Kohima, January 4 (MExN): The Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) on January 3 observed the 50th Anniversary of Naga Army Raising Day reflecting on the past and paying homage to all martyrs, among others.
Delivering his message to the Naga National Army, Kedallo, FGN Namrikiu highlighted the historical background to the raising of Naga Army on January 3, 1964.
As per a press release from the FGN, he shared that Naga National Council (NNC) was formed on the February 2, 1946 and while Naga Independence was formally declared on the August 14, 1947, there was no standing Army.
The youth movement under the NNC played the role of volunteers upholding the democratic principle of non-violence and non cooperation peacefully, Namrikiu said.
After Plebiscite of the May 16, 1951, the first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and the 1st Premier of Burma Eno U Nu came to Kohima on the March 30, 1953 to grasp the actual prevailing situation In Nagaland, he recounted.
Thousands Nagas gathered to welcome them and the NNC was prepared to submit representations to Nehru but a “much regretted misunderstanding was created by one Assamese Civil servant without the knowledge of Nehru,” he maintained.
The Civil servant reportedly told the NNC leaders that representations of any form shall not be allowed to be submitted to Nehru.
According to the Kedallo, this ‘dictate’ offended the NNC leaders and T Sakhrie, the then NNC General Secretary announced to the gathering that Nehru “who is our guest had come to teach us but not ready to listen to our rights, so there is no meaning for the gathering to welcome him in Naga tradition.”
Consequently, all Nagas walked out of the ground baring few civil servants and the incident “deeply hurt” Nehru, he added.
Upon his return to Delhi, the Assam Police was deployed and the reign of terror started, Namrikiu claimed.
Having no alternative to the plight of the people, the youth movement proclaimed itself as the “Safe Guard” force to “defend ourselves and protect our honour,” he added.
On March 22, 1956, the FGN was “proclaimed” and after the Lakhuti Resolution of the April 17, 1955, the “Safe Guard Force was changed to ‘Home Guard’ with Gen Thungti Chang as the 1st Commander-in-Chief” and Gen Kaito Sema as the 2nd C-in-C, the Kedallo highlighted.
‘Out of compelling circumstances the standing Naga National Army was declared on the January 3 1964 with Gen Mawu Gwizantsü as the 1st Commander-in-Chief of Naga Army, he added.
Namrikiu also highlighted on the 1st Alee (Foreign Mission) Command of Naga Army in 1962-63 as well as the 2nd Alee Command of 500 Naga Army in 1966, which reportedly brought Arms and ammunition for self defence.
On September 6, 1964, a Bilateral Cease Fire Agreement was signed between FGN and the Government of India, however discreetly the 3rd Alee Command went to Kunming, China in 1967 under the command of Gen Thinoselie M Keyho, followed another under Gen Mauri Gwizantsü in 1972, he narrated.
The situation in Nagaland deteriorated from bad to worse, he said, leading to signing of the infamous Shillong Accord of 1975 in the “name of Underground Organisations.”
“Surprisingly, the NNC and FGN were not incorporated in the accord as documents show and prove,” Namrikiu asserted, adding that using the Accord as the “main foot stool,” disintegration in the National Movement started and NSCN/GPRN split away in 1980.
“Now, numerous groups and factions had mushroomed which is only serving the interest of the enemy,” he added.
In his message delivered via Killo Kilonser Zaleo, Kedallo Namrikiu also called upon the gathering to reflect on patriots who made the supreme sacrifice over the years and how their “mortal remains of many martyrs lay scattered in various locations from Sylhet of Bangladesh to Nagaland through Mizoram, from Kunming, 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,” he said.
To this end, Namrikiu asserted that under any circumstance, the “mandated NNC, the legitimate FGN and the Naga National Army shall ever remain steadfast in upholding and defending the sovereignty of our nation and the freedom of our people” under the leadership of the NNC President Gen (Retd) Keyho and the FGN.
“A two minute silence was observed to pay homage to all Naga Patriotic Martyrs from the beginning upto today,” informed the FGN release issued by Thongkiubui.
The Chief of Staff, Naga Army, FGN, Maj Gen Poushuheing also delivered the key note address at the event.
