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Beloved Naga Citizens,
Today, we have reached another important milestone in the history of the Naga struggle against the Indian occupation in our motherland. 14th August, 1947 is a red letter day for the Nagas because on this day, by declaring Naga Independence, our Naga leaders have taken a stand not to allow aliens to rule over us. This was in line with what our forefathers clearly stated in their memorandum submitted to the Simon Commission in 1929. In that `leave us alone memorandum’, they have stated in clear term that Nagas are not Indians and Nagaland is not part of India. There should not be any difficulty for the Naga people to understand the simple language that Nagas are not Indians, and Nagaland is not part of India. Because of this stand, many patriots have shed their blood in the course of our long struggle in defending our birth right. Let us salute those patriots who sacrificed their lives in defence of that stand. This is also a day to celebrate our survival against all kind of oppressions, repressions and persecutions; in a way we can call it our victory in defence of our motherland. In this special occasion, I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who continues guiding us and protecting us all throughout.
77 years have elapsed since the declaration of Naga Independence on 14th August, 1947 but till today, we do not see any light at the other end of the tunnel for its solution. Why it is so? Reasons are not far to seek.
Government of India is comparatively too big and too strong for the Nagas, her propaganda machine is too strong and, therefore, Indian Government interpret the Indo-Naga problem in her own term and twisted everything in her favour to mislead the people within and outside the country. The unfortunate thing is that many Naga leaders fail to understand the confusions created by the Indian propaganda machine. And the result is creation of factions after factions among themselves. And if the situation continues in this way, one may visualise the consequences that may follow. I strongly believe that the present generation will never agree to such a stand taken by the present so called liberal minded people.
Therefore, it is high time for us to interpret the Indo-Naga problem in its true colour to the Indian people and the world at large. Today, I take this opportunity to summarise briefly the version of the Naga National Council on Indo-Naga problem in its right perspective.
Nagas have declared their Independence on 14th August, 1947, one day ahead of India. They have confirmed this stand by conducting a voluntary Plebiscite on 16th May, 1951, they have totally rejected the first General Election in India in 1952. Therefore, question of demanding Independence’ from India, accepting the Constitution of India etc. are only wild expressions manufactured by the Indian propaganda machine to confuse the people. Question of demanding Independence from India does not arise. The word rebels, gorillas, hostiles, etc. used by the Indians to portray the Nagas are all wild expressions made by the Indian propaganda machine. India is called the largest democracy in the world; Nagas are democratic people from time immemorial. Just because I defend my birth right in a democratic way, no one can term me as rebel or hostile. NNC’s version on this Indo-Naga problem is forceful occupation of our motherland by the Indians. This is an act of pure aggression on the part of India. Today, people talk about many Naga underground factions, but for us the truth is only one and that will remain for all time to come. That will be the beginning and the end. When NNC talk about Nagaland, it means all Naga inhabited areas such as Nagas now temporarily under Nagaland State, Manipur State, Arunachal State, Assam State and Myanmar at present. Nagaland is the name of all Naga inhabited areas, a name christened by Naga National Council which cannot be changed. Do not confuse this name with the name of Nagaland State or any other name.
When the British left this part of the globe, India, disregarding all norms of democracy, had thrown their administrative net to cover all the areas previously covered by the British Government. But the Nagas, adopting the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence and non-cooperation asserted our right through peaceful means. It was most unfortunate that Indian people at that particular period of time could not understand the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence and, therefore, starting from the latter part of 1954, the Government of India started sending their army into Nagaland which kept on increasing year by year. They sent their army into Nagaland and their army behaved in the most barbaric manner to torture and kill thousands of Naga people.
Violence beget violence and, therefore, the Nagas, however small and weak, installed the Federal Government of Nagaland and Naga Homeguards and started defending our people from 1956 onward. During the early part of this period, all our houses were burnt down including the granaries, thousands were put behind bars, thousands have been tortured and incapacitated, our women were raped and our Churches had been desecrated and above all, the Nagas have lost so many precious lives.
Seeing the intolerable situation, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council and the Peace Mission consisting of Micheal Scott, B. P. Chaliha and Jaya Prakash Narayan, sponsored a cease-fire between the Federal Government of Nagaland and the Government of India which came into effect on 6th September, 1964. With this cease-fire, talk between the two entities started on Prime Ministers’ level but unfortunately, it failed again after six rounds of talk. During this time, it was Naga National Council and the Federal Government of Nagaland who shouldered all responsibilities. There was no other group or party. Whatever decision and stand taken by the NNC and FGN on Indo-Naga problem was final. The Indian Government was afraid of this unity of the Nagas and, therefore, they have abrogated the 1964 cease-fire on filmsy ground. 1964 cease-fire might be the best opportunity for India as well as for the Nagasto being about better understanding between the two Nations. India was fully responsible for its abrogation.
The war between the two groups started again after India arbitrarily abrogated the cease- fire. In due course of time, leaving behind the main group which was fighting with them, the Indian Government entered into an agreement called ‘The Shillong Accord’ with Representatives of the underground organisations in 1975. This evil design of the Government of India divided Naga National Council into two groups, pro- Shillong Accord and anti-Shillong Accord groups. Following it, another group led by Th. Muivah, Isak Swu and Khaplan broke away again from NNC/FGN and formed NSCN/GPRN in 1980. This group worked deadly against their original organisation and finally, they themselves broke up again and formed two separate groups called NSCN(Isak-Muivah) and NSCN (Khaplan) and started senseless killing among themselves for many years. Since then, these groups split again and again and today the Naga Undergrounds are said to have many factions having no understanding among themselves. All these jokes have been taking place because, many Naga leaders felt an easy prey to the treacherous design of the Indian spy network. Nagas have no reason to blame others but we have to blame ourselves for all these confusions. I want my colleagues, the Naga leaders to look back and find out the answer, who gains out of all these tamashas? Is it not time for all of us to realise the harms and hurdles that we have created for our generations to come? This day, while celebrating our Independence Day, let us remember our past and look ahead for a clear destination. Every Naga leader talks about ‘unity’ but unity cannot be achieved by lip service alone; it has to come out from the heart. If it comes out from the heart, unity can be achieved without difficulty. Only then, one can talk about the stand that we have to take in defending our motherland. If it is not from the heart, it can be presumed as the mouthpiece of the Indian propaganda machine.
Everything has its beginning and ending. I want to appeal to all Naga leaders to read the writings on the wall and take step for home coming. I am putting up this appeal because we all know that Nagas were strong as a people at the beginning, though small compared with India; but Nagas have broken up themselves into pieces. The result was no one gains out of it. In this way, many good and sincere leaders have been isolated and many talents have been wasted.
Taking into account all these happenings, if one can decide his future with clear conscience, only realisation can bring back home the Nagas into what we called unity; the ‘Unity’ that our elders enjoyed and remained strong on it at the beginning as a people. God will bless us at the end with victory as he blessed our parents at the beginning.
Kuknalim.