Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 31 (EMN): Leaders of the NSCN (IM)’s Angami region on Friday reaffirmed their stance on ‘Naga integration’— territorial integration of all Naga contiguous areas— during a seminar on ‘Retrospection on Naga Integration.’
The seminar was organised by the Angami region of the NSCN (IM) at Hotel Hut, in Kohima. The Naga aspiration to live under one umbrella of political and administrative entity as “one people, one nation” has been the driving force of Naga “national movement,” said Mhiesizokho Zinyü, former president of the Angami Public Organisation, who was the resource person of the day.
“The Naga politics has been all inclusive, and there has never been any connotation such as insider or outsider. Any Naga whether living in Nagaland or Assam or Manipur, or Arunachal Pradesh or Burma (now Myanmar) is a Naga by identity,” Zinyü said.
“Nagas have a unique history and unique nationality and have upheld it. It has never been conquered or subjugated by any power or nation before the British took over South East Asia. The Nagas had no treaty with any nation. In fact Nagas lived in their own village-states undisturbed,” he added.
Zinyü urged the Naga people to follow the footsteps of the forefathers, more than ever now, in order “to strengthen the unity and integrity of Naga nationhood.”
“Back then, Nagas had their own form of self-governance governed by traditional practices, customary laws, and religious belief,” he reminded.
Zinyü went on to say that “survival of the people largely depended on its land and its natural resources. Thus the concept ‘Ura Uvie’ (our country, our own) is deeply rooted in the ethos of Naga nationalism,” he said.
Zinyü added that people living in and around Kohima were more fortunate to have received political education than some other Naga tribes living in remote places. He said that he was “fortunate” to be talking to Angami leaders in the national service.
He added that Naga forefathers “with a patriotic urge, believed in the unity and integration of Nagas and they had sworn in the unity of Naga people, in the motto ‘Ura Uvie’.”
Member of the NSCN (IM)’s Collective Leadership, ‘Rtd. Lt. Col.’ Victor Angami in his short speech said that they will back any party (faction) that works for the welfare of the Nagas in its true sense.
He urged Nagas, particularly youngsters, not to take ceasefire lightly.
Zeneituo Angami, a ‘kilonser’ in the NSCN (IM) hierarchy, said that government of India is trying to “disintegrate the Nagas.” According to him, the ‘greatest divider’ is the Shillong Accord.
