New Year greetings to my Naga brothers and sisters
I would like to express few words to the Naga intellectuals and rightful citizens and analyse together on far we have come in our quest for a common goal. We are all aware that we have been striving for sovereignty for almost 65 years, losing many lives in the process of our pursuit for Freedom. The quest for a genuine demand for sovereignty of the Nagas, a legacy that our ancestors had fought bravely with the outsiders, a legacy that will continue till our rightful demand is met.
The year 1964 and 1965 marks the ceasefire agreement between the Naga revolutionaries and the Government of India which also gave birth to the formation of New Revolutionary Government. The Revolutionary Government sadly didn’t last as they surrendered to the Indian forces after the declaration of President’s rule. With the end of the Revolutionary Government, another settlement the ‘Shillong Accord’ was signed with the Government of India. This led to the formation of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), giving birth to the present chaos and confusion due to the emergence of different Naga political groups where many precious lives have been lost.
Today, I would want you all to retrospect with me on our past mistakes, look at all the loopholes, our weaknesses and our strength and try to stress on the positive aspects of our common goal. Let us also think and see what the outcome of killing among us is? Did any individual or group gain anything from these fratricidal killings? No, we have just committed a great blunder that no price could repay for.
In my years of service to the Nation, I have come across corruptions and follies of our Naga brothers. We can’t deny the fact that disputes arises even within the family campus; likewise Nagas have also been facing so many differences amongst ourselves. At this juncture, it is not possible for us to unite all the North East Region under one banner when we cannot even unite the family back home. I sincerely feel that we need time and space to build the ‘House of Nagas’ to shape and progress towards the targeted goal. Nagas are scattered and fragmented into different geographical regions with the demarcation of land yet in spirit and mind we are all Nagas. We know that the Nagas inhabit areas like Myanmar, Manipur, Arunachal and Assam, but the sole question is ‘who will be the leader of this fragmented Naga society?’ where should our foothold be in standing for the protection of the rights of the Nagas? In my opinion, the right answer is with the 16th Tribes of Nagas under the present state of Nagaland. We need to build the house for Nagas of Nagaland as a first step to reach our destiny, then think about stepping out and start uniting our brethrens scattered around different states and country, and strive for our goals.
Now, the tribes of Nagaland I believe should first think about cleaning up the mess in our kitchen then get together and voice out in unison for the Nagas in general regardless of boundaries or regions. Shouldering the responsibilities of building a haven that can house the entire Nagas is not an easy task. And every individual has a role to play to righteously and efficiently walk towards the task of uniting all Nagas under one umbrella. It is high time we get together and voice out our will to achieve what is ours. It is our task to fulfil the goals that lies within our kitchen, leaving no stone unturned to bring the Nagas united under one roof.
And with the coming of the New Year, let us join our hands together and race for the goal that is ahead of us
Gen. (Retd.) Khole Konyak
Chairman,
NSCN
Issued by:
Ministry of Information and Publicity,
GPRN/NSCN
Designated Camp: Khehoi
