GNF cancels Layshi Naga New Year visit, calls for immediate end to Naga-on-Naga violence
The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has expressed deep sorrow and serious concern over recent armed clashes involving NSCN (AM) and NSCN (YA) in the eastern part of the Naga homeland located in Myanmar, which have resulted in the loss of Naga lives.
In a press statement, the GNF said available information indicates that an armed incident occured on January 9, followed by retaliatory action on January 12, further worsening an already fragile security situation in the region. Describing the developments as tragic, the forum stated that “the killing of Nagas by Nagas is a tragedy that cannot be justified under any circumstance, regardless of claims of provocation or retaliation.”
Highlighting the broader impact on civilians, the GNF said that internal armed clashes deepen fear, division, and irreversible loss at a time when Naga villages remain vulnerable, borders are tense, and families continue to live with uncertainty. “Every bullet fired at another Naga tears the moral fabric of our people,” the statement said, adding that such actions undermine the moral strength of society and erode the collective spirit of the Naga people.
In view of the deteriorating situation, the Global Naga Forum announced that it has cancelled its planned visit to attend the Naga New Year celebration at Layshi town, scheduled from January 14 to 16, despite having received an invitation. The decision, it said, was taken in consideration of prevailing security concerns and the seriousness of the situation on the ground.
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Calling for an immediate end to violence among Naga groups, the GNF stressed that differences, however serious, must be addressed through dialogue and understanding rather than the use of arms. It noted that the cost of such violence is borne not by leaders or camps but by “mothers, youth, and villages living in the shadow of guns.”
The forum also appealed to all Naga groups operating in the eastern Naga homeland to exercise restraint and act responsibly, noting the region’s proximity to diverse ethnic communities with varied aspirations. It said unity, coexistence, and mutual respect among Nagas are essential for peace and for achieving their collective destiny.
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Urging all concerned to de-escalate tensions without delay, the GNF emphasized the need to uphold the sanctity of human life above all internal differences, stating that history will judge how such moments are handled.
The GNF extended condolences to families who lost loved ones in the violence and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. Reaffirming its position, the forum said it stands with the people in their desire for peace and not with violence, adding that failure to protect Naga lives would amount to a betrayal of both history and the future.
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