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DIMAPUR — Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) has reaffirmed to remain steadfast in upholding and defending the sovereignty and freedom of the Naga people under the leadership of Naga National Council (NNC) president, Gen. (retired) Thinoselie M Keyho.
The reaffirmation to this effect was made during the 50th anniversary of Naga army raising day programme held at Oking in Kohima on January 3.
An update from FGN stated that the chief of staff of Naga army, Maj. Gen. Poushuheing, delivered the keynote address, while the message of FGN Kedallo, Namrikiu, was read by Zaleo, FGN Killo Kilonser. It added that a two minute silence was observed to pay homage to all Naga martyrs.
In his message to the Naga national army, Kedallo highlighted briefly the circumstances and the factors leading to the raising of Naga army on January 3, 1964.
He stated that the Naga National Council (NNC) was formed on February 2, 1946, and Naga Independence was formally declared on August 14, 1947. He added that there was no standing army at that time and the youth movement under NNC played the role of volunteers by upholding the democratic principle of non-violence and non cooperation peacefully.
After the historic Plebiscite of May 16, 1951, he stated that the 1st Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and the 1st Premier of Burma, U Nu, came to Kohima on March 30, 1953, to grasp the actual prevailing situation in Nagaland.
He narrated that tens of thousands Nagas gathered to welcome them and the NNC was prepared to submit representations to Nehru. However, a misunderstanding was created by one Assamese civil servant without the knowledge of Nehru, who told the NNC leaders that representations of any form would not be allowed to be submitted to Nehru.
He stated that the dictate greatly offended, T Sakhrie, the then general secretary of the NNC, who announced that there was no meaning for the gathering to welcome him in Naga tradition. Subsequently, all the Nagas walked out of the ground baring few civil servants only.
He added that the incident deeply hurt Nehru, who later unleashed reign of terror upon the innocent Nagas.
Under such circumstances, he stated that the youth movement proclaimed itself as “Safe Guard” force to defend themselves and protect their honour. The ‘Safe Guard’ force was changed to ‘Home Guard’ with Gen. Thungti Chang as the 1st commander-in-chief.
He went to stated that out of compelling circumstances, the Naga national army was declared on January 3, 1964, with Gen. Mawu Gwizantsü as the 1st commander-in-chief of Naga army.
“Today, let us take time once again to think of and imagine all our patriots who made the supreme sacrifice yesterday for our today. Just visualise that the mortal remains of many martyrs lay scattered from Sylhet of Bangladesh to Nagaland through Mizoram, from Kunming in China to Nagaland through Kachinland. They cry and beckon the living today to be unwavering to uphold our national cause till the goal is reached,” the Kedallo said.
Report further stated that the mandated NNC, legitimate FGN and the Naga national army have reaffirmed to remain steadfast in upholding and defending the sovereignty of the nation and freedom of the people under any circumstances.