Here is Presidential Address of Yung Aung, president of NSCN/GPRN (YA) on the occasion of 46th Raising Day.
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My beloved Nagas and fellow Comrades,
In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all of you on this momentous occasion of 46th Raising Day of the NSCN/GPRN. We have reached this significant milestone due to the guidance from God and unwavering determination, love and support of the Naga people.
On this day, we pay homage to the thousands of brave Naga patriots who sacrificed their precious lives in the hope of restoring our nation to its former glory so the future generations can live with freedom, dignity and security. We thank them for their great courage and undying legacy. We remember all the NSCN/GPRN national workers who are injured, maimed and those who are languishing in enemy prisons for our rightful cause. They are in our collective memory and prayers. Their strong patriotism and resilience has inspired us to carry the mission forward.
We convey our revolutionary salute to all our fraternal revolutionary friends of the Western South East Asia (WESEA). We thank them for standing with us through every difficulty and obstacle and we cherished the sweat and blood we shed together in pursuit of freedom.
We also extend our special gratitude to all our well-wishers and friends around the world for the continued solidarity, moral and political support. Now, more than ever, the Nagas need your friendship and support. We will remain forever loyal partners and allies with all those who support us in this darkest moment of our history.
On this day 31st January, 1980, the NSCN/GPRN was formed by our pioneers to save the Naga movement from complete destruction; to give new meaning and hope to the struggle. It was founded on a firm foundation to accomplish the solemn commitment made by the Naga people in 1951 plebiscite. Despite all the confusion and clamour within the Naga politics and the formidable challenges of our time, the NSCN/GPRN remained steadfast in our commitment.
The selfless sacrifices of our martyrs gave us only one option: Freedom is the only destination. The Nagas, having all the right ingredients to become a fully independent nation, don't need India or Myanmar to rule over us. This is our land and we were here well before India nor Myanmar even existed. Our resolve remains unshaken and we will never surrender our right, for history is on our side.
Today, the strong determination and solidarity of the Naga people, civil societies and Naga Churches is our greatest strength and has given us so much hope. The fact that the Naga struggle continue to withstand and survive decades of brutal oppression is by itself an accomplishment. This is a powerful reminder to the world that the Naga struggle is alive, strong and moving ahead in the right direction.
Dear Nagas, before our very eyes, the Indian security forces and their agencies are intensifying cruel policies to achieve their hideous objectives. Of late, they have unleashed their full military might and utilised modern technological advantage to subdue and crush our spirit. They have deliberately committed aerial terrorism against the Naga population along the imposed borders resulting in loss of civilian lives and properties.
The construction of the illegal fence along the artificial border is also progressing with full impunity despite staunch resistance from the Nagas. These actions reflect a blatant disregard for the legitimate voices of the Nagas which is a gross violation of international laws and norms.
India portrays itself as the largest democracy as well as a secular state, which is a stark contrast to its policies and actions. The Hindutva mobs and Hindu extremist groups, instigated by the BJP government, is presently waging a major war against the indigenous populations all over India. Violent attacks, killings, intimidations and assaults on religious minorities, particularly Christians, have significantly increased since the BJP came to power in 2014. This strongly indicates that the Indian democratic values and secularism has fully eroded and on the verge of collapse.
The NSCN/GPRN choose not to be a part of the Indian dictated Naga peace process because the GoI is attempting to determine the political destiny of the Nagas on the basis of military might. The Naga political groups also have walked out from the realities by choosing separate paths. From their different ideological standpoints and prospective, they claim to fight for the Naga rights. They are neither cold nor hot, and it is this ambiguity that makes them even more dangerous for the Naga political struggle. They have lost their true purpose after they gave up on sovereignty. Some self-vested groups are directly maintained and utilised by the Indian agencies to be thorns in our side.
My dear Nagas, amidst all these pitfalls and dangers, the NSCN/GPRN remains vigilant and prepared to defend our land, our people and our way of life. We will not silently bow to the deceptive policies and threats of our occupiers and their proxies.
The Naga people have long known that justice and freedom will not come from New Delhi or Nay Pyi Daw. It must be fought for and won through hard struggle — just as it has been throughout the history. The NSCN/GPRN remained the lone legitimate political organisation fighting for the hope and dignity for the Naga people under the brutal domination of India and Myanmar.
The unity of the Naga people is what our adversaries fears most, so Nagas should wear it as our armour to resist these dark forces.
As we continue our arduous journey towards freedom, let us continue to draw strength and guidance from our Almighty God. May His light illuminate the path to a brighter future for the Naga people and the Naga nation.
May God bless you all. Kuknalim!
Yung Aung
President, NSCN/GPRN (YA)