IMPHAL, February 15: The Mizos are eagerly waiting for the Naga Peace Accord to materialise, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said lauding the commitment of the Nagas towards peace and re-conciliation amidst the ethnic strife.
The Mizoram Chief Minister was speaking as the chief guest of the second day celebration of the Lui Ngai Ni in Ukhrul today.
Unlike in the previous years, Lui-Ngai-Ni celebration 2016 is organised for two days with the celebration kicking off yesterday at the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) ground under the theme “Sowing in tears; reaping in joy” participated by various Naga communities from the entire North East region.
Lal Thanhawla was accompanied by his better half, and former Chief Secretary of Manipur, PC Lawmkunga, who is now chairman of the Mizoram State Public Commission.
Extending his Lui-Ngai-Ni greetings, Lal Thanhawla lauded the UNC for taking the initiative and effort in making the festival a reality. He said the spirit and fervour of the festival continue to grow year after year since its inception 30 years ago.
As a result, today the beautiful Naga tribes and its dances especially the Kabui Naga dance have become well known throughout the world, he said.
Moreover, he maintained that Lui-Ngai-Ni has become an important instrument for promotion of fraternity, brotherhood, mutual understanding in a relationship with others.
“Our respective culture is the best instrument for the protection of our identity, it is my wish it will continue to make contribution for peace and harmony among various communities,” he said.
We should be proud of our heritage, culture, tradition and uphold it everywhere, he continued.
Lal Thanghawla further expressed his gratitude for being invited in Ukhrul for the fact that it was the first district in Manipur where William Petrigrew, the first missionary to bring Christianity in the State had settled. He further credited Christianity for what the tribals are today.
“Alone we can sing but together we can shout, alone you can smile but together we can laugh, alone you can enjoy together we can celebrate,” he exclaimed.
Lauding the commitment of the Nagas for peace and re-conciliation amidst the ethnic strife, Lal Thanhawla said that the Mizos are eagerly waiting for the Naga Peace Accord to be materialised in the near future and added that they would pray for it.
Delivering his speech, the Naga Hoho president Chuba Ozukum stated that the Nagas begin their movement for self-determination based on its uniqueness of its culture, tradition, identity etc.
In 1975, the Nagas signed the Shilling accord, he said.
Since the signing of the accord, for about 40 years now, division and bloodshed (fratricidal killing) prevailed among the Naga brethren, he rued.
Exhorting that it was high time the Nagas to repent and march forward with a reviewed vision failing which, he observed there was no future for the Nagas.
Referring to the ‘unity of Nagas’, he asserted that the unity should be with a purpose. He added that the festival like Lui-Ngai-Ni is an opportunity to unite the Nagas.
Reacting on the three bills passed by the Manipur Assembly, which the tribal claimed to be anti-tribal, he questioned how the Nagas can allow their ancestral rights to be taken away when even the Government of India has recognised the unique history of the Nagas.
“Let us join together and fight till the end to defend it”, held Chuba Ozukum.
Drawing the attention of the visiting Chief Minister of Mizoram, Ozukum maintained that the Nagas also equally need help from the Mizos at this juncture. He further hinted at starting exploring different avenues and approach in their quest for solution.
UNC president Gaidon Kamei, held that the Naga people under the banner of UNC will continue to fight against any attempt of the dominant community to marginalize the inalienable rights of the tribal peoples in the present State of Manipur.
The passing of the three ‘anti-tribal’ bills by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh led Manipur government wants to subvert and truncate the rights of the tribal and also to grab their ancestral lands through such arbitrarily legislations, continued the UNC president.
Kamei also sought the support and co-operation of the Mizos for peaceful finalisation of the frame work peace accord and also for finding common future for tribals in Manipur.
The second day of the festival saw colourful performances dances of various Naga tribes, musical performances by various artists, blessing of seeds by elders and other traditional display.