Dimapur, January 15 (MExN): In a significant development senior leaders from different Naga political groups have issued a joint statement on Thursday, making an appeal for an immediate end to clashes between two NSCN groups based in Eastern Nagaland.
The signatories of the appeal were N Kitovi Zhimomi, working convenor, Working Committee (WC), NNPGs; Rev Puni Mao and Kraibo Chawang, members of Collective Leadership NSCN (IM); Col (Retd) Isak Sumi, working convenor, WC, NNPGs; Alezo Venuh, co-convenor, WC, NNPGs; P Tikhak Naga, working convenor, WC, NNPGs.
The leaders stated that the ongoing inter-factional clashes “only refreshes the sad and unfortunate chapter in our National struggle.”
The statement emphasised that having fully experienced the futility of violence, the Nagas must sincerely and soulfully strive to amend “our dark chapter of fratricidal bloodshed that has contaminated our sacred National struggle.”
The greatest challenge facing the Nagas today, while in the “course of determining our destiny”, it stated, “is not only external forces but the deep internal chasm,” and cautioned that unless Nagas learn to forbear, “our future will be doomed and our history, culture and identity imperiled.”
“Trying to act and prove one’s supremacy over the other among the Nagas has proved too costly in terms of blood, lives and resources and the same cycle will continue even in the future if we don’t act with humility and prudence,” they acknowledged, denouncing such actions. “No fruits shall be harvested if we go by the same trend of infightings amongst the Nagas.”
The appeal called upon the NSCN-K (Yung Aung) and NSCN-K (Angmai Mulatonu) groups, currently engaged in clashes in the Eastern Nagaland region, to “desist from further fratricides but to contemplate on the need for Naganess as a whole.”
The leaders asserted, “Not by politics the Nagas must be defined but by blood the Nagas are one.” They identified “forgiveness and acceptance” among the Nagas as the only way ahead to assert and assure just place for the Nagas among the community of nations “lest we destroy ourselves.”
“Regardless of the strength or size of our opponents, our salvation lies in our ability to see, hear, and work together,” they asserted while reiterating that “Despite differing opinions, agreeing to strive in one voice no matter the challenges as “the Naga’ is the only path of redemption.”
They stressed that Nagas must not be defined by politics “but by blood” and added, “we determine our destiny as people by blood ties.”
