NNC leader calls for Nagas to transcend tribal divisions

DIMAPUR — President of the Federal Government of Nagaland, Naga National Council, Gen. (Retd.) ThepuneyiRhakho, emphasised the need for Naga people to transcend tribal divisions and embrace a collective Naga identity.

In a statement on Sunday, Rhakho said that the Naga people “have been fragmented by borders and boundaries, by ideologies and interests which had immensely hindered efforts towards unity. Additionally, external pressures and geopolitical dynamics have further complicated the path to liberation.”

Besides this, the government of India has decided to divide the Nagas further by scrapping the Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement with Myanmar and building a fence in the middle of their territory, he said, asserting that “the occupational forces have no right to do that and we shall stand strong together against it.”

“It (FMR) allows Naga people to freely engage in traditional practices, celebrate festivals, and preserve their unique heritage without fear of restrictions or discrimination. Cultural exchange flourishes as individuals from different Naga tribes and sub-tribes come together to share their customs, languages, and stories, enriching the collective tapestry of Naga identity,” read the statement.

In this context, Rhakho also called on the eastern Naga people to “come together as one people and one nation, under one flag and one constitution.”

“Let us not bring division amongst us. This is a time for integration, not disintegration,” he said.

Stating that nationhood is not merely a geographical construct but a collective consciousness of a people bound by a common heritage and a shared destiny, he went on to say that, the Naga people must first acknowledge and embrace their differences.

At the same time, Rhakho emphasised that the Nagas must also recognise their shared history and common aspirations.

Stating that the Naga people are united by their struggle for self-determination, he underscored that “building Naga nationhood requires us to transcend the narrow confines of tribe and group-ism or factionalism and to embrace the larger identity of being Naga.”

“It requires us to rise above petty grievances and partisan politics, and to work together for the greater good of our people,” he stated.

Rhakho called on the Naga people to recommit to the principles of non-violence, justice, equality, and democracy.

“Let us not dilute our history. Let us base our unity on our historical rights and our historical facts with our historical achievements. We will not take what is not ours nor shall we give up what is ours,” he went on to state, adding that the Naga people can overcome internal divisions and external challenges by forging a spirit of liberation rooted in shared identity and common goals.