NAGA NATIONAL FLAG, CONSTITUTION NON-NEGOTIABLE: MUIVAH AT CIVIC RECEPTION EVENT
Thousands of people descended on Manipur’s Senapati town to welcome NSCN(IM) Ato Kilonser Thuingaleng Muivah as he visited the town on Wednesday to attend a public reception event.
Muivah was in the town on his way back to Dimapur (Nagaland) from Ukhrul district where he stayed at his native village Somdal for a week
The event, organised by the United Naga Council (UNC) and hosted by the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO), turned Senapati into a vibrant tapestry of colors as thousands adorned in traditional Naga attires filled the stadium with songs, cheers, and tears of pride. Th. Muivah, accompanied by senior NSCN officials, arrived at Senapati this morning to a rousing welcome at the helipad by representatives of UNC, NPO, NWU, Tribe Hohos, and various civil bodies. Students and cultural troupes lined the streets forming human chains embodying the spirit of unity and reverence for the legendary leader. Delegates from across Naga-inhabited areas and other states attended the reception, marking a rare moment of collective pride and solidarity. To commemorate the occasion, a monolith donated by the Maram Union was unveiled by Lt. Gen. (Retd.) V.S. Atem, Deputy Ato Kilonser (GPRN). Presentations to the Naga Legendary leader from 21 tribe presidents, CSOs and organisations, jubilant Choir presentations from Poumai Naga choir, Mao Baptist Churches Association Youth Choir, Makuilongdi Lun Choir and Maram Naga Choir also marked the grand historic Civic Reception at Tahamzam. In a poignant gesture, the families of Neli Chakho and Dikho Loshuo, two martyrs who laid down their lives at Mao Gate on May 6, 2010, while waiting to welcome Muivah, were honoured on stage. Gifts were presented to them by the lady of Muivah. The atmosphere at the Senapati Stadium resonated with hope, pride, and an unyielding spirit of Naga nationalism, signifying not just the homecoming of a leader, but the reaffirmation of a people’s shared journey for peace, dignity, and sovereignty.
The NSCN(IM) Supremo, in his address at the reception event, thanked the people for their unwavering support and reminded them to hold fast to their history and unity. “I proclaim today that the dedication and sacrifice of the Naga brothers and sisters from Nagalim and the Southern part of Nagalim is priceless and they shall not go in vain, be it in the past, present and future,” he asserted.
He further lauded all the Nagas from the southern part of Nagalim for upholding and defending the historic struggle and the decisive political steps taken by the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) in the current Indo-Naga political peace process.
He said that for all these years, having failed to resolve the Naga political issue through political and peaceful means, India and Myanmar were disillusioned and desperate in their attempt to crush Nagalim and the Naga people by military might. To this end in order to legitimize their actions they have ceaselessly called the Nagas “secessionist” and “terrorist”, he alleged.
However, in truth, Nagalim and the Naga people stood tall and firm in defence of their motherland, their history and sovereignty against the ruthless repression and oppression of the occupational forces from India and Myanmar, he added.
“Both India and Myanmar are desperate and their age-old stratagem of state terrorism foreshadows a violent military conflict with Nagalim again,” he said.
After the reception function, Muivah left for Dimapur by the same helicopter he landed at Senapati from Somtal concluding his weeklong visit in his birthplace after over five decades.
Earlier, while according Muivah a heroic and emotional welcome, the civic reception event hosted by the Naga People’s Organization (NPO) under the aegis of United Naga Council (UNC) adopted a “Naga People’s Declaration”.
The veteran NSCN(IM) leader arrived by helicopter from his native Somdal village in Ukhrul around 10 am. Upon landing at the helipad, he was greeted by thousands waving Naga flags. A grand civic reception marked Muivah’s week-long visit to Manipur from October 22 to 29, during which he addressed several gatherings and held consultations with tribal and community leaders. While extending a warm welcome to the NSCN(IM) Supremo, the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) unfurled the Naga national flag at its office in Senapati.
The hoisting of the flag symbolized the student body’s continued commitment to the Framework Agreement and its core principles, including recognition of the Naga flag and constitution, the organizers stated.
During the reception event, a “Naga People’s Declaration” was also adopted which was endorsed by the United Naga Council, All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Women’s Union, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR-South), tribe hohos, district apex bodies, and village chairmen who attended the event.
Drafted by UNC, the declaration reaffirmed the people’s mandate placed upon the collective leadership of the NSCN/GPRN to represent the rights and interests of the Nagas in the ongoing Indo-Naga dialogue. The declaration reiterated the Naga people’s commitment to an inclusive, honourable and acceptable solution based on the Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and the NSCN on August 3, 2015.
It also affirmed the Nagas’ unity and resolve to stand together “as one people” in their struggle for self-determination and a shared future.