Kohima, November 4 (MExN): The Eastern Naga National Organization (ENNO) on Wednesday marked its fifth foundation day, with its president, MP Meyah Kedahge, reiterating the organisation's commitment to Eastern Naga reunification and calling upon the Naga people, particularly the youth, to unite around the Naga national cause.
In a speech delivered on the occasion, Kedahge said the organisation was established with the primary objective of bringing about Eastern Naga reunification, after earlier efforts to achieve unity between the Naga National Council (NNC) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) did not materialise.
He said the ENNO was also formed to establish alliances with revolutionary groups fighting military dictatorship and to build a strong Eastern Naga Army (ENDA).
Kedahge said another objective was to strengthen the traditional Naga democratic system, asserting that Naga society had historically not practised absolute monarchy, dictatorship, landlordism or racial discrimination.
He said the organisation would uphold Naga national history and work alongside Naga national leaders on the basis of that legacy. Referring to the NNC, he criticised leaders who had declared that the organisation had surrendered and rejected aspects of Naga history.
The ENNO president said the organisation recognised the NNC/FGN as the parent organisation and would work to mobilise the Naga people towards unity based on what he described as the truth of Naga national history.
He also regretted what he described as actions by certain leaders that had instigated conflict among Nagas by projecting that the NNC had surrendered. He said the ENNO would work to prevent such divisions from recurring.
Recalling the organisation's formation, Kedahge said discussions were held at the Kohima Transit Peace Camp on August 20, 2021, involving its former chairman and a founding member, following arrangements made by a senior leader, to reach an understanding with veteran NNC/FGN leaders.
The ENNO was initially formed at Noklak town on August 25, 2021, and formally ratified at Lang Nuk village on November 4, 2021, he said.
Kedahge said that soon after its formation, more than 50 Naga youths were sent to Kachinland for military training, following which the organisation established a military alliance with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). He added that personnel had continued to be sent for military training.
Claiming that the ENNO/ENDA had since grown stronger and was now fully armed, he said the organisation's strength should not be measured by weapons alone, but by courage, perseverance, resilience, discipline, unity, accountability, mutual love and trust.
Calling upon the younger generation to understand the national cause and step forward to defend the country, Kedahge cited the resilience of the people of Ukraine in defending their territory against the Russian invasion.
He said Ukraine had been underestimated as a small nation, with expectations that it could be conquered within three days, but the conflict had continued into its fifth year. He also recalled that Indian leaders had allegedly expected to conquer Nagaland within a month after launching military operations, but the conflict had continued since 1955.
Kedahge described this as evidence of the Naga people's resilience and their continued struggle.
He further urged the people to place their faith in God, recalling the 1975 Shillong Accord as a period when, in his words, God had saved the Naga nation from the brink of total capitulation. He expressed confidence that God would continue to guide the Naga people towards victory.
