The Naga Students’ Organization (NSO) has expressed “sincere appreciation” to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) for the “safe and unharmed release of 13 Naga Army personnel on the 28th of July 2025 at Tekti.”
In a press communiqué issued by its media cell, the NSO stated that the individuals had been “previously apprehended at the Naga Chanra Gate, located northwest of the Tanai River, on the 18th of July 2025.” It described the release as “a constructive gesture towards mutual understanding and de-escalation.”
While welcoming the move, the NSO “respectfully urges the KIA to also ensure the unconditional return of the arms and equipment that were confiscated during the incident,” saying that “such an act would further contribute to rebuilding trust and good faith between our people.”
However, the student body voiced “deep concern and disappointment regarding recent actions carried out by the KIA.” According to the communiqué, “since the 27th of July 2025, credible reports from the ground have confirmed that the KIA, in coordination with its allied group, the Eastern Naga Defense Army (ENDA), has forcibly abducted several Naga youths in Shin Bway Yang Township.”
“The number of abductees is feared to exceed thirty,” the NSO said, adding that “many of the individuals [were] reportedly taken while on their way to farms, workplaces, and paddy fields.” The situation, it noted, “has fostered a climate of fear and anxiety among the civilian population of Shin Bway Yang,” with residents “unable to engage in their routine agricultural activities, fearing further abductions.”
“These acts of intimidation and forced conscription run counter to the principles of revolutionary ethics,” the NSO stated. “Rather than reflecting the discipline and ideals of a legitimate revolutionary movement, such behavior resembles that of rogue elements and authoritarian oppressors.”
The communiqué further declared that “a true revolutionary struggle is never defined by coercion, fear, or forced loyalty. It is rooted in the will of the people, guided by patriotism, honesty, and moral integrity. Respect and legitimacy cannot be imposed—they must be earned through sincere service to the people.”
Rejecting the ENNO/ENDA press release dated August 1, 2025, the NSO said the statement “attempted to justify the aforementioned abductions” and that the “claims are not only baseless but serve merely to obscure the accountability of their patron, the KIA.” It maintained that “first-hand testimonies from local communities clearly establish the involvement of both the KIA and the ENDA in these actions.”
Addressing the ENDA directly, the NSO said: “If your cause truly lies with the rights and aspirations of the Naga people, then return to your homeland. Live among your people. Earn their trust, respect, and support through humility, service, and accountability. The path of coercion, deceit, and violation of human dignity will never secure the honor of the Naga nation. It will only bring condemnation and isolation.”
The student body reiterated its “urgent appeal to the KIA and its allied ENDA to immediately cease all acts of abduction and intimidation targeting Naga youths to be conscripted.” It urged “all concerned leadership to exercise wisdom and foresight,” warning that “escalating hostilities across multiple fronts will only create more enemies and deepen existing divisions.”
Calling for “genuine, open, and principled dialogue” as “the most constructive avenue for resolving any grievances or disagreements between Nagaland and Kachinland,” the NSO stressed that “true and lasting strength is not found in military force but in empathy, understanding, and diplomacy.”
It also appealed to “all NSCN-GPRN entities to maintain composure, restraint, and patience despite provocation,” cautioning that “any retaliatory military engagement from either sides would only increase the suffering of both the Naga and Kachin people—the two communities historically connected through shared hardships and aspirations for decades.”
“At this critical juncture,” the NSO said, “we believe that the Naga people remain committed to extending the hand of peace and cooperation.” The statement reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to “fostering unity, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence among all ethnic nationalities striving for self-determination and justice.”
“Let us rise above divisions, stand in solidarity, and work together for a future grounded in truth, dignity, and the collective aspirations of our people,” it added.