Rh Raising, Special Emissary of the Collective Leadership, NSCN (IM).
Newmai News Network
Imphal | May 18
Senior NSCN (IM) leader Rh Raising urged the Nagas to focus on “sovereign state, not on dependent state”. Rh Raising, Special Emissary of the Collective Leadership, NSCN (IM) was speaking on the occasion of the Naga Plebiscite Day observed in Ukhrul on May 16, commemorating the 1951 event. The programme was organised by All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), and participated by United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women Union (NWU), NPMHR and other Naga organisations and leaders.
In his speech, Raising said the Naga nation comes from the Naga foundation. The history of the Nagas, the political concept of the Nagas, the identity of the Nagas, the culture of the Nagas and the sovereign state of the Nagas come from the Naga foundation. It can never come from other foundations. “If our foundation is betrayed or murdered, we perish,” he stated.
Stating that Nagas of the past generations focused on the Naga foundation and principle, he said, “They stood firm in the matter of principle. Nagalim for Christ is our foundation and vision as well. Like our fathers, let us also focus on our foundation and stay the course in all weathers.”
He observed that a section of people from some quarters talk of problems and never of solutions. “They talk of peace and unity, but they never talk of foundation of peace and unity. They talk of development, but they never talk of politics, the root of development. They should know that development is the flower, politics is the root,” he claimed.
The speaker remarked that sovereign state is the power house of developments. “We must not wait for others or depend on others to develop our country. We are the prime factor. We are the master of our destiny. We just need a strong decision for a sovereign state.”
On the Framework Agreement, Raising said that it has turned armed confrontation into political negotiation, guerrilla warfare into mass warfare and enemies into friends.
“The historic plebiscite conducted on May 16, 1951 was a political step to be recognized by the aggressor-state for legitimacy” he stated while adding, “Now, the Framework Agreement has made it a recognized political entity.” He said that Framework Agreement has recognised the land of the Nagas and also ‘integration of all Naga areas is the legitimate right of the Nagas’.
He said that it has also been mutually agreed ‘coexistence of the two entities sharing sovereign power’ based on the doctrine of shared sovereignty and interdependent relationship. He said there will be mutual consultation and cooperation sharing sovereign power as defined in the competencies. Framework Agreement will certainly protect the sovereign right of the Nagas and security interest of India. Nagas will view India as partner and vice versa. It will bring the two people closer for a greater and higher cause, he stated.
“Ours is a people’s movement for national independence, where all sections of people are involved. And that NSCN is the national revolutionary front of the Naga people who confront and negotiate with the aggressor-states,” he asserted.
“The historic Framework Agreement is the foundation of solution. We hope and trust that Indian leaders will keep their word However, if the government of India betrays the historic Framework Agreement, the matter does not end there. The problem cannot be left unsolved. It must be solved sooner or later. National independence movement of a people from bondages to freedom is the course of history no power can stop,” he added.
ANSAM President Th Angteshang Maring also addressed the event.
