General Ningkhan Shimray (MC, VC), Longvibu of Naga Army once again reposed his faith to people as the backbone of the Naga movement. “This is a people’s movement. This is the national movement. Without the youngsters, without the youths, without the people, we cannot do anything” remarked General Ningkhan Shimray, in a candid moment with the members of (NJUM) at Senapati on Wednesday.
Muivah had raised a strong message at Gethsemane Somdal stating that “We Will Stand Our Ground, Come What May”. On being asked what will be the way forward, Naga Army being the backbone of the Naga Movement? General Ningkhan Shimray replied “in fact, we have been preparing. It is not just a one or two day war. We have been preparing for a long time. Even before me there were many other chiefs (of the army), they were preparing. And for me too, when I was outside, we had to link up with sympathetic countries. And we do have a good relationship with them even now. In order to stay strong, and to stay alive and keep our movement alive, we need to have sympathetic countries, organisations and one most important thing that I want to say is that without the support of the people even today, it was and it is because of the support of the people, I can proudly claim that that is our secret weapon. Maybe, you are asking me, “what is your secret weapon. What have you procured?” Of course, we have some of the latest technology which we have procured but that is not the key to victory. But the key to victory to sustain the movement is to get the support of the people. We have the army. I want to just praise God that this time we have established I just want to praise God that this time we have firmly established all over Naga Areas, our ancestral Naga inhabited area, be it Arunachal, Burma and Assam. NC hills, Rengma hills and others, even bordering Bangladesh, we have extended our relationship base and that is one thing I am proud of. But above all that, the rights of the Nagas and the vision that Nagaland for Christ is the key to ask for strength to move forward. And for that reason, I have also said before for the youth and for us, they may ask, “what have you prepared?” They question our preparedness. But, we need nationalism, the true spirit of nationalism; we need the love for the nation, provided that we have the vision. I like to repeat again think beyond, see beyond and go beyond. So that the policy we have enforced today, we are not only thinking beyond, seeing beyond but also working beyond. Even while acting and that is something that will sustain our movement, not by the power or the might of the weapon but by the policy or the strategy based on the blessing of God. That is the main thing, even Avakharar has recently referred to. This is also something that Sun Tzu, a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer had said that “the best leader, the best general wins a battle without a fight.” And today God has brought us to this moment. We are winning a battle. Many will ask, “what have you done? Have you conquered or overcome a battle at this juncture?” There is a time for everything and we are doing that but without shooting a bullet, we are killing two birds. But, the wisest is killing two or three birds without a bullet. And this is the exact present scenario we experienced. Killing many birds without shooting a bullet.
“Due to the intervention of God, we can proudly say that we will overcome no matter what. No force on the earth can stop us when God is with us and when we are upholding the truth and the cause of the Nation. We have that right. Many Christians, even doctorates and professors, asked, “will you get independent? Will NSCN really get independent or is this a lost cause?” My answer to them was, “you are the theologian, you are a professor. Can you assure me that you will go to heaven? Can you give me a guarantee?” Very hard questions. None of them gave me a positive response. My answer was this. Yes, even me too. I will not go to heaven. Not because of my deed. Not because I possess lots of weapons. That I have not done good things. Yet, I will go to heaven because of Christ. He is the way and I believe in him. Through Christ, I will go to heaven. Yes, we will get independence. Not because of NSCN’s might, our ability or power. Not because India is weak or our enemies are weak. Not because of that. But, through the intervention of God we will get independence.”
“We have to stay rooted in the principle. What is that principle? It is that we existed long before many others. We existed because God wanted us to exist. We exist according to God’s plan and that is the principle. No one can suppress that. This is why we are proud to say and claim that our war is a righteous war because God has given us a land, a people, and a future similar to other countries. That is our right “.
The second thing is that our political rights, historical rights are being guaranteed. It has been recognised whereas war is going on between Israel and Palestine. There will be war between Taiwan and China. Because their political rights are not recognised. Their existence is not recognised. Their history is not recognised. So, where history and political rights are not recognised, there will be political chaos, turmoil and war. But, by God’s grace ours is recognised. Naga freedom is based on the fear of God. It is blessed by God. We have the Gospel truth.
“Now, we exist not at the mercies of others but because of God. To the youth, don’t trust the NSCN alone but look up to the vision. Look up to what God has given us. The right that has been given to us. David fought against Goliath. Not because he was mightier or holier but he believed. He was fighting a gospel battle, not an Israel battle. So he won. In the same way, when we fight for God’s battle allowing ourselves as an instrument possessing the vision of God, definitely, that is our future.
Many people are asking, even me, “you are the Chief, what do you tell us, what strategy is there, why don’t you tell us. We want to know. My answer is that I am just an instrument. I could die anytime. I am just a sacrificial lamb committed to the nation. But this is a people’s movement. This is the national movement. Without the youngsters, without the youths, without the people, we cannot do anything. We are helpless, so this is a common cause. A people’s cause. We invite all the youths, I’m not asking for recruitment, I’m asking the youths to look up , not to look at me as the Chief or the General but look up to the cause look up to God, to how he has promised us. We are not going for promised land, we are not looking for promised land, we already have the promised land which God has given us and that is our gospel truth. That is Nagalim. The land for the whole Nagas including Burma and India. So I want to say that this is our weapon and because of this cause, we remain firm. No force on the earth can derail us, stop us or destroy us. This is our foundation. As long as we have the people supporting us, as long as the youth rises up; even if the whole NSCN has been annihilated, if there is one youth who comes forward and takes up the cause, our movement will be alive again. Our nation will be saved again. The power does not lie with the NSCN or with me. We can stand with the support of the youth.
