Speech of Mr. Ruovihulie Angami on Behalf of APO at FNR Meeting

I thank Chairman Rev. Dr. Wati Aier and his colleagues of the FNR and the representatives from 29 Naga Regions from the Naga inhabited areas, present here today.

I take this privilege being thrusted to me by the officials of APO representatives present here to share my/our views of APO, communicated to me just last night by Mr. Niketu Iralu who could not be present here this morning in this gathering due to his transportation problems. But as per our discussion last night and his telephonic talk to me this morning that I should share something about the views of the Angamis (APO) to all, as given a chance to speak alongwith APO representatives, sitting here together as its representatives.

Our/my first thanks go to the FNR for bringing peace, unity and understanding to the Nagas with brotherly relationship within our Naga family and the Naga National workers /groups in particular. Once the fratricidal killings became common and there was no chance of communicating with each other among the factions for so long but now such things could be made possible through the prayers and best wishes of the Naga people being spearheaded by the FNR since 2008 till today. And we the APO, is very grateful to the FNR in taking up another venture to bring even the Naga Public representatives from the East-West- North-South and elsewhere of the Naga family to come together and show our solidarity to the world that there is a People as the Nagas, exist in this part of the world from time immemorial and continue thus far. And to this occasion of 10th Jan 2018 as the ‘Naga Day’ as already decided in the first meeting of the FNR some 10 days back, I on behalf of the APO shall give the views of the Angamis at this august house in this manner.

As we all know that the Nagas have three undivided principles in our political aspirations, right from the beginning of our struggle for self-determination as an indigenous People and Nation of South East Asiatic region, basing on the Naga Memorandum, submitted to the then British Simon Commission on the 10th Jan’ 1929 by the Naga Club the Naga Independence Day declaration to the outside world on the 14th August 1947; and the Naga Plebiscite conducted site on the 16th May, 1951 by the NNC in confirmation of the first two events already laid down by our forefathers with their farsighted visions for the generations to come.

Yes, we have been told that this Naga Political Memorandum was drafted by Late Mr. Rüzhükhrie Sekhose, one of the first Naga graduates, signed by 20 members on behalf of all the Nagas even to the youngest child born last night and so also the other two events i.e. 14th August 1947 and the 16th May, 1951 conducted by the NNC. And inspite of the present indifferences of views, nomenclature in the organizations and leadership crisis, difference in our approaches in our political straggle for recognition at the international even the days to come, we are one in mind and stand and if Jan. 10, 2018 shall be observed/celebrated as ‘Naga Day’ with a mammoth gathering or few at different places of our Naga areas in extending our brotherly ties and emotional integration as we feel it as quite appropriate and befitting to our present local situation even with our goodwill approaches to our neighbouring states and nations for a peaceful co-existence without hurting the feeling of each other which also would be appreciated by all our Naga National workers and their groups whom we have been in touch all these days.

It is true that the Naga Club and its Memorandum submitted on the 10th Jan 1929 Naga Independence Day Declaration on 14th August 1947 and the Naga Political Referendum conducted on the 16th May 1951are the common properties of the Naga people which no one can deny but since these milestones of events took place in the Angami Region/Jurisdiction and by taking the views on the principles of these three events as common property and especially the 10th Jan 1929 as the Naga Day (being the day as the beginning of registering our Naga National Political rights, the Angamis under the umbrella of APO shall gives our best co-operation to the FNR and to the occasion for the success of the programme by extending all our possible assistance for the successful celebration of this Dignified Day of the Nagas.

This Significant Day, like a birthday of a child, falling on the 10th Jan’ 2018 as the oxodus of the Naga National Movement, there is no question of deferring the date according to our own convenience or waiting another sitting for approval of the House for such celebration which may be bring more complicated issues or less representatives on the would-be gatherings in future for the said approval, we better to give our support to the FNR initiatives of observing the day as the ‘Naga Day’ with voice vote and let every member present here today, may kindly take the message back home to mobilise their respective region for a good participation in this coveted ‘Naga Day’ programme.

We wish the best success of the programme being organized by the FNR, see you all on the 10th Jan’ 2018, wish to see you all representatives to be present on that day, till then bye-bye.

“Wish you all happy safe journey back home”