Mizos Should Strive For Greater Autonomy:Lalduhoma

Aizawl, Jul 8 : Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) chief Lalduhoma on Thursday said the Mizo Peace Accord signed in 1986 neither healed the wounds of Mizoram nor did it fulfill the aspirations of people even after 25 years of signing of the agreement.

Speaking during a discussion on an official resolution over the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Accord, Lalduhoma said the Mizos, irrespective of political affiliations, should strive for greater autonomy, including self-determination, in accordance with the United Nations Declaration of Rights For the Indigenous People.

He added that as India was one of the signatories of the UN declaration, the Mizos can take non-violent steps to achieve greater autonomy. "As India is the land of satyagraha, the Mizos should struggle for the highest autonomy possible," he said. The ZNP chief added that just depending on the financial assistance at the whims of the Centre could trigger another disturbance in the state as people may feel dissatisfied.

The former Lok Sabha member and Indian Police Service (IPS) officer said people can now claim their rights under the UN declaration and that all their aspirations, which the Mizo Accord couldn't fulfill, should be attained through a non-violent mass movement.

"The Mizo Accord was signed between the Centre and the erstwhile Mizo National Front (MNF) without consulting the people of Mizoram and political parties," he said. He added that people should be consulted if greater political autonomy was sought.

Saying that chief minister Lal Thanhawla's vacating of the chief minister's seat in 1986 was inevitable and not voluntary as stated by some Congress legislators as Mizoram was then to be upgraded from Union Territory status to a state, which required dissolution of the assembly and formation of a new one.

He urged all political parties to refrain from using militants to garner votes during elections as this kind of activity is detrimental to maintenance of peace and tranquility.

Parliamentary affairs minister Lalsawta, who moved the resolution, and speaker R Romawia, censured Lalduhoma for his speech inside the assembly, accusing him of trying to instigate a policy to achieve extra-constitutional position for Mizoram. "It is a dangerous propaganda," said Lalsawta, while winding up the discussion on the official resolution. The resolution was unanimously adopted by the house.