The surviving signatories of the Plebiscite of May 16, 1951 during the 65th Plebiscite anniversary at Chedema Peace Camp.
KOHIMA, MAY 16 : The Naga National Council (NNC) led by its president Adinno Phizo celebrated the 65th anniversary of Naga Plebiscite Day at Chedema Peace Camp today.
The auspicious event was attended by national workers from all walks of life, both civil and underground, including 55 surviving Plebiscite signatories who participated at the Naga Plebiscite Day on May 16, 1951.
Sixty five years ago, on this day, the Nagas voluntarily exercised their thump impression and had pledged to stay independent rather than joining the Indian union. Likewise, the Nagas who attended the 65th Plebiscite anniversary today, unequivocally, reiterated that “Nagaland was and is never a part of India” and that “we are an independent nation with all rights and privileges, to live as a free nation and people.”
At Chedema Peace Camp, all the speakers who took the stage, reiterated before the august gathering that “Nagas will never allow the Indians to suppress us here in our own territory.”
The NNC President, Adinno Phizo, was moved by the good attendance of the Plebiscite signatories.
She recalled the historic event, where over six thousand Nagas arrived at Kohima from all corners of the Naga country, to give their pledge to stand for the Naga nation. Adinno herself participated at the historic event at Sohomi (Chakhesang region) when she was serving as a school teacher.
“Big or small, a nation is a nation. But when your next neighbouring country ridicules your existence, the right way to do is not to fight but to show in action. That was the reason the NNC under the leadership of A.Z. Phizo decided to have a voluntary Plebiscite by the Naga people for the Naga people,” Adinno said.
The NNC president maintained that the Plebiscite result of 99.9% by the Nagas to stay as an independent nation had shown to the world that Nagas are a sovereign nation.
After the Plebiscite, she said “the Indian government sent an emissary and held a meeting with A.Z. Phizo in Shillong, Assam, and offered “any amount of money” for the development of Nagaland, but Phizo refused.” She recalled that Phizo was always conscious about the Naga country, “that once we lose our country, we shall no longer be a free man, and that development do not bring freedom.”
While lauding the sacrifices of the freedom fighters, the NNC president regretted that a section of Nagas had turned towards the wrong direction.
“There are people who use the so-called Shilong Accord as a ghost and scare others to disturb people’s mind,” she said adding that “truth shall prevail and they will realize their mistake(s).”
She went on to say that “unity is not the problem, but those who break it are the problem.” Adinno also yearned for reason to prevail, so that peace ushers in between the Nagas and the Indians.
A surviving witness to the Plebiscite day, Rev. Yankey Patton, who served as the first chaplain of the Federal Government of Nagaland, was steadfast that “Nagas are not Indians and Indians are not Nagas.”
“It’s a shame because of our selfishness and greed has divided us,” Rev. Patton emotionally said.
Responding on behalf of the Naga youths, Welete Kapfo, president, Chakhesang Youth Front and Medo Yhokha, president, Angami Youth Organisation, both called for unity amongst Naga brethren.
Stating that the present scenario of factional crises and divisions are matters of serious concern, and that it poses a threat to Naga unity, CYF president Welete urged for unity of all the Naga political factions.
AYO president Medo Yhokha, saluted and honoured the national workers for their invaluable sacrifices for the Naga nation, but regretted that their efforts for the Naga nation to attain sovereignty is yet to be fulfilled till this day.
“Let us come back together to where we started as one people to fight for a common cause,” Yhokha urged.
He responded saying that “we (the young generation) will be ambassadors of the 1951 Naga Plebiscite. We will be ambassadors of the spirit you have shown and sacrificed for the Naga nation,” he assured.
He urged upon all sections of the Naga society to seek God’s wisdom, with the hope for the Nagaland to be a nation of dignity and honour.
Giving a tribute to the Naga Plebiscite of May 16, 1951, Kaka D. Iralu, Kilonser, Federal Government of Nagaland, stated that the Naga Plebiscite of May 16, 1951 and the declaration of Naga Independence on 14th August, 1947, are two backbones of the Naga nation today.
“If the Naga nation is a living organism like the human body, then the declaration of Naga independence on 14th August, 1947 and the Plebiscite of May 16, 1951 are two legs upon which that Naga body is standing today. This is so because, these two important political events in our history, declared to the world that we too are a virile nation among the nations in the world.
He maintained that “if our fathers and grandfathers had failed to conduct these two unique events yesterday, then today, all Nagas would have become like abandoned orphans with no national or political identity.”
Kilonser Kaka went on to challenge the present generation saying “As we celebrate the 65th anniversary of our Plebiscite Day with the last survivors of that generation, the answer that this generation must give to the world is whether to stand on these two legs (Naga Independence and Plebiscite) or live the rest of our lives on our knees as subjects of another nation?.”
“God, who has given us both our national identity and our Nagaland, demands an answer from every one of us today” he added.
“Looking back over all the cataclysmic events that changed the world’s political face towards the end of the World War-II, the conduct of our national Plebiscite on May 16, 1951 is like seeing the very finger of God directing our national leaders to stake our rightful claims, over our rightful lands, at the rightful time, in our history,” he remarked.
Kaka recalled with regret that “our declaration of independence on 14th August, 1947 and the conduct of our national Plebiscite of 16th May, 1951 went un-noticed because of the terrible war of invasion by India post independence in 1947.”
Stating that India and Burma have absolutely no rights to raise their flags over our ancestral lands and claim our lands and our people belong to them, he called upon all Nagas, on this day – the Plebiscite Day, to unequivocally reiterate that we are an independent nation with all rights and privileges, and further to have a united voice to declare again to the world that Nagaland and Naga territories do not belong to India or Burma.