Naga Solidarity Walk reaches Maram, ends at Senapati today
Source: Chronicle News Service
Senapati, July 28 2022:
The Naga Solidarity Walk under the theme "One People, One Destiny" kick started on Thursday morning at 6:30 am from Lerie junction, Kohima, with a prayer.
Nagas from all walks of life are participating in the unity journey organised by Global Naga Forum in collaboration with various Naga civil organisations including students unions from beyond the borders of Nagaland.
Nagas from Nagaland, Arunachal, Assam, Manipur and Myanmar are reportedly participating in the rally.
The main objective of the peaceful walk is to break the artificial barriers separating Nagas and to let the world know that Nagas are one people regardless of the artificial boundaries, according to a statement from the Global Naga Forum.
From the Manipur boundary, different stop points are arranged for water, tea and refreshments till the rally reaches Senapati on July 29.Mention may be made that apex CSOs of each tribe representing different Naga districts in Manipur have extended their support and are participating in the rally.
The walk is joined by senior leaders and both young and old.
People joined the walk as the rally reached their locations.
The Naga Solidarity Walk reached Mao Gate around 1:30 pm.
Nagas from Manipur accorded a warm reception at Mao gate and thousands joined the rally from there.
Indian Red Cross Society, Senapati Branch received the rally with an ambulance kept ready for any emergency.
Necessary first aid medicines, water, sanitizers and facemasks for all the passengers were provided by the IRCS, Senapati.
They will stay overnight at Maram.
The walk will culminate at Senapati in the afternoon of July 29.Braving the summer heat and heavy rains, hundreds of Nagas joined the Naga Solidarity walk from Kohima.
During a short ceremony held at Lerie Junction, GNF advisor Dr Visier Sanyu lauded the participants of the walk for making history for the coming generation.
"The Naga family is deeply divided.
But there is a time for everything - to love and to cry.
This is the right time for us to come together to build our nation as one people for one destiny", he said.
"While our ancestors and leaders in the past have fought to defend the land with guns, violence has an expiry date, and that the period is gone", he added.
"Today, we want to fight for our people with our heart and love.
If there is hatred we will bring love.
If there is division, we will bring unity in this walk", Sanyu added.
Through the walk, he said that the world will know that Nagas are one people, hoping that this event will encourage the need to do the right thing for the Naga people.
The walk, he added, is to unite the Nagas as one people and to defend the land.
Appealing to the participants not to provoke people along the way, especially uniformed persons on duty, co-convenor of the walk, Kevitho Kera said, "This is a peaceful march.
We will participate in it lovingly".
GNF member Vichutuolie Mere, while interacting with locals and participants during a lunch break at Viswema Baptist Church said that solidarity walks for the cause began about 70 years ago when AZ Phizo initiated the solidarity walk.
He added that doing away with the violence and hatred of the past, it is now time to get to know fellow Nagas.
As the walk witnessed fewer participants of Nagas from Nagaland in comparison to Nagas of Manipur, Kera said "I think the divisive policy of our aggressors worked to an extent that there is so much division and mistrust.
But we have to start the healing process and today is the day' .
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