EMN
Dimapur, January 31
NSCN-IM Kilo Kilonser Rh.Raising today asserted that ‘NSCN’ is the authentic organization of the Naga people which represents their aspiration and issue and that it has brought the ‘Naga nation’ to this day despite hardships and oppositions after the ‘demise of NNC’.
Raising in his 37th NSCN-IM Raising Day celebration message said, “On this day the 31st January 1980, the National Assembly at Tonou approved ‘NSCN’ and mandated it the national trust. Hence, ‘NSCN’ is the authentic political organization of the Naga people, not a faction as projected by the enemies of the Nagas.”
He said, NSCN-IM has conducted consultative meetings with the Naga people consecutively for 8 times for building up relation between the people and the workers and for creating political consciousness on the issue.
NSCN-IM through CNC (Council of Nagalim Churches) has been conducting continuous fasting prayers meetings and prayer crusades for strengthening the workers mentally and spiritually, Raising said adding, NSWON (National Socialist Women Organization of Nagalim) has since its foundation stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts in all fields. Civil organizations in Nagalim have given their cooperation and have been a good ally of the NSCN in the struggle for the cause, Raising said. “GPRN under the umbrella of NSCN is in control of all Naga territories and running government effectively covering 27 regions. NJB (National Judiciary Board) has been looking after judicial matters for dispensing justice on the basis of Naga customary laws.
Naga Army under the banner of NSCN confronted the enemies in the east, in the west, in the south and north with conviction and faith. Many patriots were martyred in the line of duty while defending the future of the Nagas.”
NSCN-IM Kilo Kilonser recalled, “With the signing of the Shillong Accord on 11th November 1975, the future of the Nagas was placed in a very dangerous situation of subjugation and annexation by the Indian state. The history of the Nagas would have been sealed in the coffin of the infamous accord had there not been those committed revolutionary patriots in the forefront under the dynamic leadership of Isak and Muivah. In keeping with the spirit and letter of the Yezhabo, Th. Muivah, the then General Secretary of NNC convened a national assembly on 16th August 1976 as the President A. Z. Phizo was in London and Vice President Mr. Imkong Meren was too sick to be in the field. Imkong Meren sent message of his inability to rejoin after his release from jail saying, “I am too old to continue my service in the hard life of the national struggle.” The assembly condemned the accord as an act of treason. It also unanimously elected Isak Chishi Swu as Vice President to take the place of Imkong Meren. It is a fact that the accord sharply divided NNC into two camps: those who upheld the accord and those who were against it.”
Raising said, “In revolt against the authorities Lt. Col. Visacho, a strong advocate of the accord deserted the General Headquarters with hundreds of arms and thousands of ammunitions. He declared a statement saying, “Whoever wants to follow Phizo should join up with me and whoever wants to follow Isak and Muivah may join them, but arms should be submitted to me because they belong to Phizo.” Isak and Muivah sent word to Lt. Col. Visacho through Maj. Ihoshe, but he was humiliated and disarmed and sent back without any response. Again, Capt. Kiimzak was sent to peacefully settle any misunderstandings or misinformation between them but, quite contrary to the expectation, Capt. Kiimzak joined forces with the rebels. And on 30th August 1978 Lt. Col. Subong seized power in a military coup, the very same day Capt. Kiimzak return from the rebel camp. Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah along with their cabinet members were arrested on fabricated grounds and detained in military custody to be executed.
`Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails,’ said the Scripture. Gracious God who works through human agency answered our prayers. It was through the intervention of Col. Kholi that our two leaders were saved from the hardliners of the military regime. The junta government headed by Lt. Col. Subong faced lots of oppositions from people of all quarters.
He being uneducated and unpolitical could not navigate his government in that kind of precarious and stormy situation. He therefore, convened a meeting at Lao village where SS. Khaplang was made President of Federal Government of Nagaland. But the logic goes as such that a government formed by the military meeting is but a military government, not popular government.”
