Kohima, August 20: The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has expressed strong support for the Naga Students’ Organisation (NSO) Myanmar, condemning the recent abductions and forced conscription of Naga youths in Shinbwiyang by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allied group, the Eastern Naga Defense Army (ENDA).
In a statement issued by its Media Cell, the GNF praised the NSO for its “measured and dignified response” that upholds the principles of truth, unity, and justice, which form the core of the Naga political movement. The Forum highlighted the historical solidarity between the Kachin and Naga communities, built on shared experiences of marginalization, resistance, and aspirations for self-determination.
The GNF expressed concern over the KIA’s recent coercive actions, warning that such moves could undermine trust and solidarity between indigenous communities. The Forum suggested that external geopolitical forces, including the Myanmar military junta, India, China, and the United States, may be influencing the KIA’s decisions, which could serve short-term tactical interests at the expense of long-term unity.
Raising questions about India’s potential role, the GNF noted that the KIA’s actions might be linked to covert strategies aimed at weakening Naga unity, particularly in the context of ongoing Indo-Naga political negotiations and the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR).
The Forum urged the KIA to return to its founding revolutionary ethics and appealed for regional unity, emphasizing that indigenous movements should resist being pawns in the power games of dominant regimes. “Our true strength lies in unity, not submission, in mutual support, not coercion,” it stated.
Reaffirming its solidarity with the NSO and the Naga people, the Global Naga Forum reiterated its commitment to peace, justice, and the preservation of fraternal ties between the Naga and Kachin communities.
