Indians and Nagas will co-exist as two entities: Rh Raising
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, January 03 2018:
Rh Raising, convenor of the NSCN-IM's highest decision making body, Steering Committee, said today that in order to arrive at an amicable and acceptable solution for both the Nagas and the Government of India it was mutually agreed upon that the Indians and the Nagas will co-exist as two entities and share sovereign power between the two entities.
"Rest assured that this agreement will protect the future of the Nagas," he added.
The convenor of the Steering Committee said this while delivering a speech at the Naga Army Day observation at Camp Hebron near Dimapur today.
According to Rh Raising, "the historic Framework Agreement is the first Indo-Naga political agreement that opens up an era of a new relationship between the two peoples".
He also said that the Framework Agreement is the legacy of both NSCN-IM and Government of India.
"We must value it and protect it at all costs," he added.
Rh Raising also said that the Framework Agreement "speaks about the universal principle of democracy that sovereignty of a people lies in the people themselves and that the sovereignty of the Nagas is with the Naga people".
The NSCN-IM leader further said that the Framework Agreement speaks about the recognition of sovereignty of the Nagas, identity of the Nagas, unique history of the Nagas and the land of the Nagas.
Rh Raising then said that, with the coming of the New Year 2018, "every one of us has renewed his commitment and decision for the cause".
He then asked, "Why formation of Naga Army was necessitated?" "As people, land and God are inseparably interrelated so also the Government, the Army and the Church.
They are the component parts of a state.
Armies are not robots of the Government as supposed by some people, they are also people in uniforms.
Nowhere in history do we find a State without armies.
Armies are the strong bulwarks of a people.
A people without armies is defenseless.
Armies are an organized people in uniforms.
Before the birth of Naga Army, the Naga people were like a city without walls exposed to the danger of subjugation by any invaders.
A cultivator usually builds a fence around his field so that it protects crops! and vegetables from animals or any destructive elements," the NSCN-IM leader added.
According to Rh Raising, Naga army is a strong tower of the Naga people.
"What makes Naga army strong?" he asked.
"What makes it revolutionary?" he further asked, while adding, "It is the spirit of my people and the spirit of my Lord that make every member of NSCN strong like the rock".
Rh Raising then said that the Naga army is also a political army, not only a military army.
"The Naga people have been longing for a political agreement with the Government of India on the basis of mutual respect and recognition of rights".
According to the NSCN-IM leader, Naga army is a fighting force in times of confrontation, but it is also a protective as well as a productive force in the time of peace.
"You must value and protect what you have made or achieved as a man keeps his precious things in a strong room.
This solution is precious for the Naga people because they have invested their times, energy, money, labor and lives for it for decades.
Therefore, we are duty bound to guard it eternally.
Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom," he added.