Brig (Retd) S Singnya
Kedahge
Federal Government of Nagaland
My dear Countrymen & women,
It is a great privilege and an honour for me to address you on this historic occasion of the Naga Independence Day, today the 14th of August 2022. I warmly greet you on behalf of all the ranks and file of the NNC/FGN. It was in 1947 that our pioneers and visionary leaders proclaimed the aspirations of the Naga people and took the giant step to declare our freedom and independence to the world on this historic day. We are grateful to our Almighty God for the guidance, protection and sustenance throughout our long struggle for an honourable existence and a rightful place as a Nation among the Nations of the world.
Naga Nationalism in essence is a movement for the restoration of our political and historical rights. Nagas have always been fierce lovers of freedom and equality. Our aspiration has always been for self determination. We do not covet what is not ours or what belong to others but we would keep what is rightfully ours at all cost. The political history of the Nagas first started with the resistance of the British colonizers and later with Indian imperialism.
The Naga people for many decades has been fighting for a free homeland and resisting the oppressive occupational forces of India and Myanmar on our land ever since the British colonial empire left the Indian sub-continent. Since the British Government remained silent on the Nagas’ right to self-determination at the time of its departure from the Indian sub-continent, the Naga National Council (NNC) after getting the necessary assurances from the top Indian leaders of the time, declared Naga Independence on 14th August 1947, a day ahead of India’s declaration of independence. To augment this declaration, the NNC conducted the Plebiscite on 16th May, 1951 wherein 99.9% voted for Sovereignty. And ever since its formation, the Federal Government of Nagaland has always stood firm and resolute on the “historical and political rights of the Nagas.”
When it was made clear to India that the Nagas would not join the Indian Union, India started sending thousands of troops to occupy the Naga territories. The massive deployment of Indian armed forces to hunt down the nationalists unleashed intolerable sufferings on the Naga people, they intruded our homes, persecuted and tortured our people without any valid reasons, our women were abused and molested, carried out wilful destruction of our goods and properties, killed and injured many of our people. It was because of these reasons that the Nagas were compelled to rise up with arms against the Indians.
The Indian Government introduced several oppressive laws and acts like the Disturbed Areas Act, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act, etc. These Draconian Laws continue to be imposed and enforced in our land by the Government of India, the so called biggest emocracy in the world. The Nagas also concluded several agreements with the GoI like the Hydari Agreement of 1947 or the 9 Point Agreement, the 16th Point Agreement, the Ceasefire of 1964, etc. but unfortunately India has not honoured her commitments and successive Indian leaders failed to uphold the promises made to the Nagas by their most venerated leaders like MK Gandhi and Rajagopalachari.
However, Nagas have always sought to live in harmony and peaceful co-existence with our neighbours. We are aware that conflicts do not serve any purpose; it is not beneficial either for India or the Nagas. Thus to end the conflict, the NNC/FGN after many rounds of deliberation, consultation and much thought, took the decision to take part in the political dialogues with GoI in 2017 as an entity of the NNPGs, in order to hammer out the differences and arrive at a political solution which is honourable and mutually acceptable. We took the decision to participate in the Talks believing that violence should end and that we should pave the way for peace to prevail in our beautiful homeland which though not of our making or design, has experienced so much violence and bloodshed.
The political negotiations between the Government of India and the Working Committee of the NNPGs having concluded, the solution of the Naga issue may pose as a challenge to the wisdom and statesmanship of the Indian leaders. A positive and a great achievement of the many deliberations between the Government of India (GoI) and the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), Working Committee (WC) was the recognition of the Historical and Political rights of the Nagas to self determine their future in consonance with their distinct identity by the GoI. It is perhaps for the first time in history that the GoI has put on record that the Nagas have a Historical and
Political right for future self determination in tune with our distinct identity. The GoI has also given assurance to the WC, NNPGs that post solution the unresolved issues can be pursued by Political Democratic Process. On our part, we as an entity of the NNPGs have stood by our commitment given to the Nagas in the hope that it will usher in a new era of lasting peace and tranquillity, long desired by our people.
As we celebrate the Historic Day, we also celebrate with pride and fondly remember the contributions and sacrifices of the patriots who selflessly gave their lives for the Nation and the patriots who selflessly chose to bear the hardships and sufferings in the pursuit of the long cherished dream. I join the nation in paying my homage to all the martyrs and all the patriots who are no more with us today. I warmly congratulate all the recipients of the awards and special commendations for their dedication and commitment.
God bless us all. KUKNALIM