“Soon after assumption of office Khaplang met Isak and Muivah who were in the military custody at Hashik village. After a long interaction with Isak and Muivah he (Khaplang) was fully convinced of the fact that NNC had failed and Nagas could no longer continue their movement under the banner of NNC.
He also realized that his government was not a popular government. In light of all these facts he took all the necessary steps to protect Isak and Muivah from the hardliners by relocating them to a secured and safe place.”
Raising said, “The military junta having realized their folly of transferring power to a wrong person plotted another conspiracy to overthrow Khaplang’s government and liquidate all the supporters of Isak and Muivah. Confidential information gathered from their secret correspondences and other sources revealed this evil design. And finally, mounting situation led the two camps into a volcanic explosion where many people lost their lives. Despite our weaknesses we subdued the rebels and took the situation under our control through the grace of the Lord.”
“In the first week of January 1980, SS. Khaplang called a national workers’ conference where late Angelus P. Shimrah and I (Rh. Raising) were made sessional secretary and assistant secretary respectively. In that meeting SS. Khaplang announced the unconditional release of Isak and Muivah who were then still under incarceration. He declared that he would step down from the office, as he did not represent popular government. So, Brig. Thungbo, the then commander-in-Chief of the Naga Army took up the charge of the government as a caretaker and Khasui Longvah was made the pro tem speaker to preside over the meeting. After a long deliberation on the formation of a new organization the house unanimously decided to form NSCN to be approved by the national assembly.”
“We may be a rich or an educated people to be looked up to; we may be a numerous or strong people to be feared; we may also be a good or wise people to be adored; yet we are not safe. We are always vulnerable to the danger of subjugation by others if we live in an unorganized condition. Nagas were a strong and formidable force when they were living organized under the banner of NNC. However, the Naga people were left like an orphan after the murder and death of NNC. And the reality is that Naga politics does not end with NNC and the Shillong accord. NNC was formed by the Nagas for the Nagas and not vice versa and therefore, it will cease to be the organization of the Nagas the day it betrays the trust of the Nagas. Indeed, an organizational vacuum was created which needed to be filled up because unorganized people are only a multitude of individuals living without any common orientation and vision.”
“NSCN is a recognized entity. Many sympathizer countries and even India have recognized it. Chief among them is Unrepresented Nations and People’s Organization (UNPO), which has recognized the sovereign right of the Nagas in its general assembly. NSCN is a member of UNPO. It is a parallel organization to the United Nations (UN). Accredited by ‘The Society for Threatened People’ a strong organization in Germany, NSCN leadership was given the privilege to speak in the UN human right meetings for a number of times. Parliamentarians for National Self Determination (PNSD) a London based organization extends their fullest support to the cause of the Nagas in response to the appeal of the Naga people represented by Rh. Raising, Kilo Kilonser. We have another strong organization called Naga International Support Center based in the Netherlands and its coordination offices in other countries too. NSCN is a member of ‘Geneva Call’ an organization under UN. Kreddha (The International Peace Council for States, Peoples and Minorities), PILPG (Public International Law & Policy Group) both US based organizations under UN. ‘Idasa’ a strong South Africa Human Right organization. KWIA (Support group for indigenous peoples) - Belgium based Human Right organization, AIPP (Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact), Forum for Asia both Bangkok based Human Right organizations, Other Media - Delhi based Human Right organization. All these organizations among many others are strong supporters for the Naga cause.”
“I. K. Gujral, the then Prime Minister of India and Chairman Isak Chishi Swu announced the cease-fire Agreement in the Indian Parliament and in the general assembly of the UNPO respectively. I. K. Gujral further declared that except NSCN all others are terrorist organizations. No one should doubt about it that NSCN is the legitimate organization of the Naga people, which represents the aspiration and issue of the Nagas. After the demise of NNC, NSCN has brought the Naga nation thus far in the face of all hardships and oppositions.”
