Dimapur, July 2 (MExN): The Ao Naga community is appealed to by the general secretary of the NSCN/GPRN Th. Muivah to not be “silent about the truth you know” considering “your understanding of the current political dialogue is well appreciated,” explained a statement addressed to the Aos received here from the NSCN/GPRN.
“…your understanding of the current political dialogue is well appreciated and I earnestly appeal that you should not be silent about the truth you know but carry on showing the way. We will also do our part and assure you that we will come to you in the event of a final political settlement,” Muivah asserted.
According to the general secretary “we have to search our hearts together to claim our future” and choose “what is right”. He asserted that “today is our time and the right opportunity has come for us to take decisions on issues that are indispensable.”
Muivah also regularly referred to “Christ”: “The Ao people had provided leadership in the field of education, politics and Christianity and became a bridge for God’s kingdom to many of the other Naga tribes. That is your amazing contribution. Your people had exercised wisdom and took the right decision that indeed has stood as a testimony for Christ.”
The NSCN/GPRN leader explained that “decisiveness” is required from every Naga individual and tribe. “Your decision to uphold the Hebron mandate of 2005 for an honorable political settlement based on the ‘uniqueness of Naga history and situation” and ‘through peaceful means’ is indeed significant. It has once again proved your political vision to provide leadership in seeking peaceful political solution to the more than six decades old Indo-Naga issue,” he said.
Muivah also said that “peace and reconciliation” must have a foundation based on what was mentioned in the speech as Naga “national principles”.
These, according to the speech are “firstly, respect for the ‘Unique history and situation of the Nagas’ that is now officially recognized by the Government of India and Secondly, respect for our national slogan, ‘Nagalim for Christ’ because it is only under oath in the name of God that we can expect true reconciliation amongst the Nagas.”
He said that reconciliation is a continuous process and it will be arrived at “respecting our inherent rights and aspiration and not on the whims of any individual or organizations.” If any group or section of the people does not subscribe to these “principles” than “we must know that they do not believe and respect in true reconciliation,” Muivah stated. The NSCN leader also narrated his journey to Longkhum and Mengmetong and called it “a moving experience.”
Muivah explained: “We had gone there in search of our historical roots. We salute and give our respect to the national leaders because they had saved our history and future. It is pertinent to know why Longkhum and Mengmetong were burnt by the Indian security forces for about six to twenty-one times respectively. Several other Naga people and their villages who had valued their rights and stood against the wave of domination and repression from the forces trying to crush their aspiration met with the same fate.”
