the Convenors and local executive shall be to supervise and
guide the functioning of the NPMHR as per the Declaration of the organization.
They shall receive and deal with suggestions, comments and other matters regarding the functioning of the NPMHR.
They shall determine who shall be considered invited delegates to the General Assembly.
They shall take urgent decisions in close consultation with the EC in between the General Assembly.
They will frame out policies on any important issue in close consultation with the Secretariat that will be ratified by the General Assembly.
Every Unit must submit a monthly report of its activities to the Secretariat.
Membership
Every Naga who subscribes to the declaration of the organization is in principle eligible for membership in the NPMHR.
Members of political parties shall not be eligible for membership to the NPMHR.
Responsibilities of the Executive members
The Executive members shall participate in all activities of the NPMHR.
All members shall endeavour to promote the aims and objectives of the NPMHR.
A member will cease to be a member if the person withdraws from the NPMHR or
When his/her membership is nullified by the General Assembly owing to non-compliance with the spirit of the NPMHR Declaration and working guideline developed for its members.
Any member that attends or conducts programmes representing the NPMHR must submit a detail report to the Secretariat.
Finance
The Secretariat shall prepare budget and submit it to the General Assembly for approval.
NPMHR will generate its resources to sustain its activities.
The Secretariat shall coordinate and maintain records of income and expenditure.
The General Assembly shall constitute a three-member Audit committee that shall present its report to the General Assembly.
A Finance Committee shall be appointed by the General Assembly comprising of three members.
NPMHR Information Center, Dimapur
The Information Centre, Dimapur, shall assist the Secretariat in dissemination of information of the NPMHR and the Naga People and to also coordinate information sharing among the struggling peoples.
Amendments to the working guidelines
Amendments to the working guidelines shall be submitted to the Secretariat through the convenors at least 30 days before the General Assembly.
Amendment to the working guideline will be done as per the endorsement of the General Assembly.
Contact:
Office of the Secretariat,
Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights
Midland – 251, Opposite World War II Cemetery,
Kohima – 797 001, Nagaland.
Telefax: +91-370-242541/241654
Email:
npmhr1@usa.net
Website:
www.npmhr.org
Revised and endorsed by the Kohima General Assembly, September 15-17, 2001
NPMHR's - A Response to Violation of Democratic Rights & Formulation of Priorities
NPMHR since its formation has carried out a consistent struggle to expose the Indian state Violations of Naga peoples basic Human Rights. In keeping with the objectives set out above, the NPMHR activists immediately carried out an extensive study tour of villages. The activists were given a rousing welcome in all the villages they visited and public meetings were held where people gave vivid accounts of the nature and the extent of human rights violation they had suffered. When the activists returned to Kohima they were joined by prominent elders and social activists at a huge rally in Kohima on December 15, 1978. In response to the prevailing situation and bitter experiences of the past years, the Rally unanimously passed the following Resolutions:
That the Armed Forces should be immediately withdrawn from all the civilian areas;
That all the Black Laws including;
(i) Assam Maintenance of Public Order (Autonomous District) Act, 1952;
(ii) Nagaland Security Regulation, 1962;
(iii) Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1972. Should be immediately revoked;
Condemn Mr. Morarji Desai's statement exterminate the (hostile) Nagas and I will not have any compunction in it;
Condemn all the atrocities committed on the Naga people in the past by the Armed Forces;
Condemn the State Government of Nagaland for its effort to prevent peaceful Rally-Procession by proclaiming Section 8 of Assam Maintenance of Public Order Act, 1953 over the entire Kohima Town for a period of one month in an obvious attempt to disrupt the NPMHR Rally at Kohima on December 15, 1978.
A report on the Study Tour and the December 15, 1978 Rally was brought out and distributed widely.
Programme
The NPMHR is a natural response to the campaign of annihilation launched by the state of India and Burma against the Indigenous communities and weaker section of the dominant societies. The concern of NPMHR is not confined to the violation of civil rights but the state structure and the development model which combined to generate the process of ecological depletion and violence in both the slate,
The Programme of NPMHR also includes awareness building, organising the struggle for protection and promotion of Human Rights, documenting and disseminating Human Rights violations which includes taking to the Supreme/High Courts of India against such violation.
Organising relief work for victims of Human Rights violations including economic programmes of rehabilitation also occupies on important aspect of NPMHR.
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