Nagaland: NSO calls for unity, urges Naga groups to end violence

The Naga Students Organisation (NSO) has strongly condemned the ongoing clashes and retaliatory violence between NSCN-YA and NSCN-AM, expressing deep anguish over the loss of Naga lives.
In a statement, NSO said it was painful and unacceptable to witness Naga blood being shed by Naga hands, terming such acts a betrayal of the collective sacrifices and political aspirations of the Naga people.
Calling the situation a defining moment in Naga history, the organisation said that at a time when Nagas faced serious political, social and territorial challenges, internal armed conflict was self-destructive. It cautioned that failure to stand united would endanger the Naga political future and lead to the erosion of rights, land and identity.
NSO asserted that internal violence weakens the Naga cause and strengthens forces that seek to fragment and defeat the Naga people. It maintained that no political principle, factional interest or leadership ego could justify the killing of fellow Nagas, warning that history would not forgive those who chose fratricide over responsibility.
At the same time, NSO stressed that dialogue remained the only honourable and sustainable path forward. It urged both NSCN-YA and NSCN-AM to immediately cease all retaliatory actions and constitute peace members or committees within their respective groups.
“Differences must be confronted across the table, not across gun barrels,” NSO stated, appealing both sides to give dialogue a genuine chance in the larger defence of Naga political rights and principles.
NSO also declared that it was fully prepared to coordinate, facilitate and initiate a peace process if both parties came forward with duly constituted peace representatives. It said it was ready to play a constructive and responsible role in bringing the two sides together in the interest of peace, unity and the collective future of the Naga people.
Expressing concern over public sentiment, NSO said the ongoing clashes and loss of lives had deeply wounded the feelings of the people. It added that students, youth and the general public were watching with growing pain, anger and disappointment, and warned that continued violence would further alienate the people and erode public trust.
It further called on both sides to exercise restraint in words as well as actions and urged an immediate stop to provocative language, hostile statements and inflammatory rhetoric, saying such expressions only fuel hatred and escalate an already fragile situation. NSO cautioned that the Nagas would not tolerate further violence carried out in their name.
Describing its appeal as a firm message from the voice of the Naga people, the NSO said: “Stop the bloodshed. Stop the retaliation. Choose unity over division and responsibility over revenge.”
It maintained that the future of the Naga nation depended on wisdom, courage and restraint at the present critical hour. Reaffirming its stand, the NSO said it remained committed to peace with dignity, unity with purpose and a shared political future for all Nagas, and called on all concerned to rise above factionalism for the survival and honour of the Naga nation.