Dimapur, June 22 (MExN): General Secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim Th. Muivah has reached Pughoboto from Jotsoma at around 11:00 am on June 21. He was accorded a warm welcome by the Sumi Nagas from in and around Pughoboto town. Striking and impressive war dance was performed in honour of the General Secretary and his team. Thereafter, a marathon interactive public meeting was held in the local ground and the town hall for around five and half hours. This was stated in a press note issued by the Information Desk, Ato Kilonser’s Office NSCN/GPRN.
According to the press note, the General Secretary movingly mentioned the contribution of the Southern Sumis towards the Naga national cause, the “protection and care in terms of food and security given to the national workers was spontaneous” and that they could move freely all over Sumi homeland during the hard days of struggle. He stated that he had come again trusting and believing in the Sumi people.
Muivah declared that these are significant times when the Nagas have to take a key decision. According to him “Nagalim is a God-given land for the Naga people and we have to take the best decision for this God-given gift”. In this regard, he challenged the people whether they will be able to face the ideas of changes that will come and warned the people about the danger of living complacently. “During the transformation of events it is important to understand what is best for the Nagas”, he said and warned the people of having a “servitude mentality”. He told the people that he had come to reason together on account of the dangers that Nagas may be caught unaware.
On the Naga National Council (NNC), Muivah mentioned that the Nagas under the banner of the NNC took the correct decision and showed the way for the Nagas. The NNC under the leadership of A.Z. Phizo, Imkongmeren, Kughato Sukhai, T. Sakhrei, Khodao Yanthan and others did not compromise on the Naga national rights, Muivah stated. “They valued Nagalim, the God given land for the Naga people. When all other nations failed to exercise their right to decide their own future, the Nagas took the right decision to be the master of ourselves”, Muivah said.
He informed the people that a crucial time came for him and Chairman Isak Chishi Swu to take decision concerning the fate of the Nation. “When the 1975 Shillong Accord was signed the nation was in peril. A.Z. Phizo had failed to condemn the Accord, therefore, Isak Chishi Swu and Mr. Muivah as Vice President and the General Secretary respectively were determined to save the destiny of the nation”. Muivah added that the “NNC and the Federal Government of Nagaland and the leadership of A.Z. Phizo had to be saved at any cost”.
Accordingly, the Accord was condemned in the name of NNC and A.Z. Phizo’s position was reaffirmed the President of NNC and in addition to that he was made the President of FGN respectively, it was informed. “But ironically the two of them were accused of condemning the Accord which AZ Phizo did not and subsequently the Martial Law was declared and arrested the two leaders and seized the power of NNC, declaring that all powers were in their hands”, the press note stated.
In the events that followed they formed the National Socialist Council of Nagalim on January 31, 1980, stated the press note pointing out that the 1975 Shillong Accord destroyed the foundation of the Naga National rights. Muivah spoke about the time when he and Chairman Isak Chishi Swu had to take a crucial decision concerning the fate of our nation. He emphasized the fact that during the most difficult situation the Nagas did not have a Moses or Caleb yet, Chairman Isak declared that, if Nagas and Nagalim would be for Christ, he would stand to the last.
“Chairman Isak did not fail in his time. The General Secretary considered it a big honour to be the leader of the nation”, the press note stated. Muivah also told the audience that he and Chairman Isak have been together in the struggle now for almost 47 years. He added that Chairman Isak has been consistent in his commitment.
On evangelization of eastern Nagas, Muivah recounted the story when they were based in Eastern Nagaland. The Chairman and his lady wife Eustar, Brigadier Vidai and wife, Lt. Colonel Masasui Vashum, Dr. Eunice, Ikhres Muivah and many others evangelized the eastern Nagas and more than 50, 000 were baptized. Schools and churches were established in the villages, it was informed. However sections of Nagas including the “Reverends from the western Nagaland started a systematic campaign against them by branding them as communist”. “They were misunderstood for years but later some conscientious Konyak Naga Reverends-Rev. Mangkap and Rev Chingang came and witnessed the truth. They realized that it was a concocted campaign”.
On the Indo-Naga Cease-fire, Muivah gave the account leading to the Indo-Naga cease-fire and the political peace process that began on August 1, 1997. Muivah also informed that talks began at the highest level, without pre-condition and outside India in a third country and later the Government of India (GOI) recognized the “Uniqueness of history and situation” of the Nagas by the Amsterdam Joint Communiqué of July 11, 2001. He informed the people about the ongoing political negotiation between GOI and NSCN and it could be settled, basing on the ‘Uniqueness of Naga history and mutual respect. He added that, recently the Prime Minister of India also had expressed the need for an honourable political settlement acceptable to both the parties at the earliest possible time.
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