NSCN (IM) pledges to defend Naga issue

Newmai News Network
DIMAPUR, Aug 18 : Steering Committee (SC), which is the highest decision making body of the NSCN-IM, asserted on Tuesday that it will take “our stand” to defend the Naga political issue at all cost.
A statement issued by Maj. (Retd.) Hutovi Chishi, who is the Convener of the Steering Committee of the NSCN-IM, said that it will go down in the Indo-Naga history the “vile attempt” made by RN Ravi to pull the clock back of the over 70 years of Naga issue ever since the Naga Independence was declared on August 14, 1947 and 23 years after 2nd Indo-Naga ceasefire and political talks.
It alleged that despite such “naked exposure of Ravi’s deceitful agenda, a few selfish Nagas” allowed themselves to be carried away by his “scheming tricks to destroy” the Naga political issue by “desperately” trying to force it into “law and order problem”. The statement asserted, “But NSCN will take the stand to defend Naga political issue at all cost”. It further said that the “Naga Nation Nagalim” is God’s gift to the Naga people and no force on earth can take it away or destroy it. “Such abominable attempt is against God’s creation of the world community,” it added.
The statement added that Nagas are passing through the most decisive moment. “We have to choose which way to go either to allow ourselves to be carried away by the wave of anti-Naga forces in collusion with Ravi led forces or choose to stay active defending the historical and political rights of the Naga people. The decision is crucial as the enemies are at work sleeplessly,” it said.
The Steering Committee of the NSCN-IM further said that it was taken aback that “some of our respectable Naga organizations cheated themselves and Naga Nation as they treacherously ignored the historical and political significance of defending the Naga flag and Constitution”. It also said that for the past more than 70 years Nagas have gone through blood, sweat and tears fighting under the banner of Naga flag. “Our Constitution (Yehzabo) guides us who we are and how we function as distinct people who will go to any extent to defend our lands,” it further stated and added that organizations or individuals who are falling in line with Ravi are to be classified as anti-Nagas.
It added that the Naga people will not forgive those who are trying to kill the rights of the Naga people by supporting India’s “suppressive” policy. “We will never sign any agreement that affects the freedom of our future generations. We will not betray our God who gave us the right and conscience to live as a free Nation. That was the reason why we adopted the slogan ‘Nagalim for Christ’”, stated the Steering Committee of the NSCN-IM. 
According to the Steering Committee, Nagas have come a long way, “the travails that had touched the 74th year ever since we declared Naga Independence on August 14, 1947”. It also said that God “never fails us though we failed.”