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12/28/2008: "SPEECH OF GENERAL SECRETARY TH. MUIVAH ON THE OCCASION TO COMMEMORATE THE 50th NATIONAL SERVICE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF CHAIRMAN ISAK CHISHI SWU ON 28th DECEMBER 2008"

SPEECH OF GENERAL SECRETARY TH. MUIVAH ON THE OCCASION TO COMMEMORATE THE 50th NATIONAL SERVICE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF CHAIRMAN ISAK CHISHI SWU ON 28th DECEMBER 2008

Th. Muivah


Published by: Ministry of Information and Publicity
Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim.


SPEECH OF GENERAL SECRETARY TH. MUIVAH ON THE OCCASION TO COMMEMORATE THE 50th NATIONAL SERVICE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF CHAIRMAN ISAK CHISHI SWU ON 28th DECEMBER 2008.


My dear comrades and fellow friends of Nagalim

I came to know Mr. Isak Chishi Swu for the first time in our college days in Shillong. In course of time I found in him the very point I treasured most and that was the fear of the Lord. In fact he was able to maintain good account of himself. The way he struggled as a student for his own survival was exemplary. He did not allow events to overtake him and that was wise of him. He did realize that God knew the best for him and that was his consolation, perhaps even all along the way that remained yet unseen. Before long I heard that Mr. Isak was already in the forefront. That was good news to everyone including me.

After the completion of my post graduation in Political Science, I looked back at the past and the world to correctly ascertain the forces that had been at work behind the changes of History and in the outlook of mankind. I was all the more clear and persuaded of the truth that I had fortunately grasped since my younger days. I felt liberated and was confident that the world would not be able to mislead me. The cry for liberation of societies from the conception of wrong ideas became a matter of necessity. Thus the conviction that human beings are destined to live but for the better was enhanced. But then deep in my heart a question remained lingering- “who can deny the issue of eternal salvation?” One might ignore that but at his own peril. The reality is that no human being has ever saved himself. Therefore, he needs a savior who could save him. It is no other than Jesus, the Christ, the son of God, for he has conquered death and the grave. Thank God the problem is solved. I found that truth in Him alone.

Determined as I was to serve the cause of my persuasion I gladly got enlisted in the resistance movement in 1964 and met with Mr.Isak Chishi Swu. There was not much problem between us. We realized the responsibility that we were to be a part of each other, to set the movement in the right direction that is towards the destination. But the real trials could only be overcome in the long course of the struggle and that wouldn’t be easy. How long the refining process in the furnace of precarious situation would take: because the world could only be for those who could be prepared for the worst. Wave upon wave tough situation would certainly arise from within and without to shake everyone down to reality. Many might tend to shy away from the challenges. But I believed my friend Isak could hold himself under all circumstances, because he was a man who did not allow fear and confusion to overtake him. Yes, he did not bluff himself whenever the right of the people was challenged. When the bulk of the national workers from his community broke away from the organization sometime in 1969 he was hurt thinking of what history would say. But he firmly stood his ground and that act of his inspired many. When our leaders at home betrayed the nation in the so called Shillong Accord in the most treacherous manner, Mr. Isak did not fail to rise to the occasion. Taking the lead by us the Shillong Accord was condemned in the General Assembly as a total sell-out and saved the proud History of the Nagas. Everything was brought back again on the right track. But that was not the end. When some Naga army officers led by Col. Supong conspired by the Accordists, staged a coup-de-tat in 1978 and the leaders were to be put to death on account of condemning the notorious accord, Mr. Isak was never shaken. We took the military-takeover of the power for a challenge to the very issue of our national existence. God knew who and what we were for. He stood by us and made us more than a conqueror!

The greatest harm to any people’s movement is caused in most cases from the weaknesses of the leadership. When a leader, instead of being with the people, places himself above them, the purpose of the struggle is virtually betrayed. The foundation is destroyed. Yet he will not hold back on his own. He becomes the law and that is the end, but the cause remains to be saved and that is the issue. When Mr. S.S. Khaplang attacked our Headquarters at Hangshen in 1988 everyone in the camp was totally taken aback and murmured what motive prompted him to commit crimes of such magnitude when everything was going well. The reason could be traced back to his free style of living before we merged into one. There was no moral constraint in him. Ethical inhibition was almost nil. In short, he was above discipline, above organization, even above national principle. He did not care to bear with rational criticism. Such a leader naturally found difficult to work with and live for long within bounds. Finding no other way-out he had to see that disciplines were done away with to undermine the position of the leaders who he thought were standing in his way. To serve that treacherous purpose he deliberately concocted accusations of various sorts against Mr. Isak and me. He at once unleashed unprovoked killings of faithful national workers by attacking the CHQ. He did what the foes exactly wanted. And then headlong he collaborated with the Indian armed forces against the steadfast patriots who he shamelessly called traitors.

