My Dearest country men and women, comrades in Naga National Movement, I on behalf of Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland (NSCN-Reformation) thank our Almighty God who chosed Naga People as His Special People and guide us thus far to witness 70th Naga Independence Day on this day, the 14th August 2016. On this day of 14th August 1947, the Naga People under the great and ablest leadership of Late. A.Z. Phizo, the then President NNC declared Naga Independence which clearly drawn vertical line between India and Nagaland as two neighbouring countries. The First Naga Political Struggle was against British administration long before India became a country which could be traced back to 1918, the Naga Club formation and submission of Memorandum to Simon Commission in January 1929. The Hydari Agreement (9 points Agreement) was first agreement signed between the representatives of British-India government and the Naga People on June 1947 for a period of ten years. The provision of the agreement delegated total powers on Naga National Council which also stated that, after ten years, the Naga People should decide their future. The terms of agreement could not be materialised due to:
a. India feared that, the Nagaland would become a country after ten years.
b. Development of controversy between India and Nagas.
c. Un-expected changes in British-India government’s policy for grant of Independence to India on August 1947.
Thus, the un-rest developed in Naga Country particularly, among the NNC rank and files which the NNC leaders led by Late A.Z.Phizo and Late Sakhrie to meet Mahatma Gandhi, the father of Indian Nation and accordingly the Naga delegates met Gandhiji on 19th July 1947 at Bhangi Colony, New Delhi and expressed the desire of the Naga People to declare Naga Independence to mark that, Nagas have not joined the Union of India. The Naga delegates also told Mahatma Gandhi that, Akbar Hydari, the Governor of Assam might use Indian Armed Forces against the Nagas if they declared Naga Independence, to which Mahatma Gandhi assured that, he would ask Hydari and his forces to shoot him first before any Naga was shot at.
The Naga delegates were fully satisfied with Gandhiji’s assurance and declared Naga Independence on 14th August 1947 not against India but to safeguard the identity and rights of the Nagas but Late Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India used all forces available against the Nagas, mainly to crush Naga National Movement. Thus, merciless Indian Army without any hesitation committed heinous crimes against the Nagas by raping Naga women, rampant arrest, beating and merciless killing, burning of Naga houses, churches and granaries in Naga Country. The India government also started anti-Naga Campaign to convince the international communities that, the Naga people chosed to stay with India and only handful youths declared Naga Independence against the wishes of the Nagas. Against such negative campaign the Naga people were compelled to call the voluntary Plebiscite and accordingly conducted Naga National Plebiscite on 16th May 1951 where its result displayed 99% voted for Naga Independence. This was how, the zeal and un-dying desire of the Naga people displayed to India and entire world that, they would never become Indian. Today, the Naga People are most fortunate people who have bright future and visionary leaders who led us thus far. The NSCN-Reformation will never forsake the Naga People and part away from Naga history but to uphold the Naga National Plebiscite of 1951 till the Naga becomes a Nation. The NSCN-Reformation being the youngest Revolutionary organisation should lead the Naga National struggle and ready to face any given situation and eventualities to defend our nationhood.
