‘One People, One Destiny:’ Naga Solidarity Walk to begin July 28

June 14, 2022 115 Views No Comment

DIMAPUR, JUNE 14 (MExN): A Naga Solidarity Walk under the theme ‘One People, One Destiny’ is set to begin on July 28 across the Angami, Mao, Maram, Poumai territories and will converge in Tahamzam (Senapati) on July 29.

The walk is being coordinated by the Global Naga Forum, All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur, Angami Students’ Union, Arunachal Naga Students’ Federation, Eastern Naga Students’ Association, Rengma Naga People’s Council, Western Rengma Students’ Union Nagaland.

A press release from the media team of the Naga Solidarity Walk informed that the walk is the “first leg of a people’s relay for unity and peace in the Naga homeland.” This is not an anti-India project; this is a pro-Naga movement and a non-violent one, it informed.

The team said that Naga ancestors from multiple languages and cultural families “walked the length and breadth of their respective territories for hundreds of years if not millennia.” “Then European colonialism and modernity arrived in these parts. And with that, colonial Britain and postcolonial India and Burma split up the Naga homeland for control of our lands and ancestors,” it said.

It noted that the Nagas of the 21st century need to “step into the soles of our ancestors and walk the length and breadth of the Naga homeland across the artificial boundaries that are dividing us.” It said that the Nagas have “fought hard for our right to live in an undivided homeland, and to grow and thrive together as a people.”

However, it observed that “our homeland remains divided and our right to a self-determined future has been stalled by external and internal roadblocks.” The most formidable roadblock, it said, was and still is the militarization of the Naga homeland.

“Extra-judicial laws like the Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the Indian side of Naga homeland have infested our lands and lives like deadly locusts since the 1950s,” it stated.

The Naga homeland, the press release said, is (in Indian armed personnel-to-Naga ratio) one of the most if not the most heavily militarized regions of the world. It further stated that the Naga people in “Myanmar occupied Naga Homeland are groaning in pain under the rule of a State against our wishes.”

It said that the Nagas have reached a critical point but “somewhere on the difficult journey, some Nagas grew weary and lost focus. “But deep down, given the right moment and opportunity, the resilience of the Naga people and the spirit of camaraderie in our character will sustain us,” it hoped.

The press release said that the walk will be a means to “converge in a common path of healing and peace for a shared journey to an undivided homeland.” The Solidarity Walk, it stated, will “celebrate our being Nagas together.”

“It will be inclusive, non-partisan, and peaceful. The walk will bridge the divisions and boundaries – physical and regional, ideological and political, tribal and gender. It will be a joyous cultural enactment of Naga sisterhood and brotherhood, reinforcing our community bonds as a people across the states in India and Northwest Myanmar, as well as Nagas around the world,” the press release added.

The organizers meanwhile appealed for the help of every Naga, leader, organization and CSO throughout the Naga homeland. “We believe Nagas will step forward and help out in your respective capacities and with your resources, whether that is participating in the walk, giving financial assistance, working on the planning and logistics, providing goods, or serving the community. Every Naga is invited to be a part of our journey,” it said.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/one-people-one-destiny-naga-solidarity-walk-to-begin-july-28