Morung Express News
Mokokchung | July 19
The Ao National Workers – NSCN/GPRN organized a one day co-ordination meeting with Ao community at Sungratsu village, some 30 kilometers away from Mokokchung Town. It was attended by nearly 800 Ao community leaders and also top leadership of the NSCN (IM) led by Kilo Kilonser, Rh Raising.
The Ao community was led by Ao Senden, Watsü Mungdang, Ao Students’ Conference (AKM), Concerned Senior Citizens’ Forum, Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem, GBs, Dobashis, Village Council Chairmen of different villages and others. The NSCN (IM) Kilo Kilonser, who was the ‘resource person’ at the meeting, was accompanied by Steering Committee Executives, Maj Gen (rtd) Ramkathing Varah and Col (Rtd) Meyu, other kilonsers, deputy kilonsers and other ranks and files.
Rh Raising, while speaking about the ‘peace process’, gave an elaborate lecture on the present peace talks with the Government of India, the August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement and about the idea of shared sovereignty.
Dwelling on the concept of shared-sovereignty, Rh Raising said that the Government of India recognizes the Naga people as a separate entity and there would be a sharing of sovereign powers between Indians and the Nagas. He stated that political state and administrative units are two different terms and that Indian states like Nagaland or Manipur are just ‘administrative units’ that deals with autonomous powers whereas political state deals with sovereignty.
In this regard, he said that the NSCN (IM) is talking about ‘political state’ encompassing all the Naga territories. However, he pointed out that sovereignty is not absolute. “India and Nagas are two different entities and they must coexist.” Nagas cannot accept Indian constitution and India cannot leave Nagalim for security reasons, he said, adding that “state and centre” are one whereas “two entities co-exist”. In this light, he stated Nagas need to keep someone and go along with “our big brother”. Even superpower like United States has to go along with the United Nations or NATO or other nations through treaties etc otherwise it will lead to total isolationism, he added.
He further said that in today’s world everything is inter-dependent and inter-related and the NSCN concept is inter-dependent relation between people and nation. “India has to depend on Nagas in some areas and Nagas have many reasons to depend on India.”
Saying that the NSCN has proved in military field, the political field and the negotiating table, Raising said that the harvest time is here for the Naga people to reap.
The Kilo Kilonser further gave a clarion call to the Ao people, stating that the Aos were in the forefront in battles to lead people in the movement and how a village (Mangmetong) was even burnt down 18 times.
“But revolution did not stop there. The wildfire of the movement continues burning everywhere in Naga country. You must nurture and harvest what you have sown. You are one of the strong allies of the movement in all weathers,” he said.
Nonetheless, he cautioned about the ‘danger of self-defeat’ and said that the Nagas will be the authors of their own victory or defeat.
“GOI is now prepared to solve the problem. It is the Naga factor, not the India factor…If we cannot succeed today we will not blame heaven or earth we will blame ourselves. But we are convinced that we can overcome,” he stated.
Also calling for reconciliation, Raising said that the Late chairman of NSCN (IM), Isak Chishi Swu had appealed to all workers of different groups to forgive “our past mistakes” and “we have also forgiven their past mistakes.” “We shall uphold and abide by the statement he (Isak Swu) had made,” said Raising.
Meanwhile, Maj Gen (Rtd) Ramkathing Vara repeated almost the same points of the Kilo Kilonser. Short speeches were delivered by the Ao Senden President, Imolemba Jamir, Watsü Mungdang President, Moachila, AKM Vice President, Akummeren Longchar and Concerned Senior Citizens Forum member, Prof. Lanunungsang Ao, and Sungratsu Village Council chairman.
An interaction was also held at the meeting which was moderated by Dr Lanusashi. The Ao leaders raised varied questions which were answered by the NSCN (IM) Kilo Kilonser.
