Sovereignty is our birthright: Muivah
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 14 2022: NSCN-IM General Secretary Th Muivah has categorically stated, "Sovereignty is our birthright Speaking at the 86th Naga 'Independence Day' celebration held at Hebron, Th Muivah claimed that Nagas profess the same faith and political concept.

"We are neither Indians nor Burmese.

There should be no doubt about it that Nagas are a sovereign people from time immemorial, which makes Our history unique", he said.

"Sovereignty is our birthright, which should be defended at all costs.

If we cannot defend our sovereignty, our future will be decided by others.

If we cannot defend our land, the aggressors will possess it.

If we cannot defend our people, we will become foreigners in our own land.

If we cannot defend our freedom, we will become a lost people.

If we cannot defend our history, it will be uprooted.

If we cannot defend our culture, it will be assimilated.

And if we cannot defend our identity, we will be proselytized", the NSCN-IM leader continued.

He said that Nagas do not want war but war is imposed on them.

Noting that the ugly war has damaged the psychology of all people, young and old, Muivah asserted that this war must be stopped or 'it will devour us'.

Nagas look for peace but peace without freedom is a wishful thinking.

Peace does not exist by itself.

It goes along with freedom, truth, justice and rights, he asserted.

Cease-fire is a political terminology.

It is the harbinger of peace.

Cease-fire has been with the Nagas for 25 years now.

"But we see no meaning in the cease-fire that does not embark upon political negotiation.

And we see no meaning in negotiation if it cannot deliver solution", Muivah said.

He continued, "All the past agreements were no solution because they betrayed the Naga national principle.

The Nagas are looking for an issue-based solution.

And that we are opposed to imposition of Indian will on the Nagas" .

Divisive elements and collaborators have been restlessly indulging in slanderous fabrications targeting the Framework Agreement but the Government of India has been keeping pretentious silence over the Framework Agreement it signed on August 3, 2015 .

But the truth shall prevail in the long run, he said.

"On May 31 this year, we took a resolution before God and Naga people that NSCN would uphold and protect the unique Naga history and the Naga National principle at any costs", he stated.

"The Naga flag and constitution are indivisible parts of the recognized sovereignty and unique history.

We believe the Indian leaders too understand it", he said.

The Nagas have endured 25 years of gruelling ceasefire living up to 'our commitment' for peaceful solution of the Naga political issue.

Nagas have waited patiently for seven long years after the historic Framework Agreement was signed on the 3rd August, 2015 .

Nagas have done everything to bring a solution that is honourable, inclusive, and acceptable to both the Nagas and the Government of India, he said.

The ball is now in the court of the Government of India to make the right move and to fulfil the commitment given to the Nagas, the NSCN-IM leader asserted.

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