Rh Raising along with his wife and others during the 50 years thanksgiving service on December 30.
Dimapur, December 30 (MExN): Rh Raising, Member of the Collective Leadership of NSCN/GPRN and Special Emissary, on December 30, delivered a commemorative address during a thanksgiving celebration marking 50 years of his national service.
Addressing the gathering, Rh Raising expressed gratitude for the presence of senior Naga leaders, including His Excellency the Yaruiwo Q Tuccu; Ato Kilonser Th Muivah and his wife Ikhris Muivah; Deputy Ato Kilonser Lt Gen (Retd) V S Atem and his wife Pamyola Vashum; members of the Collective Leadership; Convener of the Steering Committee Hutovi Chishi; Steering Committee members; Kilo Kilonser K P Huray and other Kilonsers; Longvibu Naga Army Lt Gen Honreishang Shadang and senior army officers; public leaders, civil society representatives, pastors, village authorities, and residents of Wungram and Mount View Colony.
He began by offering thanksgiving to God for sustaining him through five decades of service, recalling survival through hardships including enemy operations, illness, hunger, river crossings and battlefields. He said he firmly believed that every individual is born with a divine mission and that the Naga people are guided by faith.
Reflecting on his early life, Rh Raising said that although he was advised after graduation to pursue a teaching career in his village, he felt called to serve a larger cause. He said his dedication to the cause of Nagalim transformed his life and gave him the courage to face adversity, attributing his strength and guidance to spiritual faith.
Recalling the period following the Shillong Accord, he described it as a time of deep confusion and distress for the Nagas, stating that the accord was widely perceived as an obstacle rather than a solution. He said he formally joined the movement on December 30, 1975.
He further recalled that in December 1976, a group of around 100 cadres undertook a long march from the headquarters of the Wung Tangkhul Region to the General Headquarters located in the eastern region, where they joined forces with leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Th Muivah. He noted that only a few from that group survive today.
Rh Raising spoke about the hardships of revolutionary life, including constant pursuit by opposing forces, and said his faith sustained him through difficult military offensives. He also recounted being arrested and imprisoned for nearly eight years, describing incarceration as part of revolutionary life that strengthened his resolve and faith.
Stating that the struggle belonged to God and not to individuals, he said he remained confident that the Naga national movement would continue as long as it was rooted in faith. He said that he had engaged with international dignitaries on the Naga issue and recalled addressing the United Nations Earth Charter meeting at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2000, where he highlighted human rights conditions in Nagalim even during the peace process.
Rh Raising said he had served the nation in various capacities over five decades and had been a member of the Naga peace talks team since 2000. He said sustained public support, contributions of NSCN members, and the commitment of six Indian Prime Ministers had culminated in the signing of the Framework Agreement with the Government of India, describing it as a historic outcome achieved through collective sacrifice.
Furthermore, he said that he was honoured to be inducted into the highest echelon of the Collective Leadership as Special Emissary and reaffirmed his commitment to the Naga cause. He concluded by thanking all attendees for participating in the thanksgiving ceremony despite the Christmas season and expressed gratitude for the trust and support extended to him.
