Thomas
NNC Member
Extracts from The Morung Express, “The 1960 Shillong Accord, meant to bring peace, was seen by many as a betrayal, including Muivah, who viewed it as capitulation, which appeared on 3rd November 2025 under the caption “FROM HOPE TO RECKONING: Muivah’s Homecoming and Future of the Naga Cause” written by Pamreihor Khashimwo & Mayocollin Phazang. However, the true story of God brings Pease to Nagaland is as follows:
As the leaders of the Government of India (GoI) in those days, decided to subdue the NNC and FGN with their armed might before the Naga Army Goodwill Mission to China led by Muivah and Isak, who left Nagaland in September and November 1974, returned Home. The ceasefire with the FGN signed on May 25, and came into effect on 6th Sept.1964, was unilaterally abrogated by the GoI on August 31, 1972.
Following the decision, the GoI sent five divisions of the Indian Army to Nagaland, adding existing Paramilitary, Assam Rifles, and Police in Nagaland and re-escalated heavy operations in Nagaland. The RG (Revolutionary government), which surrendered in 1973 and became BSF, also joined with the Indian Army in the operation against the Nagas. The five divisions of the Indian Army under the Command of Major General Dutt led to the defeat Pakistan Army in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1971, and were deployed to Nagaland to fight against the Naga Army again. This was done to pressure the NNC/FGN to surrender or accept the Indian Constitution at gunpoint. The Indian Government named the Military operation as “Scorched-Earth Operation”. The GoI also branded the NNC/FGN and the Naga army as Unlawful associations and adopted the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
In order to give a sweeping power to the Indian Army to pulverise the NNC/FGN and Naga Army completely once and for all, the GoI promulgated the President's Rule in Nagaland on March 22, 1975. (That was the 20th Republic Day of Nagaland).
On the same day, God our Lord also declared through His servant Naga Army Chaplain Yie Thihϋ; that “I will bring Peace to Nagaland, do not be afraid and discouraged”. This was unbelievable and skeptical to all leaders. However, God continued to tell that “This year, the 1975 Christmas, you will joyfully celebrate with your parents and family members. Since the Indian Army escalated heavy operations in Nagaland again, the Naga civilians suffered beyond human endurance. The NBCC (Nagaland Baptist Church Council), therefore, formed the Nagaland Peace Council (NPC) under the leadership of Rev. Late Longri Ao and Kenneth Kerhuo Angami, to work for the restoration of Peace in Nagaland, and the NPC has been working to bring Peace.
Following the NPC’s arrangement, the Naga representatives arrived in Shillong, where they were shown the Shillong Accord document on Nov. 10, 1975, drafted by the Indian leaders. They were all shocked, because the terms of the accord had too serious implications. After a long pin-drop silence, Keviyalie asked the Indian leaders to please allow us to take the document back to our colleagues at Chiedema Peace camp and discuss it before signing it. The immediate reply from Governor L.P. Singh was that such a thing cannot be allowed. They were instead told that in case you refused to sign, you can go back to the jungles, and the Indian Army would resume their suspended operations. After another long silence, Keviyallie asked again: “How then shall we sign it?” Then came the reply from the Governor: “Of course, as representatives of the NNC and FGN. Then Keviyallie’s next asked: “Does this mean that you have withdrawn the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act that has branded the NNC, FGN, and the Naga army as Unlawful associations? Do you mean to say that your legally instituted Indian Government is ready to have an agreement with an unlawful association?” Then Governor moped around, unsure to say.
After a few moments of silence, the Governor and Rammuny, his advisor walked out of the room and went into another room and closed the door. After some embarrassing minutes, as Rammuny and the Governor came out of the room, Dr. Aram, the Chairman of the Nagaland Peace Centre (NPC), suggested, “What about letting them sign as Underground Representatives?” To this suggestion, both Ramuny and the Governor agreed and said: Yes, let them sign it like that.
Realising that the NNC and FGN were not implicated in the accord, Keviyallie whispered in Angami, “Sign chii wa rei viho” (It’s OK to sign it). The Accord was thus signed on behalf of the Representatives of the Underground Organisations without mentioning the NNC/FGN, and neither did it mention the Naga and Nagaland. and it was signed on November 11, 1975. Peace was thus restored in Nagaland again, and as God foretold, the Naga national workers celebrated the 1975 Christmas with their parents and family members. Later, the Accord was known as the Shillong Accord (SA).
After the SA was signed, the emergency Tatar Hoho of FGN was held at Dihoma Oking from 29th November to 2nd December, 1975. When the Naga leaders were hotly arguing over the Shillong Accord, God’s words came to his servant, the Naga Army Head Chaplain Vephi Dozo in the middle night of Dec. 1; he was sleeping in the same room with the Kedahge (President) of FGN, Late Zashei Huire. These were the words spoken by God: reads as follows:
“I don't want bloodshed between Indians and Nagas, so I brought peace to Nagaland in order to solve the Indo-Naga conflict through peaceful means. The Government of India will apply her cunning policies against the Nagas so as to make you Nagas to commit mistake on your own accord in your national affairs. You should have peace with India, but do not accept the constitution of India, because if you once accept it, you will be bound by the law of India. The Shillong Accord was not the outcome of human wisdom, but I (almighty God) had done it before it was signed.” And God further said,“See your Yehzabo Article 139 and 140 and issue a statement”.
When Zashei was awakened by the Chaplain in the middle of the night, with what God had spoken to him. Zashei took out his torchlight and both of them read Articles 139 and 140 of the Nagaland Yehzabo (Constitution)-which stated that “Only the Central Executive Council of the NNC could decide on the fate of the nation”. After the wordings had sunk into Zashei’s head, he exclaimed: Ei hile bamu ha! (Oh! The answer is here). The very next day, the four-page rejoinder to the Shilling Accord was written, dated December 30, 1975, and to which every delegate excitedly endorsed it.
