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Subject: EP/NAGALIM: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Motion for a resolution of urgency on Nagalim in pursuant to article 47 paragraph 1 of the Rules of Procedure (Tabled by Olivier Dupuis and Gianfranco Dell'Alba on behalf of ARE Group)

Considering the declaration of the UN Human Rights Committee from 10 August 1995 on the situation in Nagalim;

considering that the Naga population, originally Mongolic, has immigrated into the territories of Nagalim – a region 70,000 sq. km situated among India, Burma and China – more than 1000 years ago, that these Populations were the first settlers in the region and count about 3 million people today;

considering that over all their history until 1881 the Naga populations have maintained their independence;

considering that in 1881 the British Empire conquered only a small portion of the territory of Nagalim;

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

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 a 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;

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

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

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

considering that the military occupation that followed has caused the death of some 150,000 persons between 1954 and 1964;

considering that since 1959 Burma employed military actions to confirm and reinforce the annexation of the eastern regions of Nagalim to Burma;

concerned that the armed conflicts between Nagalim and India on one side, and Nagalim and Burma on the other, have lasted for more than 43 years, causing serious harm on the Naga populations;

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

considering the armistice agreement from 1 August 1997 between the Federation of India and Nagalim.

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 Nagalim;

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

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

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

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

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 the United Nations and the representatives of the Naga people.