Chizokho Vero
August 31
KOHIMA (MExN): Tens of thousands of Nagas from all Naga inhabited areas today voiced their strong desire to the Government of India and to the world that Nagas want to live together in one land as one family.
In the historic Naga Integration Rally held here at the Kohima Local Ground, people from all corners of the Naga homeland today reaffirmed their long commitment to live together as one people in a unified Naga homeland.
Later, a declaration (see separate text) was read out by Naga Hoho vice president Keviletuo Kiewhuo with people raising their hand in acceptance of the declaration. “Let us unitedly declare to the world today that Naga are one and that we shall live as one people under our land. Let us fight till we live together as one family,” said Naga Hoho President Horangse Sangtam.
Talking to The Morung Express, Naga Hoho General Secretary Neingulo Krome said that today’s rally was a step to bring Nagas together towards achieving unity and reconciliation and termed the rally as a historic achievement.
Nagaland Home Minister Thenucho in his address said that the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution in support of integration four times and said ever since the Naga people became politically conscious, in the modern sense of the term, they had sought to exist as a people. “Unfortunately, the modern Naga history has been such that the Naga people had to be divided under different administrative units. “With the coming of age and understanding of the vital issues, it is only natural that Nagas have this strong burning desire to come together under one administrative umbrella,” Thenucho added.
In his speech, Leader of the Opposition I. Imkong called for formulating, in ‘concrete terms’, the political aspirations of the Naga people in the context of the changed global political scenario. Describing today’s integration rally as ‘historic’, the CLP leader said the gathering was demonstrative of the solidarity of Naga leaders to bring all the Naga people under one administrative umbrella. “It was the dream of our forefathers that Nagas should live as members of one family, in love and harmony”, Imkong said in his address.
MP Lok Sabha from outer Manipur, Mani Charanamei said that the need to demand for integration/reunification of Naga territories under one political entity had been necessitated because the land of the Nagas was divided without their consent. “No civilized people in today’s world would accept such injustice”. He said the time had come to question the wisdom of the Government of India to keep the Naga family divided in different states. Mani also sincerely appealed to the Meiteis, the Assamese and other communities, “Understand the desire and aspiration of the Naga people to accept the reality and lend your support to the just cause of your neighbors as there can be no one in this world who can understand the long suffering and our struggle better than you.”
In his address Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, Executive member, World Baptist Alliance said: “We are gathered here today to reaffirm and declare that Nagas are one, whether they are in Assam, Arunachal, Manipur or in Myanmar”. Dr. Aier told the rally that they were here to make a clear statement that Naga nationalism without integration of the Naga areas is folly. “What good will it be to work for Naga rights without talking of the land rights of the Nagas. Naga rights and land rights go hand in hand”, he said.
An NPMHR representative, who spoke at the rally, reaffirmed the right of the Naga people to live as one geo-political entity while the NSF President V. Pushika Aomi declared that the younger generation would not endorse or accept any solution without integrating the contiguous Naga areas. “Population and specific boundary is pre-requisites for any sovereign nation, thus for Nagas, land and its people can never be separated”, he said. NMA President Khesheli Chishi said that Naga mothers had lost much more than the men folk. “The children whom we bore and gave birth to were cruelly snatched away from our noses,” she said. “We are prepared to further enhance whatever sacrifice may be required to translate our dreams into reality.”
Others who spoke on the occasion included, Nagaland Lok Sabha MP Wangyuh Konyak, MLA (Manipur) Samuel Jindai, Naga representative of Arunachal Pradesh, Jawang Sumpra, Naga representative from Assam I. Jeme and Rev. Dr. VK Nuh, General Secretary, CNBC.
DECLARATION
On this day in the year of the Lord the 31st of August 2005, we the Naga people gathered here at Kohima from all the corners of the Naga Homeland representing our respective communities unequivocally reaffirm our life long commitment for all Nagas to live together as ONE people in a unified Naga Homeland and that integration of all Naga areas must be the foundation of any political settlement.
