Kohima, April 28 : In a paradigm shift, the influential Naga Students’ Federation today called upon the Nagas to cast aside the thought of “full independence” from the country.
The call came on the first day of the four-day 23rd general conference of the student body, which got under way at Mopungchuket village in Mokokchung district from today on the theme Forging Mutual Destiny.
The federation called upon all Naga groups to examine the growing strength of India and Myanmar and accordingly forge a “mutual destiny”.
“When the world is advancing rapidly, the Naga people are still stuck in the ancient/ancestor’s trend of thought that Nagas can live in isolation with full independence,” the student federation said.
The federation urged various Naga groups to realise that the world has become interdependent.
NSF president Imchatoba Imchen and general secretary, Hetoi Chishi urged the Naga people to reassess the idea of struggle and bring it to a logical end without compromising the basic features of an independent nation.
Asserting that Nagas cannot afford to lose even a single moment from now, the federation wanted all Nagas to put their ideas together to see what is within reach and what is attainable at this moment.
“This unresolved political issue has been tremendously disturbing the minds of the younger generation. It is impossible for the youths to develop themselves fully in the midst of a conflict situation”, the NSF leaders said.
The federation also reiterated the need to sort out the differences within the Naga groups without any further procrastination.
The two leaders said there were some forces actively involved in fragmenting the Naga family and therefore, a practical mechanism needs to be evolved in order to bring the Nagas together.
They said instead of the Naga political issue occupying centre-stage, the Nagas were “unconsciously” pushing their inner differences to the fore, thereby overshadowing the main issue for too long.
The NSF, however, said while the Nagas continue to make efforts towards healing the wounds in society, it appealed to all to help carry forward the ongoing “Indo-Naga” peace process.
The federation’s stand contradicts that of some Naga underground groups like the Naga National Council factions and NSCN (Khaplang) which still harp on “full independence” from India. But the NSCN led by Swu and Muivah want an “interdependent” type of a solution to the nearly 70-year-old Naga problem.
Chief minister Neiphiu Rio, his cabinet ministers, several top state officials, leaders of Naga organisations from Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar will attend the conference. Students from the Naga-inhabited areas are also attending the conference.