On January 3rd, 1976, the statement was read out by the FGN Killo Kilonser (Home Minister) at an official meeting in Shillong, and submitted it to Governor L.P. Singh, who signed the Accord on behalf of the GoI. He felt enraged because the FGN diplomatically rejected the Accord. Then Rev. Longri Ao, President of NPC, asked him, “After all these hard works for peace, are you just going to throw it into the dustbin? The Naga national leaders also added: ‘The FGN will maintain peace in the land for the interest of a peaceful solution to the Indo-Naga conflict’. So now, the ball is in your court. Please tell us; will you resume operation in Nagaland by sending more Indian troops or maintain peace?”
The Governor, thus compelled to accept the statement of FGN in the interest of Peace, said; “If you do not want to solve the problem with this Accord, then what to do. However, for the sake of peace, we will delink the political process from the peace process. The political process has gone over our heads, and the Prime Minister of India will hold talks with the Central Executive Council of the NNC. Meanwhile, for the sake of peace, you will deposit your arms to the Nagaland Peace Council. Let us maintain peace in this way”. Unquote (The story was narrated by Eno I. Temjenba, out of 6 signatories, the last remaining signatory who lived up to 2024 and passed away on 23rd January, 2024. As Governor L.P. Singh accepted, the statement of the FGN, peace was restored without any political commitment to accept the Constitution of India.
Since the Indian leaders came to comprehend that the Accord was null and void in itself, as they made the Nagas sign on behalf of underground organisations, the GoI, therefore, did not ratify it. Also, the FGN diplomatically rejected it. Hence, the accord faced its instant death; and therefore, not a single talk was held between the two nations based on the Accord. The Accord thus has gone into the dustbin of history since 1976, before the NSCN was formed. But the factional leaders have been using it as their false political propaganda, starting from 1980 to date in the history of NSCN.
According to fulfilling God’s words, most of the Naga people, under the leadership of the NNC/FGN, believe and accept that the peace was brought to Nagaland by God in 1975, yet not as a betrayer or surrender. God said, “I brought peace to Nagaland. The Nagas are not going to resume armed warfare again” (Through Head Chaplain Vephi Dozo, on 2nd Dec. 1975). Also, the NNC President, Late A.Z. Phizo, stated, for the peace of 1975 in his letter to Rajiv Gandhi in 1988, that “We suffered for years, and at last, wonderfully, God has intervened in the matter.” (Serial No. 17 out of 34 pages). But as mentioned earlier, some other Nagas viewed it as a betrayer, and Muivah condemned it, as a capitulation accord, and led the Naga nation to the bloody path in history.
KOHIMA TRANSIT PEACE CAMP: In 1956, the Indian Government drove out all foreign Missionaries (American Missionaries) from Nagaland, on false allegations against them as they were instigating the Nagas to fight against India in defence of the sovereignty of Nagaland. Then, the GoI occupied the Mission Compound in the heart of Kohima City from 1956, and made it the Indian Army Assam Rifle Camp.
Therefore, God spoke through His servant that “This Mission Compound should not be occupied by the idol worshippers. Because from this place My servants, American Missionaries, inspired the Naga people with the Gospel of God. Henceforth, I will drive out the Indian Army from the Mission Compound, and I will bring the Naga national workers to stay in the Mission Compound,” said the Lord through Enoli Thenunei-u, Kohima Village, in October 1972, while a prayer group held a routine prayer at the residence of Eno Duo-o. The word of God had been fulfilled after the signing of the SA. The NPC has arranged the Mission Compound to be a Transit Peace Camp, and thus, the GoI vacated the Indian Army from it in February 1976. Then the NPC brought the Naga national workers to the Camp (Mission Compound). The Kohima Transit Peace Camp, located in the heart of Kohima Town, stands as a sign of Nagas' love for peace, and a sign of NNC stands for non-violence.
On September 18, 1977, while national leaders and villagers were fasting and praying to God for the Naga nation at Kohima Transit Peace Camp, God spoke to them through Enoli Rhüpilie saying, “Many people will tell you to vacate this Mission Compound or dismantle the Peace Camp, but you should not move out from this place. A time will come for you to move out of this place. But if anyone who strives to achieve the Naga national goal by human wisdom, he will only spoil the nation”. This became fulfilled under the leadership of Muivah, who relied on his own wisdom and understanding to achieve the Naga national goal. As a result, the nation entered into great suffering and confusion, which continues to this day.
All these, God’s words, had been fulfilled as many times, some people attempted to dismantle the Peace Camp, and many people are urging the Campers to vacate the Peace Camp up to date. Because they think that the SA and Peace Camp are a problem for Naga national unity, without knowing that the Naga national unity was fragmented because of Muivah’s socialism. They never understand that, as we stand “Nagaland for Christ” God is protecting the Naga nation. Also, none of them comprehend that only by relinquishing the NSCN set-up can we achieve our national unity again.
In light of all these fulfillments of God’s words and facts, I can comprehend that God brought peace to Nagaland in 1975. And therefore, for me today, Nov. 11, 2025, is a day “Golden Jubilee of God given Peace”. With this Accord, God also protected and saved Nagaland from the brink of doom, so that we can continue to celebrate the Naga Independence Day and the Plebiscite Day to date. So, I thank God with my whole heart and want to urge the NBCC leaders to adopt Nov. 11 as “Thanksgiving Day to God” to pray to God every year for our nation. Because it was the victory of NPC, the entity of NBCC.
