• Framework agreement is the second bus we cannot afford to miss: Kholi
• Says agreement is issue-based, and embraces all Nagas and their territories
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TH Muivah, General Secretary of the NSCN-IM gestures as he his presented with a Naga Machete during the 38th Naga Republic Day celebration at the NSCN-IM Headquarter, Hebron Camp on Tuesday. (Photo by Caisii Mao)[/caption]
Dimapur, March 21: NSCN (IM) ato kilonser and the outfit’s chief negotiator of the Indo-Naga peace talks, Th Muivah called on the Nagas to retrospect the purpose of Jehovah (biblical god) while cautioning that ‘Nagas will vanish if we go astray against the will of god’.
At the outfit’s 38th Republic Day celebrations held at Hebron camp on Tuesday, Muivah told the gathering that ‘god’ was never pleased with ‘unfaithful servant’. He also said that ‘unless we are clear of our position, we will have no future’.
He called upon the Nagas to understand ‘our position so that together we can seek the purpose of god as Christians.’ The Naga National Council (NNC) resolution for autonomous Naga region and ‘Nagaland for Christ’ was the two best decisions which came at the right time, he maintained.
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TH Muivah, General Secretary of the NSCN-IM address during the 38th Naga Republic Day celebration at the NSCN-IM Headquarter, Hebron Camp on Tuesday. (Photo by Caisii Mao)[/caption]
Muivah also confided that through the August 3, 2015 framework agreement, the NSCN-IM had asserted the integrity of Nagas to the government of India. “We are closer to our sovereign rights and clear about it. Without integration there will be no solution”, Muivah said. He also conveyed gratitude to the various organisations for speaking their mind and making the people listen to their voice.
NSCN (IM) vice president Gen (Retd) Kholi’s message that was read out on the day stated: “The Naga people in their national assembly declared their decision that Nagalim would be a sovereign independent Christian socialist democratic republic. The national movement of the Nagas is inspired and guided by this principle and it has brought the Nagas thus far.
“Ours is a future-oriented movement. We have felt that we are no longer safe in our village-state system; we have come to know that our future is not safe in any states under Indian constitution; it is not safe in the Shillong Accord too, so revolution continues,” Kholi maintained.
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The speech, copies of which were distributed, also persuaded for a solution of the problem. At the same time it also pointed out that 'criticizing, backbiting or preaching against the national workers in the forefront will not solve’.
“Our problems are man-made and the problem is you and me, not the heaven and the earth. Mushroom growth of factions in Nagalim to fight against each other is nothing but to magnify the problem. Solution lies in our decision, not in others. Let us focus on solution of problem, not creation of problem and NSCN is definitely for solution”.
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Emphasising on the framework agreement, Kholi said it took decades for the Indian leadership to realise that Indo-Naga issue is political and not military, which finally brought the two parties to the negotiating table.
The framework agreement, he said, was the foundation upon which a new relationship between the two entities will be developed. He said that the agreement was made on the basis of respecting the right of the Nagas and the security of India.
It went on to explain that the agreement embraces all Nagas and their territories. “It is an issue-based agreement, rejection of which will pull the Nagas back to decades behind others. It is made in the best interest of the two people at this given point of time. This is the second bus we can never afford to miss. Both the parties will value the 'Framework Agreement' and abide by that. The future of the Nagas is now safe under this agreement”.
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United Naga Council (UNC) President Gaidon Kamei who was released on March 20 after arrest by the Manipur Police since January was also present at celebration. He affirmed the UNC will continue to support the NSCN-IM till ‘our goal’ is achieved.
Naga Hoho (NH) leader expressed that mistrust among communities and political groups are still prevailing and questioned if this mistrust among Naga leaders is the handiwork of some agencies.
Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) leader also stated that the Naga leaders have failed the society and in the midst of talks for reconciliation, numerous factions have shot up instead of uniting.
