Senapati, August 9 (MExN): The United Naga Council, Naga Women’s Union, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (South) & the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur observed, along with the rest of the world, the International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9 at Thangal General Memorial Ecological Park, Senapati District under the theme- “Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Education”.
PLEDGE
We, the Naga people, are on a long journey seeking for victory over injustice and have endured unspeakable pain and humiliation. In our journey, we have seen the most heroic acts and sacrifices from our brothers and sisters. We have come a long way because we continue to be inspired and our experiences nurture our wisdom.
We are not deterred and will never be, because:
• We believe that the Almighty has placed us in the bosom of Mother Earth as stewards and as protectors of all living beings, including our mountains, rivers and forests.
• We believe that we are driven by the founding values of our community life and guided by the spirit and wisdom of our ancestors who walked the path of justice.
• We believe in the universality of human rights and recognizing and protecting the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family promotes freedom, justice and peace in the world.
• We believe that every individual is entitled to equal dignity and respect, without prejudice toward race, colour, gender, disability, language, religion, creed, national origin, property, age, or other status. We believe that every thought and act of such prejudice is harmful to humanity.
• We believe that all nations—big or small—are equal; and peace, security and prosperity are strengthened when the inherent right to self-determination of all nations are respected and protected.
• We believe that the Nagas have the right to unify their divided ancestral homeland and live together as a dignified family as any other people.
We, therefore, to live up to our ideals within our communities and with others, make the following pledges:
1. We, as one of the indigenous peoples of the world, will continue to assert for our inherent right to self-determination and self-government while respecting the same of others in good faith.
2. In pursuit of our right to self-government, we will toil to develop our democratic system of government and uphold our cultural and political identity.
3. Recognizing and respecting our profound relationship with our land, we affirm our unshakable conviction to protect our lands, territories and resources (beneath and above the earth) as good stewards for the well-being of the members of our communities and the world.
4. We will strive every day of our life for the recognition, protection and promotion of universal human rights norms and entitlements for all, particularly within our own communities, without prejudice toward race, colour, gender, disability, language, religion, creed, national origin, property, age, or other status.
5. We will strive every day of our life for the unification of our divided ancestral homeland, healing of our broken homes and oneness of the Naga family.
6. We will strive daily to honour this pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of our collective effort.
