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09/04/2010: "NSCN-IM arms dealer apprehended PTI IBN"

NSCN-IM arms dealer apprehended PTI IBN

Guwahati, Sept 4 (PTI) A NSCN-IM arms dealer was apprehended by BSF during a special operation in upper Assam's Golaghat district along Nagaland. Acting on specific information, the BSF 10 battalion troops and apprehended the arms dealer on Thursday at Barpathar railway station as he was disembarking from the Lumding-Tinsukia passenger train, BSF sources said today. He was identified as Nick Suni(21), a resident of Dimapur in Nagaland. A search of his possesions lead to the seizure of a 9mm pistol, one magazine and three lives rounds of ammunition, the sources said. During preliminary interrogation Suni confessed to working for NSCN-IM as an arms dealer, the sources adding he was handed over to the police.
Doubt and Fear in Naga Christianity Paul Pimomo Morungexpress
I am writing in response to Sentimeren Longkumer’s articles on Christian missionary methods in Nagaland in the wake of the Anatongre village incidents, as well as to Imti Jamir’s piece on the same subject, all of which recently appeared in The Morung Express. Longkumer and Jamir have both mentioned me by name, so I feel obliged to respond. I do so in good faith, for the sake of greater understanding among Christians in Nagaland. I refer to the following articles in my response: Longkumer’s “An evaluation of Christian Mission methods in context of various denominations in Nagaland” and “Rejoinder to critique of ‘An evaluation of Mission method’”; Jamir’s “Is something wrong with the present Christian Mission Strategy?”
Let me begin with the first point I raised earlier about Longkumer’s first piece because he left it unanswered in his second. His main argument was that further missionary work is unnecessary in Nagaland because Nagas are already Christians. I responded by calling his premise into question. I said that by his logic, Jesus should not have been allowed to preach and win followers because the Jews already had their religion. In fact, that was what the religious leaders of Jesus' time (Pharisees and Saducees alike) did: they opposed Jesus' teachings and plotted against his life. So Nagas who oppose further denominational missionary work, on the grounds that Christianity already exists in Nagaland, need to think again. That is the biblical side of the controversy, namely using Jesus’ life and mission as a guide.
The other side is legal and constitutional, since Christians must live not just among fellow Christians but with others. And for this, we have a UN charter and the Indian constitution to follow, both of which affirm freedom of religion as a fundamental human right. This means that whatever religious convictions and considerations may be in operation in any church at any given time, it would be a violation of international and national laws to prevent, without just cause, the propagation and practice of another’s faith or religion.
In short, two things -- the biblical parallels we have in Jesus’ life and time and the fundamental right to freedom of religion -- are the proper context for judging the appropriateness or otherwise of the Christian missionary methods in Nagaland, or anywhere else for that matter. There will be any number of other important things including financial worries, but they must come second to these two considerations.
For instance, Longkumer asks in his Letter to the Editor: “supposing your denomination has covered an area where you have planted churches in every village, town and city. Here, if another denomination comes and breaks up your churches and denomination, (even for good reasons) what would you feel?”
I would feel bad of course. And angry if by “break up” Longkumer means the use of violence, which is indefensible. But if the conversion is done peaceably, however badly I may feel about it, I should know that my feelings are less important than my duty to respect the rights of other people. Since I enjoy the right to practice my faith, I must accord others the same right. Peaceful co-existence is a Christian value too. On the other hand, I know that using violence to propagate my faith or to discourage another’s faith is illegal and morally wrong. So regardless of denominational affiliation, all right thinking Nagas need to acknowledge that something un-Christian and illegal was done in Anatongre village. And it is our Christian and civic responsibility to help right the wrongs done in our land.
