Naga Hoho president M Vero has exhorted the Naga scholars and intellectuals to take a more direct interest in the issues confronting the people of the State and offer solutions.

Speaking at a seminar on "Foundations of Naga peoplehood: road maps", organized by the Centre for Democracy and Tribal Studies, here recently, Mr Vero said that unity was the birth right of the Naga people and lamented that the continuing disunity and division among the Nagas would soon make the future bleak for the upcoming generations.

In a message to the seminar, Nagaland Governor, Shyamal Datta called upon the participants to put in perspective the problems and challenges faced by the Nagas in both the 20th and 21st centuries in order to proceed on a constructive manner to reach the goal of just, peaceful and prosperous Nagaland.

The two World Wars in the 20th century as well as globalisation, market economy and war on terrorism have changed the dynamics of societies everywhere, he said, adding in the evolving new structure and framework, an interdependence, never witnessed before in the annals of mankind, was growing among States and societies, transceding people, cultures and religions.

These developments constitute the constant reminder of the frivolity of conflict and terror, being used as an instrument of statecraft, the Governor maintained.

Life is an experience of relationship and the prudence lies in building on each other’s strength in a team spirit for together everyone achieves more. "We have to hold each other’s hand and build bridges with each other to create synergy for peace and prosperity," the Governor added.

Meanwhile, The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) had denied that there were four political parties in Nagaland and further clarified that there was only "one national political party led by Isak Chishi Swu, K Yanthan and Th Muivah in Nagalim" who, it explained, were defending the "Naga national principle" with a resolve to uphold the "national plebiscite."

In a rejoinder to an article titled "Why I believe that reconciliation and unity among Nagas must precede political settlement with India" written by noted writer, Kaka D Iralu, the NSCN (IM) alleged that the other three groups other than them (NSCM-IM) were being "sponsored and sustained by the then Nagaland State and the Government of India."

"These groups are reactionaries and mercenaries acting at the behest of the then State and Central agencies who are bent on imposing divide and rule policy," the NSCN (IM) pointed out, alleging the NNC, in fact, started disintegrating after the six rounds of talks with the Government of India in the late 60s. The shortcomings and the lack of political proper feedbacks of the then NNC leaders caused this disintegration, the outfit (NSCN-IM) further alleged. The outfit also further stated that the NNC ended its existence as a consequence of the signing of the "infamous Shillong Accord and silence of AZ Phizo, who was the supreme political commander of the NNC, to the event was "indicative of endorsement of the said Accord."

The NSCN (IM) also said the mandate of the people was betrayed although they did even try to examine the urgent need to condemn the Accord. Indeed, by exigency the Naga people had no option but to admit or condemn the signing of the infamous 1975 Shillong Accord and nothing else, the outfit added. Therefore, there was no ‘Third’ factor or ‘Neutral Body,’ which in itself was but a party to the signatories or the Accordists, it stated. Describing Iralu’s remarks that NNC alone made the historical facts as not only "provocative but deliberately misleading," the NSCN (IM) questioned whether he (Iralu) was prepared to acknowledge the hard facts on which he had gone against the national stand.

Whether he (Iralu) had the courage to accept or admit the fact that NNC and its FGN had made the worse ignominious mistake by accepting and signing the sell-out capitulation Accord of 1975 against the national principle, the NSCN (IM) said, asking "Was it not a national self-destruction?" And because of this the "Peace camps" came into being and they were very much in active state in its "own shameful ways," it stated. "Is the formation of ‘Transit camps’ the goal of thousands of Naga patriots who laid down their lives in defense of future Nagalim," it further asked.

Although there were some truths in Iralu’s elaboration of historical accounts of the political referendum for a sovereign Naga independent nation that could not be disputed, but history and fate of the entire Naga people could be left and perished in the hands of a "few vested interest who neither sweat nor fight but shout slogans of heroism without admitting the reality of existence," the NSCN (IM) pointed out. The NSCN (IM) also expressed surprise as to how Ms Adino who was never in the vortex of the bloody armed resistance of the Nagas against the occupational Indian Armed Forces but too willingly took the mantle of the Accordists who betrayed the Naga cause and thereby denied the existence of the Nagas, meddled into the "affairs of the sacred cause of the Naga national freedom struggle?"

It further said unless one realized and admitted ones mistakes committed in the past, it was impossible to "exercise sincere, collective and concerted efforts for a common cause." Reiterating that traitors against the nation would not be accepted to take part in the ongoing Naga scared war against the occupational forces, the NSCN (IM), however, stated that door was always open for those who sought to understand the Naga political issues and its principles.
    
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