Members of Naga Shisha Hoho prayer warriors are seen with the NSCN/GPRN Chairman SS Khaplang. This photograph was taken outside the Chairman’s house at his base camp when the members of the prayer group met him earlier this year in February, 2012. It is reported that Chairman Khaplang has been unable to visit his native village for the past thirty years. (All Photo credit are courtesy: Vezalhu)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 30
The bitter truth of the heartbreaking gap between western Nagas and eastern Nagas (those living in present Burma) has been much discussed, and highlighted by tourists, writers, and media. The full weight of the harsh truth became a reality for Pastor Vezalhu and his team from the Naga Shisha Hoho Prayer Warriors. They have visited the eastern Nagas on several occasions and most recently they went to the region in February 2012. During their visits they have walked from village to village meeting various churches and villagers.
Informing The Morung Express, Pastor Vezalhu shared that his team embarked on the trip with intent to share God’s revelation and to preach the Gospel. He said that while the people of Western Nagaland are already acquainted with the teachings of Christ, it was not the case in Eastern Nagaland. From his visits, the pastor found that the eastern Nagas live in extreme poverty and immense hardship. He revealed that he has been moved to great sadness by their plight. He lamented the miserable conditions and the lack of the most basic needs under which they are living. “To buy just one kilogram of salt and rice, the villagers have to walk for four to five days,” he said. Vezalhu expressed the pain he felt by the absence of basic health care facilities and medicine and he saw how women and young children were the most effected and very often succumbed to what are otherwise treatable illness.
Pastor Vezalhu further informed that there are very few schools in the region and most of them are just for ‘namesake.’ He stated that rather than going to school, most of the children worked as porters (Sankhans), which is the common mode of transporting goods in the region. The practice of Sankhan was prompted due to ‘nil’ transport he said and added that he saw many young children, some as young as ten years old carrying heavy materials over difficult terrains and through forests and rivers. Both young boys and girls work in this elaborate system of Sankhans which is usually coordinated by a ‘Runa Peyu’ on a daily basis.
The work of a Sankhan is usually a form of voluntary service. The pastor stated that because of the existence of Sankhans, the practice of going and tending to fields had been affected. It was observed that most of the children end up either joining the Naga cause or working as a Sankhan.
“People living in Nagaland do not yet know the plight and condition of eastern Nagas. The gap is too wide between eastern Nagas and western Nagas,” stated Pastor Vezalhu. He revealed that the concerns of the people are very basic: education and health care. With no basic health care system and poor sanitation, the undeveloped areas which are heavily forested are infested with leeches and other insects which has been the cause of many diseases; but the biggest threat in the area, the pastor said, “black malaria.”
Pastor Vezalhu vouched that despite harsh conditions in which they live; the eastern Nagas are very honest, hardworking and truthful. “They are people of integrity, despite the challenges they face” he said.
The pastor informed that the eastern Nagas had requested him to take a message to the Naga people. He said that the eastern Nagas are requesting all to pray for them and have appealed to send people to their region to assist them in areas of education and healthcare, so that they can be empowered. “Please also sent missionaries to educate us,” was another appeal. Pastor Vezalhu is appealing to the churches in Nagaland, requesting them to reach out and extend assistance and support to the “eastern Naga brother and sisters, living in present Burma”.
Cultivation of corn and millets are found towards the India-Burma international border, while in the mainland areas of eastern Nagaland, cultivation of rice and poppy is common. Also, mining of gold is said to be practiced in every village through the panning method in the rivers. It is reported that Chinese and Burmese companies are rapidly venturing into the eastern Naga areas exploiting the rich natural resources such as minerals and timber.
