Dear fellow Patriots and Countrymen,
On this auspicious day of our nation, I on behalf of the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) once again pay my heartfelt tribute to all patriots who have sacrificed their precious lives for the Naga nation. This year, the occasion is made more significant and special that we are observing this important day nearby the grave of Maj. Gen. Yaneio, a martyr from Phesama. And also I call upon all countrymen who are at Homeland and abroad to pay homages to those heroes and heroines of our nation for they have done the greatest thing for the nation. May their souls eternally rest in peace and may the Almighty God grant peace and solace to all bereaved families.
Sixty years have passed, on this day, the 18th October, 1952, a silent peace procession was held at Kohima Town, Nagaland in protest against the barbarous acts committed by the Indian Armed Forces against a Sema Naga Youth in Dimapur. During the peaceful procession, a motor cycle rider Capt. Varick, an intelligent officer of India, the aggressor arrogantly hit a Naga Woman. As a result the mob began to assault the arrogant Indian intelligent officer. At that very moment, Mr. Zasibituo Nagi an innocent Naga leader from Jotsoma Village arrived at on the spot and on seeing the angry mood of the mob, he as a mere spectator shouted the mob to stop the assault. But the senseless bloodthirsty Dutt an Indian Armed Police personnel the then O.C, Kohima shot at Zasibituo and murdered him on the spot in broad daylight in the heart of Kohima Town, Nagaland without any reason.
Thus, late Zasibituo a peace loving Naga leader became the first martyr in Naga soil at the hands of the wicked Armed Forces of the aggressor, India. Then subsequently thousands of Nagas including innocent publics, old men, women and children became the victims of the occupational Armed Forces of India as India continued its naked invasion against Nagaland since 1954. Hence our people and nation have been observing this day, the 18th October as National Martyrs Day every year in remembrance and honor to late Zasibituo and all martyrs of our nation since 1952.
We are distinctly a sovereign independent people and a free nation by tradition. We have our inherent sovereignty and freedom, the gift of God. It is inalienable. Therefore our people founded the Naga National Council (NNC) in 1946 to safeguard the birthright of our people as a nation. Thus NNC laid the foundation stones of our nation on the solid rock and it is undisputable.
On the one hand, the Federal Government of Nagaland had signed an International Ceasefire Agreement with the Government of India (GoI) in 1964 and which was officially effected from 6th September, 1964. Thus talks were held between the Prime Ministers of the two governments and not in between the GoI and any other entity.
However India herself abrogated the Indo-Naga Ceasefire Agreement in 1972 without any governmental norms. But the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) upholds the Ceasefire Agreement till date as a committed nation. The Indo-Naga ceasefire agreement cannot be erased by the Government of India herself alone.
We have clearly made known the stand and position of our nation to the world and India in particular. War, peace, ceasefire, talks and all are nothing new for NNC/FGN. NNC/FGN had done all and tried to establish a good neighborly relationship between the two nations (India and Nagaland). But all these goodwill spirits of ours went in vain and thus the Indo-Naga conflict became the longest conflict in the modern world and it is still going on without solution.
Besides tens of thousands of our people including old men, women, girls and children have been killed. Villages, numerous houses and granaries were burned into ashes. Women and girls were raped. Countless Nagas have been tortured and mass Naga population have immeasurably suffered in the hands of the occupational Armed Forces of India the aggressor. But we have so far overcome and withstood to resist and exist our right as a nation by the grace of God and we shall continue to resist and exist till we achieve our final goal.
May God bless Nagaland.
KUKNALIM
Issued by the Kedahge, Gen. (Retd.) Viyalie Metha, Federal Government of Nagaland on the 61st Martyrs’ Day on 18th October, 2012 at Phesama Village, Angami Region.
