Thomas
NNC Member
“Take note and seek in her open squares, if you can find a man who does justice, who seek the truth, then I will pardon her”. (Jer. 5:1). In the yore of time, this Bible verse was said to the Israelite nation, but today this directly says to the Nagas. When we read the statements of some Naga educated people on the prevailing political situation of Nagaland, except who fully support the NNC, no one does justice and seeks the truth. So something is missing in their statements. I feel the truth is missing in their statements. All the Nagas including the educated people have to speak the truth and do justice while Nagaland is presently prevailed by falsehood so that the truth prevails over falsehood. Because peace can be achieved when the truth prevails over falsehood.
The truth, such as the Nagas are a sovereign and independent nation. The NNC remain intact as the only authentic political institution of Nagaland since 1946, the Nagas are united under the banner of the NNC. The Nagas had never surrendered their sovereignty at any point of time and will never do so. By stating and expressing such truth and facts, we ignore the factions and their false propaganda. But if we state the Nagas as groups and factions, we make ourselves fool. All of us, the right thinking people know the fact that the factional leaders are working for their self-interest; if not there is no reason for them to have their own factions despite the legitimate Government and the authentic political institution of Nagaland. Therefore, ignoring the illegal factions and groups is the best policy to eliminate the factionalism from Nagaland and preserving the solidarity of Naga people.
But the worst is, when some writers make all the Nagas as factions and groups including the NNC/FGN and the Naga people. That is what the enemy wanted to make the Nagas appear as groups and factions to the outside world and to make the Indo-Naga conflict as a Naga problem. The enemy is doing for its own interest, why then the Nagas should do according to the enemy’s policy. Some self-centered Naga leaders created their own factions, but the Nagas have no business with them and nothing is needed to talk about them. But just ignore it, or reprimand them if possible.
The Nagaland papers are being read in and around the world who have interest about the Nagas and support us. It is, therefore, needed to write the truth and facts of the Nagas. Such as, the Nagas are a sovereign and independent nation, the Nagas are not demanding independent from any foreign nation. The NNC conducted the Naga national plebiscite on May 16, 1951, where 99.9% of Naga people voted to remain independent as in ancient time, which was a final verdict and a solemn pledge of Naga people for their future. This remains as valid till date, and so on. However, the Nagas and individual writers should not state that of the factional policy and its stand, such as shared sovereignty, Pan-Naga Hoho, Regional Autonomous Territorial Council etc. Let them do it for their own interest, but the Nagas have nothing to do with it. Because it will not be a solution or a stepping stone for solving the Indo-Naga conflict. The Nagas are a nation but India wants to destroy it and having the talks with a faction. That is the game of the enemy and the Nagas have to stand against the enemy’s policy by not involving in the factionalism, neither supporting their demand and encourage them to do.
Reconciliation: Reconciliation is a must, but it is not for that of factional reconciliation or to be under the Indian Union. But the factions who deviated from the Naga national stand are to reconcile with the Nagas who are unwaveringly and tenaciously defending the sovereignty of Nagaland and to reconcile with the authentic political institution of Nagaland from which they had gone astray too far. If they refuse to reconcile with the parent body, the Naga people should ignore them. That is the only way to do by the Naga people. If they decide to reconcile with the parent body, that is better for them to stand together with good sons and daughters of Nagaland to defend the sovereignty of Nagaland once again in one accord and one voice.
Naga Day: To observe January 10 as a “Naga Day” in the next year 2018 is good, in order to show the world that the Nagas are one without border and to strengthen the legitimate Naga national Government and its national political institution. I support it with no reservation. But according to the statements of FNR and Eno. Charles Chasie, (appeared in The Morung Express), to celebrate January 10 as a Naga Day, means, “for the Nagas to look back and reflect on what had started political journey and examine the seeds of action sown toward building their peoplehood” (Quote Charles Chasie’s statement dated Oct. 16, 2017). “Invoking the Simon Commission letter is like “going back to the roots which will hopefully create unity in purpose”, thereby creating “new imagination” towards this purpose”. (Quote FNR statement dated Oct. 18, 2017). “There is now a lack of clarity and purpose on the direction Nagas are heading towards” (Quote FNR statement dated Sept. 25, 2017) (Unquote).
Above mentioned statements belittle the Naga nation, because the clear meaning of their statement is, there is no Naga who is serving the nation on the clarity purpose and on the right direction based on Memorandum submitted to the Simon Commission.
Even if the world has yet to recognize the sovereignty of Nagaland, the Nagas are existing as a sovereign and independent nation. They have their national institution since 1946 and their National Government since 1956. And the Nagas have their standing Naga Army to defend the sovereignty of Nagaland; they are intact in the service. The Naga nation is not, therefore, heading towards without clarity and purpose, as stated above by FNR. It is a fact, that the Nagas have some mischievous and treacherous factional leaders but the Nagas are not after them. Instead, the Nagas outrageously rejected the treacherous leaders, and they are steadfastly defending the sovereignty of Nagaland up to date. Therefore, the good citizens of Nagaland should not be counted as the same with that of treacherous factional leaders, as groups and factions.
The Naga nation is 70 years old started from the declaration of Nagaland Independence. That is the seed sown by the memorandum of January 10, 1929. It was firmly rooted and grown up to seventy years old. So let the mischievous and treacherous factional leaders come to see it when a Naga Day is observed on January 10, 2018. But I hope, it will not be observed as starting or restarting of Naga nation. Instead to strengthen the Naga nationhood and to consolidate Naga national unity.
Forgiving the other’s misdeed is our Christian principle, but the one who commits wrong at first needs to admit his misdeed and repent which is a part of forgiveness in the rule of God and human.
I appreciate and applaud those who are tirelessly working for peace among the Nagas and I extend my support to them if they firmly stand for the truth, do justice, work based on the Naga national institution, and firmly stand to defend the sovereignty of Nagaland. But if their stand is obscure and doesn’t support the truth and neither denounce the false they will achieve nothing. The Nagas had already experienced it. If such peace workers support the false/wrongdoers directly or indirectly, that will be the worst of all. As our Lord Jesus teaches us in Matt. 5:37, “our statement should be, Yes, yes, for right and truth, No, no; for false and wrong”. If we do not support the truth and neither denounce the false/injustice, we are doing nothing. If we do nothing, then we will reap nothing.
