Mokokchung, 21 August (MTNews): The 30th General Conference of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) is scheduled to be held on 24-26 August 2023 in Ukhrul Town under the theme ‘Solidarity Beyond Borders’ hosted by the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS).
In this respect, the NSF has informed that Benjong Longchar, Secretary Social & Culture, NSF has been nominated to represent the NSF office as the ‘Nodal Officer’ to guide the delegates throughout the conference. “For any query pertaining to the celebration or should the need arise, he can be contacted on +91 7005 65 0984,” it was informed.
SOLIDARITY BEYOND BORDERS
In its thematic note as highlighted in the conference program, the NSF said that it has had its share of “ups and down” under varying situations and circumstances since its inception as an organization in 1947 then and up till now.
“The initial years of its existence were full of interruptions which witnessed the most turbulent political upheavals of those times across the entire Naga nation, where community elders, religious leaders, women, youth and students faced the brunt of gross human rights violations, perpetrated through extreme Indian military atrocities, where it was almost impossible for NSF to even function,” it said.
“But the sheer determination and the need to respond to the call of duty in the service of the nation at that time was more important than to shy away even from the face of death, which has brought NSF thus far,” it added. It went on to say that the same is true even in today’s situation “where the entire Naga society is now caught in internal contradictions where the tentacle of divisions has penetrated into every section of the society.”
It further said that there is something that will never change where NSF as an apex Naga Students’ Organization will forever stand for the fact that “Nagas are One People and One Nation.”
The NSF’s thematic note further said it has never recognized the arbitrary bifurcation of the Naga homeland under two International foreign countries on one hand and further division of its people, land and territories under four Indian militarily occupied states, and under some Self-Administrative Zone in Burma’s (Myanmar) Military Junta, without the knowledge or consent of the Naga people.
“NSF elders before us have done their bit. Yet, the threat of divisions and the imposition of colonial mind-set on today’s Nagas are ever on the rise,” it claimed. “Every day on the pages of Peace Talks and Ceasefires, we can see the clear writings on the walls, which call on us to respond to the needs of the hour, to stand up for our rights to live in dignity for which our ancestors have sacrificed… And we choose to stand up for our rights,” the NSF maintained.
“The Naga Students’ Federation will in whatever way possible stand for the rights of the Naga people as envisioned by our creator and rightfully pursued by our ancestors and elders, and side by side stand with our Indigenous brothers and sisters in earnest Solidarity Beyond Borders,” it concluded.