My dear Naga Countrymen, ladies and gentlemen,
On this historic occasion, the 38th Republic Day, i humbly avail this honour to greet each and every Naga across the length and breadth, near and far, at home and abroad. I express sincere gratitude for your profound love and unceasing support towards the Naga National struggle since the inception hitherto. I salute every Naga National workers who despite overwhelming odds continues to dedicate their lives in the service of the nation risking their lives every day in the line of duties.
I also greet members of the United Liberation Front of Wesea (UNLFW) and all the revolutionary fraternities of the Wesea region.
I also give thanks to Almighty God for sustaining us thus far.
I pay homage to the thousands of brave Naga heroes from the North, South, East and West who have sacrificed their precious lives in defence of our rights, honour and identity. Their martyrdom remains an enduring inspiration to us to carry on forward the legacy passed unto us by the pioneers with pride and glory. We remember every brave national workers being held in various prisons and all those who have been injured and maimed in the hands of the enemy.
Since the ancient of times, the Nagas lived as free, sovereign village republics and the status quo was further reaffirmed in a historic Plebiscite of 1951, where in 99.9% Nagas voted to remain independent. Whereas,the GOI refused to acknowledge the sovereign existence and rights of the Nagas and commenced outright military aggression upon the Nagas setting off thus, one of the most protracted and vicious political conflicts in the region.
Though numerically miniscule and lacking in resources, with indomitable spirit, the Nagas began counter colonisation with every resource available at our disposal. All out armed confrontation between India and Nagas ensued in the year 1955 with massive deployment of Indian troops all over Naga inhabited territory.
During the formative stages of the struggle, the Nagas sought assistances from abroad and during 1960’s ,the Nagas undertook Alee commands(foreign missions) to Pakistan and China and received military trainings, weapons, indoctrinations etc to fight and repeal the occupational forces from Naga country.
The Nagas remain indebted to these two sympathetic countries for providing the much needed moral and material help during the most critical stages of the struggle. The Kachin brothers also provided food and shelter and the KIO/KIA escorted the Naga Alee Command groups and assisted us in every possible ways to and fro China while en-route Kachinland. The unreserved love and support, the Kachin brothers extended to the Nagas remains recorded with deep gratitude.
The Nagas foreign policy is non-violent, the Nagas are friendly and peace loving people always desiring to co-exist peacefully with all her neighbouring countries. We neither covet from our neighbours not an inch of land nor do we tolerate any ulterior designs to infringe upon our rights or encroach into our ancestral homeland. However taking advantage of the friendliness of the Nagas, the occupational forces intruded into our country and forcefully occupied our land and subjected our people. The Naga therefore in upholding our inherent right responded to the aggression and continues to fight to this day.
For several decades, the GOI have been playing diabolical and divisive policies to wreck the “Naga National Movement” as a result many whimsical and fickle minded leaders and groups have succumbed to these conspiracies and their chapters disgracefully terminated and consigned to sad memories only. It is inevitable that in a vexed revolutionary struggle, there will appear many created reactionaries to sabotage the authentic movement. The NSCN/GPRN had however, successfully weathered all the political turbulences and managed to salvage the Naga struggle from decimation. The NSCN/GPRN now stands as the lone legitimate political authority fighting for the inherent freedom, identity and rights of the Nagas. The NSCN/GPRN in particular is avowed to carry on the fight to the last man standing.
It is my earnest plea to every Naga to bear with NSCN/GPRN, the national responsibility in delivering our country and people from forceful subjection by India and Myanmar. I also urge the younger generation Nagas especially the educated sections to join and strengthen the “National liberation” struggle under the leadership of NSCN/GPRN.
The NSCN/GPRN respect, patronise and do provide strong leadership and platform to the oppressed people of the region having indigenous historical and political rights and seeking “Sovereign Independence”. Every subjected people with similar principles and ideologies in the region can become a member of the united front of Wesea. The NSCN/GPRN is thus very clear on the formation of UNLFW and it’s parameters.
It is our prayer that Nagas would sooner than later march hand- in- hand, with one voice and under the same banner towards ultimate national deliverance under the providential banner “Nagaland for Christ”.
May the grace of God Almighty continue to guide each and every Naga wherever one may be.
