DIMAPUR, JANUARY 25 (MExN): Convener of the Steering Committee, NSCN (IM), Rh Raising today challenged the Naga people to decide “whether we choose solution or election; whether we choose freedom or slavery.” He said this during the Joint Council Meeting on January 25 at CHQ, Hebron.
Recalling the events leading up to the signing of the Framework Agreement, he said that if the Government of India does not keep the agreement and goes back upon its word, the Naga people would need to give “bigger efforts, work out bigger policies and strategies, create bigger minds and hearts, build up bigger faith, say bigger prayers and take bigger and stronger determination and decision for the problem.”
He acknowledged that the war-ridden Naga people have been longing for an early solution to the long drawn Indo-Naga conflict, and that is “legitimate.”
“But the focal point is whether it is an early solution or late solution it does not matter, what matters is—it must bring the complete set of what belongs to the Nagas. Nagas thirst for genuine solution that can protect their future. Any kind of solution that betrays the future of the Nagas is no solution,” he stressed.
Raising added that “we cannot place our future to be decided by others. We must decide our future by ourselves and that is where NSCN stands.” “We will cling to the ‘Framework Agreement’ and stand by that in all weathers. We will keep going with it even if there are oppositions,” he affirmed.
On the call for ‘solution, not election,’ he stated that “election is anti-‐thesis of solution. “Solution is about the future of the Nagas whereas election is about the Indian constitution; solution is about the unique history, culture and identity of the Nagas whereas election is about India; solution is about the land of the Nagas whereas election means it is about Indian territory; solution is about the principle of self-reliance whereas election is about dependence on others; solution means Naga people will be the epicenter of Naga politics whereas election means Delhi will be the high command of the Naga politics,” the NSCN (IM) Steering Committee Convener said.
“We are the prime factor. Our decision will take us to the top of the world or pull us down to the bottom. We have nothing to fear or dismay; our people are with us; all civil societies are with us; all the churches are with us, all the elected MLAs and MPs are with us; international communities are with us and above all, God, the Creator of nations and kingdoms is with us. Only that let us be firm and cling to the principle,” he concluded.