Some Naga Christians worry, as Imti Jamir does, that Nagaland will suffer from a “deluge of denominations” and the financial resources available to churches will be spread so thin that they will not be able to survive, and Christianity will die out. First of all, the denominational deluge scare is a classic instance of the questionable slippery slope argument to deflect attention from the real and more serious issue of a human-rights violation. Secondly, should several denominations exist in an area and start competing for scarce resources, the true Christian thing for the denominational leaders would be not to turn to violence but to turn the difficult situation into an opportunity for more collaboration among the faith communities for the greater good of all. Like going from mere peaceful co-existence to taking a proactive approach: helping out one another and learning to be each other’s Good Samaritans. If they were to do that long enough, should they unfortunately face extreme financial crisis, the denominations might even agree to share one beautiful church (instead of competing to build churches beyond their means with donations from sometimes questionable sources). It makes perfect sense for the denominational faith communities to take turns to worship the same Lord in the same House of God. People of the village or town would be Christians after Jesus’ own heart.
Longkumer has another worry that he shares with many Naga Christians. They fear that Nagas have reneged on the pledge they made to God to send 10,000 missionaries to the rest of the world. I’m not speaking for God, obviously, but I’d like to think God will understand, not blame, the youthful passion of the Naga Church for His Kingdom if Naga Christians make sure we keep our own house in order. Which little boy has not promised his mother the world when he grows up? And what mother takes her child to task for not delivering her the world? Sending 10,000 Naga missionaries around the world should not be more important than living Christianity at home, unless we wish to blame God for messing up our priorities.
From what I see, the concerns raised by Longkumer and Jamir are shared by many Christians in Nagaland, and they are based mostly in unnecessary self doubt and fear of the worst scenario in every case. There are better ways. For instance, how about working on a reasonable expectation of what Nagas can do together to deal with difficult situations – religious or otherwise? It seems that because of the absence of trust in each other, and our lack of imagination beyond the tribal and the denominational lines, Nagas have imposed limitations on ourselves that are becoming impossible to overcome. So we live in doubt and act in fear of the worst, and the worst happens. It can’t be otherwise because we unconsciously work to produce the worst.
The way out of this self-imposed impasse is to make sure that we approach problems in our society with a strategy that integrates the values of the two things in our history that have come to define the best in Nagas as a people: Christianity and human rights. Naga Christians must learn to become faith communities founded on peace and social justice. The process must begin at home, among Christians, among Nagas. We must set our house in order before we worry about Christianizing the rest of the world. Peace.
Paul Pimomo (USA)
mopipi@hotmail.com
'I have dream that Nagas will one day achieve our dream". morungexpress
I Have A Dream for nagas MEx I have a Dream Campaign Please share your Dreams at:
mexdream@gmail.com
I have a dream to change that Naga will one day live united in one Aim and objective.
I have a dream that Naga people will one day realize that Naga problem need all naga solution not one man solution.
I have a dream that Naga wealth will be benefit to all corners of our people in Nagaland not only by the people in power.
Today in our land we had less time of happiness to enjoy our life, but sadness and sorrow are part of our daily life longer time then happiness time.
I have a dream that Nagas will one day stop asking help from businessmen in Dimapur with guns in our hand.
I have dream that one day our land will heal caused tears flow like a river and people are still killing each other in our land, all family was broken like a glasses by bullet many women became widows and many child were orphan.
Unfortunately, too many of us are like a young deaf boy name John. He never heard his fathers simple but important message: John I love you' we cannot be like little boy John brimming with enthusiasm, babbling about our activities, and missing our Heavenly Fathers Message. "I Love You Naga People".

"Its Never Too Late for Nagas"
It is never too late to take a new direction and move boldly towards a new Destination.
It is never too late to square our shoulders and meet the challenge head on
It is never too late to fight back and achieve success To Come Back The Right Way!
"Lets all Dream for Nagas to stop killing among Nagas".

I have a dream that all the collective leaders of Nagas, that with one stroke of their pen and their one shoot of our bullet will change the destiny of Naga’s future according to God’s will.
"Lets all Dream for Nagas tomorrow'
H. Vikato Zhimo, Lumami Naga.