Dimapur, March 23 (MExN): All Naga Political groups (NPGs) must try to get into each other’s shoes and try to come to a meeting point, if not for themselves but for the sake of the Naga future generations, the Global Naga Forum (GNF) has said.
In a message on the 43rd NSCN/GPRN Republic Day, the GNF requested all the NPGs to leave all their differences and join hands together for the sake of the common Nagas, and to stop harassing the civilians in any form.
Paying homage to all the ‘fallen heroes,’ the GNF stated that a long history of heroic struggle like that of the Naga people's has “a past and a present.” However, the Nagas are “stuck in the past and mired in the current impasse. So, we cannot move forward together toward the ‘common destination,’” it added.
For the Nagas to move forwards into a free and self- determined future, the GNF opined that the NPGs should release themselves “from the prison of the unresolved sinful and tragic burdens of the past against one another that refuse to go away,” and seek forgiveness for the wrongs they have inflicted and forgive the wrongs others have inflicted.
It said that there should be “moral and political conditions leading to a ‘working relationship’ (even if short of an entire reconciliation and unity) to break the ‘present impasse,’” and that NPGs should jointly dedicate themselves to the current peace negotiations for a final solution that includes “‘a Pathway’ for an undivided Naga Homeland toward the destination of One People, One Destiny.”
Stating that heroic patriotism and immense sacrifices would be required from the NPGs, the GNF said that the Naga people know that they (NPGs) are perfectly capable of meeting the heroic challenge.
It said that it was a ‘now or never moment’ for the Nagas as a people, while pointing out that “Nagas have been talking about the lofty word ‘Unity’ for the past more than three decades ever since the NSCN’s split in 1988. “
“Be it Naga Political Groups, tribes, organizations and civil societies, could we first ask ourselves why we can't come together before talking about unity/one homeland? If we are truly National leaders, we are expected to rise to the occasion at hand and take the lead with result-oriented actions. Before we talk about Naga freedom, can we earnestly stop harassing our own people who are working hard to make ends meet? Ironically, you would surely understand and appreciate that because of rampant harassments, common people now want freedom from the NPGs!” the GNF stated.
It went on to clarify that the statement does not mean that NPGs have not done anything for the Naga cause. “We have come thus far because of your many unparalleled struggles and sacrifices, mostly at the cost of your lives and families, and this should be staunchly cherished, upheld and acknowledged by the Nagas,” it underscored.
However, it also pointed out that “not all the NPGs stand true to the core principle of Naga political aspirations and rights, we must also be able to analyze where the differences came about. To put it bluntly, the disunity and factions within the NPGs is a result of too much centralization of power in one or a few hands, nepotism and the arrogance associated with it. Naturally, people will revolt and try to find ways for themselves.”
In this context, it said that the NPGs must try to put themselves in each other’s shoes and try to come to a meeting point, leave all their differences and join hands together for the sake of the common Nagas, and to stop harassing the civilians in any form.
Further, it also recommended that representatives of the Naga civil societies be included in the peace negotiations.
“Our dream of having a separate Flag and Constitution based on the principle of our inherent rights is being shattered. India keeps dividing Nagas on one pretext or another and we have been succumbing to India’s aspirations for more than seven decades. Therefore, let us not only blame India for not solving our problem because it is to a large extent of our own doing,” it said while adding that “People are becoming increasingly impatient day by day sensing that the present political talk has hit a deadlock.”
“In such a stalemate, the right statesmanship and leadership must be exhibited to bring forth a new ray of hope, paving the way forward for the future generation,” it said.
