Message Delivered by Gen, (Retd) Thinuoselie M. Keyho, President NNC on 6th September, 2016.
I am grateful to the Almighty God and I give all glory to Him for the life He has given me to be able to share about the Indo-Naga Ceasefire with our people today. The Indo-Naga saga is one of mystery and wonder. I have learnt from our leaders that in the past, the Indian Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi understood about the Nagas and wanted the Nagas to be free, but before this could materialise he was unfortunately killed by his own people. An opportunity was lost.
The then Indian Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru did not like the Nagas. He did not listen to the rights of the Nagas and tried to suppress it. It is said that once in the presence of a Naga delegation he angrily hit the table with his fist and said. “Even if heaven falls, or the earth breaks into pieces or blood flows throughout the whole of India, I or for that matter anyone, as long as there is a Prime Minister of India, Nagas will not be given Independence.” If he really said this it is not suitable for him. Can a Prime Minister of any country say such harsh words? May be God had hardened his heart.
Nehru sent Indian soldiers to invade Nagaland, intrude our homes, persecuted and tortured our people without any valid reasons, our women abused and molested, wilful destruction of our goods and properties and took the lives of many of our people. Because of which the Nagas were compelled to rise up with arms against the Indians.
But it is said that in late 1964 when a proposal for Indo- Naga Ceasefire was brought to him, he gladly endorsed it. Not only this, it was said that he personally wanted to conduct the Peace Talk. This made the people to really wonder at the Prime Minister’s sudden change of heart. We thought since he had learnt something, we expected that he would decide something but he died before the Ceasefire came into effect. In this also we lost a very good opportunity.
We were also very happy that the Government of India was going to have a Ceasefire with the Federal Government of Nagaland. Nagas starting from zero to that of signing a Ceasefire Agreement with Government of India was regarded as ample rewards for our sacrifices and effort; they have indirectly given us recognition. On top of this, it has already granted the “Nagaland State,” and to supersede all these, was going to have dialogue with us. We also believed that India was really sincere and wanted to solve the issue positively attended the Talk.
In the First Round of Talks I was also one of the delegates of the Federal Government of Nagaland. Among the Three of us who attended I am the only one surviving today as my two friends, Mr. Zashei Huire and Mr. Isak Chishi Swu are no more with us.
Why did the Peace Talk fail? There may be many reasons, but to me it was the attitude of the Indians, their approach was not good. They were too proud and thought highly of themselves while they did not consider the Nagas as human beings and ill treated us. There was no sincerity nor do they seriously think it is necessary on their part to solve the issue, but for the time being just making things easy to make Nagas lazy and weaken us in order to control us, using divisive policy and delaying tactic. They do not understand the Nagas. This is both good and bad. Had they understood the Nagas, the Naga issue would have been solved long before, but the inability to solve the issue even after so many years is only because they do not understand the Nagas.
After a gap of more than 30 (Thirty) years, in 1997 the Government of India first signed Ceasefire with NSCN (IM). Then in 2001, signed Ceasefire with NSCN (K), after that with NSCN (U) and NSCN (R) but the” Peace Talk” is being held only with NSCN (IM). What does this mean? How many times or with how many people will they sign the Ceasefire with? During the 1964 Ceasefire there was unity among the Nagas. The people’s mandate was also there. How can the Issue be solved now in the absence of unity and mandate? The Government of India can neither fool the Nagas nor the world.
The Naga issue is different; victory is not possible by adopting crooked or evil means. Victory cannot be achieved through the use of arms and guns or physical strength but only by Honesty and Truth.
The solution of the Naga issue may be a challenge to the wisdom and statesmanship of the Indian leaders. The Government of India may appear good or bad. Let the Government of India make the choice. But as for us: We Nagas believe that Righteousness and Truth will ultimately Triumph.
