Ladies and Gentlemen,
Every year has been a precious year for the Nagas. Sixty-six years ago, on this same day of May 16, 1951 the Naga National Council (NNC) joyfully gathered together in Kohima to give their thumb impression not to join the Indian Union. At the end of the national plebiscite, 99.9 percent of Naqas expressed their wish• to be independent. Everything was done openly and the papers were all packed into boxes. Before 1954 Nagaland was quite normal with no fear of anything.
Why the plebiscite was necessary was to show India’s doubt on the Nagas that “only a few educated Nagas were talking about independence”. The result was an overwhelming verdict to show both India and the world the Naga stand of independence. Many people are no longer with us who took part in the plebiscite but we will always remember our people who saved our country.
At present, our country is in a chaotic situation because of India’s armed occupation of our country. Unfortunately a few group of Nagas have been Playing politics with the enemy. These people should know that Nagas are not demanding anything from India. The present situation is aggression by India and the solution would be the simple act of India withdrawing from Nagaland. Nagas are not Indians and Nagaland is not Indian territory. This is the absolute and indisputable historical fact.
For the first time in this long conflict with India, one Indian mentioned of “genocide” in Nagaland in a recent article published in the local newspapers. But at the same time he blamed a British missionary of having patronised Mr. Phizo and pushing Nagaland into genocide!. This is a mischievous article, but he admitted “genocide” committed by the Indian army in Nagaland. The problem with India is that they see the Naqas as uncivilized. But Nagas are a matured people. and that is why we continue to uphold our-rights-whatever the circumstances we face in these troubled times. The Naga people have given their best to save Nagaland. In the course of the conflict, many suffered and died in the hands of the cruel Indian armed forces. But miraculously; God has saved our small nation from a big nation. like India. Even the enemy had sometimes wondered whether the Naga army of the FGN used ‘black magic’!
We are grateful to God for all the blessings He has supplied to the Naga people even in the worst of times.
May God bless Nagaland.
Urra Uvie.
