Kohima, March 31 (MExN): The Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) has expressed distress and pain “to be experiencing oppressive, suppressive, discriminating and de-humanizing times, inflicted upon the Nagas by fellow Nagas and by other fellow human beings in the form of Government of India and Government of Myanmar.”
In its statement ‘A Naga Catholic understanding on Indo-Naga political conflict and appeal’ issued by CAN, President Johnny Ruangmei and Executive Member, Evothng Ezung Peter the association said, “If exploitation for political, social, economic or religious ground is justified, then there can be no Just Peace at any time amongst people or nations.”
“As a people, we have our right to assert our Nationhood and Independence free from any form of subjugation. As Catholic Christians, we believe in the goodness of every human being and do not doubt that better sense can prevail among conflicting social groups or nations if only each of such groups desire Just Peace and commit themselves to arriving at it,” it stated.
The Catholic community, under the aegis of the CAN, stated that it “is committed to establishing Just Peace and has been humbly and commit themselves working towards this objective.”
Appeals GoI to sincerely translate its recognition of Naga Nation
Meanwhile, it appealed to the Government of India to sincerely translate its recognition of the Naga Nation and “refrain from the process of de-humanizing the Nagas because of which Just Peace has evaded the two entities of India and Naga Nation for so long.”
It also appealed to every Naga irrespective of ‘our occupation or affiliation that have are first dignified human beings and dignified Nagas and that we speak a single voice in the most peaceful and unified manner. “We believe that people or nation stand to be all the more dignified and honourable by resolving conflicts through respect and recognition of each other's rights, the result of which will also ensure a common good for both the people or nation,” it added.
The CAN also said that every human person, in the form of communities or nations, can live honourably or peacefully without suppressing or being suppressed. “In our Catholic understanding of our Christian faith, there is absolutely no room for oppressing or suppressing fellow human being or nation in any manner be it political, social, economic, etc. It would be against the divine will of our Creator, if in anyway, any fellow human being is discriminated on any ground, for such act defiles the divine dignity of God's presence in every human person,” it conveyed.
