Gen. (Retd) Thinoselie M. Keyho On behalf of the Naga National Council and on my own behalf I convey Christmas greetings and best wishes for the New Year with proud salutations to the Naga people wherever they are. The political journey the Nagas chose to undertake has taken a heavy toll on our own people and the years of our struggle have stretched beyond a century. The struggle which became heroic in the second half of the last century was born in the consciousness of our pioneer elders when changes in the outside world started to impact them. The struggle came to life at a time in the past when our people and their beautiful homeland were of no strategic, security or economic interest to anyone beyond their isolated mountains and valleys known only to them. Our struggle grew in intensity and scope as the impacts became harsher. The Naga struggle thus represents the truthful response of our pioneers to the challenges that history's changes brought to them also. This we should know. The struggle today is the continuation of that bold response begun in trust in God and against no one. It has uprooted us and mercilessly tested our integrity and wisdom because temptations always come with changes. Our undeniable failures and short comings have revealed how much we need to learn to take the struggle forward in the changing world because no people can leave the battlefield of life. If our motivation and commitment is to achieve the best for all Nagas, not what will benefit us, we will learn to do better. Whatever has been our privilege in bearing our shares of the struggle, burdens and whatever the price paid by anyone of us, almighty God who understands human longings and dreams has been real to us and His mercy and guidance the reasons for our confidence. And as we today take stock of ourselves and our journey, we see unmistakable signs of better understandings of the indisputable facts of our history by Indian policy shapers and thinkers. We on our part have understood better India's genuine difficulties with regard to the Naga struggle because of this unique facts and why it's security forces treated us so wrongly in the earlier years of trying to suppress us. The National Workers also, divided for long from one another due to failures and mistakes by all of us, have started to find a common meeting grounds because of the common origins of the historic position of the Naga struggle loved and upheld by all Nagas. The initial decisions of the Naga pioneers to reclaim their right to be left alone to develop their own future on the basis of the facts of their history was born in their soul and understanding of themselves when history compelled them to make a choice. The Naga National Council has waited and will wait for India to recognize our just position as its honorable neighbor. Today's generation of the Nagas must understand the costly legacy they are inheriting from their pioneers, and think out how they should build on it. The God of peoples and nations will guide clearly. May heaven bless our celebration of our Lord's birth with good health and peace and may we by His Grace be wiser and more responsible in the New Year. Thank you and Kuknalim.
