Personally speaking, since 1950 my grown up life has been passing through the years of Nagas’ independence movement up to date. Since God has been so gracious to me in keeping me alive and in good health, I have to play my role in relating the true stories to the younger generations and I have to be honest whatever I say or do and to contribute my best to help bring about peace failing which I will be asked by God on the last day.
While writing this statement, I am not going to write a history of the Nagas’ independence movement but only to share my concern and opinion how to resolve the long standing problem. Our hearts have unabated pain for the people for the reasons mentioned below:-
1. We have experienced that hundreds and thousand of innocent men, women and children have been killed or victimized in the past and if the problem continues unresolved, impending danger of victimization of innocent men, women and children any time any where cannot be ruled out.
2. Heavy taxation which causes price rise, extortion and intimidation will continue under the pretext of patriotism and business men and entrepreneurs cannot take venturous business enterprise.
3. The lives of many youth are being spoiled as their live are engaged in no work but in the mood of fighting against the cadres of rival factions. Moreover, it will be a fertile soil to produce more and more mafia-like anti-social elements and highway robberies.
4. There are three Naga National parallel Governments in existence which stands a threat to the peaceful life of the Nagas and the longer the existence of the three parallel Governments, the more the Nagas will be ashamed of. Moreover, it shows the immaturity of the aspiration of the Nagas for sovereignty.
5. Unless the problem is solved, the Naga people will keep on suffering and losing for the Nagas themselves.
6. So long as the problem remains unresolved, cloud of uncertainty will continue looming large over the Nagas and even the possibility of new flare up worst situation cannot be ruled out.
7. Fratricidal war is a stumbling block for the Naga Christians’ testimony before the world. In view of all these facts mentioned above, all sober Nagas have to be seriously concerned and contribute their best to help solve the problem. Any one who is really concerned cannot remain a silent spectator. Can we dare leave such a legacy to the younger generations?
The need of the day which is being asserted by peace loving people is forgiveness and reconciliation but the appeal has been hitherto a failure. So the crux of the problem in the context of the situation today is disobedience to God. In obedience to God the people forgive one another and reconcile with one another and the question of having bitter feeling, hatred, jealousy, vindictiveness and conflict among the people does not arise. Unless the Nagas go to Christ, no change can be expected. “We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, but behold trouble.” (Jer. 8:15)
We believe that God will work upon what we do if we work on the wheels of
1. Real faith in Christ.
2. Real purity of heart.
3. Real honesty.
4. Real love.
In the combination of these four wheels of virtues, elements of being selfish, bias and dishonesty will not be found and we may rest assured that God will work upon whatever we do. So whatever I do I have to pose a question to myself, “Do I have real faith in Christ? Is my heart really clean? Am I really honest? Is it out of real Love? Does my conscience agree with me? Any thing done overtly or covertly out of impure heart is a vanity and we should not waste our precious time, wealth, energy and life in vain. Solution to the conflict of our people lies under the banner of Christ! Do you agree?
Rev. L. Suohie Mhasi
