India trying to weaken our right of freedom: Adinno

Our Correspondent KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 2 The Naga National Council (NNC) today observed the 70th anniversary of its formation day at the Chedema Peace Camp. In her address on the occasion, NNC president Adinno Phizo thanked the Almighty God for guiding the Naga people throughout the years, adding, “We must always be grateful to Him that we became a nation through NNC on this historic day”. She said the NNC was formed at the right time for the Nagas and has preserved Naga identity, and further went on to explain that during the British rule, the Naga “country” was called Naga Hills but at the time they were leaving in 1947 they thought of joining the Naga Hills with Assam as a tribal district. However, she said this was rejected by the Nagas, and the NNC became prominent in the affairs of Nagaland after the British withdrew from “our country”. She mentioned how the Nagas fought the last battle with the British in November 1879 and later agreed on peace without a binding agreement in March 1880. Also talking about how each Naga village had its own tradition that kept the people together, she stated that no village can imagine that outsiders/foreigners can come and occupy their villages because it is so attached to them. “Therefore, when we love our country that much, the enemy cannot call us ‘stubborn’ for upholding the Right of the Nagas,” Adinno said. On the Indo-Naga issue, the NNC president said in India the present government is searching for their past “freedom fighters” even from remote places, but in Nagaland, “their occupation armed forces” are empowered with the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 (AFSPA) till today. “India is trying to weaken our right of freedom in all possible ways. But with good guidance and by the grace of God our spirit is strong,” she asserted. She reminded all of the former NNC leader late AZ Phizo’s words that the NNC is evolved from the people’s consensus and that it is the ultimate political institute of the Nagas, with every Naga having a responsibility to uphold the Council. Delivering a short speech, former president of Naga Hoho, Yiesonü Veyie recalled that many great Naga leaders took initiative and with the consensus of the Naga people, the NNC was formed on 2nd February 1946. This has greatly propounded the identity of Nagas as a nation, he said. He remarked that the Nagas have been struggling for a long time and the people’s aspirations saw ups and downs during the course of their political journey, but “our nation” still survives with great expectations. He also pointed out that Naga “national workers” and leaders have faced many problems and odds at different stages however God had provided for them. Underscoring the need for unity and to bring the people and patriots of different groups together, Veyie said all are product of NNC as they gave the mandate to the Council through the Naga Plebiscite of 1951. He stated that the Nagas are not revolutionaries nor insurgents but a people, and went on to ask the NNC authorities not to keep their hands fisted but to accept whoever is trying to join them. He emphasized on the need to accommodate one another and take each other into confidence and accept what each person can contribute to the Nagas. Former ABCC president Dsiesevilie and retired bureaucrat Thepfülhouvi Solo also gave brief speeches on the occasion. The programme was attended by NNC members, FGN “kedahge” Retd. Gen. Viyalie Metha and his colleagues, and several public leaders among others. Earlier, Sangtam Baptist Church Kohima pastor Rev. Imti read out a passage from the Bible and pronounced a prayer while the youth of Poumai Baptist Church Kohima presented a song.