Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: NSCN deputy ato kilonser VS Atem demanded immediate unity among the Naga people on September 21, 2026. He addressed a gathering at Asufii, Punanamei, in the Senapati district of Manipur. The event was organized by the Mao Students Union. Atem argued that staying silent during the current regional conflict is no longer an option.
The government in India is working to keep the Naga people divided and sub-divided through apartheid policies, according to Atem. He accused security forces of building fences on ancestral land under the guise of stopping infiltration. He rejected claims of trans-border movement within Nagalim, instead labeling Kukis as illegal immigrants. The group will not accept a Berlin wall like structure on their traditional territory.
Atem claimed that central authorities are using Kuki armed groups as proxies against the Nagas. He alleged these militants are being armed and protected while operating under a shady suspension of operations agreement. These groups are reportedly deployed against Naga village guards. He specifically pointed to the May abduction and killing of six civilians from Leilon Vaiphei in Kangpokpi district. Their remains were found later, yet the response from security forces remains a point of contention.
He alleged that troops ignored torched Naga villages while seizing licensed firearms from guards protecting their homes. This differential treatment shows a bias that the Nagas cannot ignore. As he told the audience, "Nagas are treading on thin lines. We must be very cautious of our own actions." Atem concluded by insisting that the community must stand together and refuse to be mute spectators to the ongoing violence.
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