Notwithstanding, the treacherous happenings from within us Mr. Isak clung to the principles. He was in the Kachinland held up by the situation there and also betrayed even by his confidents. But the hardest task still he had was how to take his tender daughter Evali and wife back home crossing the entire area of Mr. S.S. Khaplang. Cutting through unthinkable jungles, sometimes chased by blood thirsty Khaplang boys- God took them home safe and sound. We found Mr.Isak and family more determined than ever. Everyone was profoundly inspired to see them back home with unprecedented high spirits. Thank God we have still leader of such standing to lead the nation.

Still undeterred by the tightening situations from all sides, Chairman and my party could make our way to foreign countries. We struggled hard to make our case clear to whomever we met. We could soon gain ground and a good number of international organizations came to understand that ours was a strong case. Mr. Isak’s several presentations of our case in the UN Human Rights meetings were heard with much attention and sometimes with applauses. The progress made in the international field subsequently alarmed the Indian government. It became a challenge which India could no longer ignore. What is more, the policy of the authority at home was also correct and went successful winning the support of the masses at large beyond expectation. In the war front our Naga Army kept fighting with the Indian occupation forces undauntedly inflicting defeat one after another. They knew the war they fought was just and they took pride in it. Truly they put up the fight with extra-ordinary courage and smartness. They had made themselves invincible through defying challenges from various corners all along the many years. They deserved to be saluted with the highest esteem our nation can afford. Thus, evidently with the successes and achievements made on fronts both at home and abroad the leaders of India were constrained to review their attitude and policy towards the Nagas. The leadership in the decision making including the Prime Minister and the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed forces came to admit the truth that Indo-Naga issue was/is political, not a law and order issue of India. Therefore, it had to be settled through political means. General Choudhury frankly made it clear that military solution was not possible. Knowing now the way the course has been influenced thus far, who dares say that God is not working? God always works but in His own way, helping those who help themselves. The great Jehovah is with us. And with him we are invincible. But the question which can defeat us must be clear to us, for the greatest wisdom to salvage the Naga nation lies in searching out the issue. Undoubtedly it is our sins i.e. the sins of the NSCN and the Naga people that will ultimately destroy us. So, we Nagas have to know that the first and the greatest danger to us is our sins. This unsolved problem must be solved first. This is the demand of the time.

We have still much to say in praise of Mr. Isak and his wife. They are God-fearing. The truth that convinced them first was that Nagalim was given to the Nagas by God and not at all by any power. It must therefore be defended at all costs. Mrs. Uster chishi Swu the first lady does not have much schooling, but when she grasps something real she stands firm for it and that is really an asset to the national cause. Right from the start Mr. and Mrs. Swu do not stop praying for the nation and that is indeed an inspiration to everyone who loves Nagalim. I should also say that they have run the race through the dangerous and slippery road of struggle all for the sake of our Lord and for the little Nagas. They too have compassion for the misguided. Accordingly they have done the best they could. They realized the fact that though to forgive is hard for a human-being there is nothing too hard for the Lord and we also believed in that. Of course, it is sometimes easier said than done. But if to do the better is the mission of a people or a nation the way to do it must be through reconciliation simply because anyone whoever might be has to repent and confess whatever crime he has committed in the past. If confession done is genuine he must be gladly forgiven. We think that is the only way to reach the meeting-point. To that end Mr. Isak in the name of Chairman of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim and with the unanimous support of its members, made a clear proclamation on the 13th. Jan. 2007. It is now left to the sensible people to understand. To us righteousness is not in the bombastic claims of the traitors, nor is that in their high-sounding phrases and slogans. To us trying to please the people of treacherous culture at the expense of the just cause is never a good politics. Equally, to please everybody without setting the principle or basis is not going to lead us anywhere. Even then, despite the unhappy happenings; we will stand for the reconciliation process. At the same time we will be vigilant to see that the reconciliation process is not mishandled or exploited.

I am full of pride and joy to celebrate this day the 50th anniversary of Mr. Isak in the National service. Our nation survives still but on account of the thousands of martyrs and the unyielding Nagas under his leadership. I am sure that our people now and the generations yet to come shall be proud of Mr.Isak for his unsparing sacrifices and the kind of leadership given to the little but tough Nagas throughout the perilous years of the past. I pray that the Almighty God grants him still good health and long life to lead the Nagas and fulfill His purpose in Mr. Isak Chishi Swu.

KUKNALIM !