FGN President Gen. (Retd) Viyalie Metha (in blue suit) at the 58th Nagaland Republic Day at Chedema Peace Camp on March 22. (Morung Photo/Chizokho Vero)
Our Correspondent
Chedema | March 22
The Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) today observed the 58th Nagaland Republic Day here at Chedema Peace Camp.
Unfurling the Naga National flag, FGN President Gen. (Retd) Viyalie Metha conveyed his greetings to the people on behalf of the Federal Government of Nagaland ,adding “Together we remember our past leaders whose sacrifice enabled us to stand as a people today.”
Gen. (Retd) Metha said history repeats itself and “the Naga national history conspicuously remains in the heart of every Naga that, hitherto a people scarcely known by the world society but were content with their own social and traditional lives, having no hesitations, told the Simon Commission in 1929 that they will remain not dependent of other nations making it the first ever written document of Nagas in the history of modern world.”
“With that our charismatic leaders carefully laid the national foundations with farsighted vision- First by declaring our independence on 14th August 1947, one day ahead of India attaining its independence from her British rulers. Secondly, this stand was confirmed to the world with the referendum in the form of voluntary Naga Plebiscite of 1951, where 99% Nagas pledged to remain independent,” he said adding the FGN was established on March 22 1956 with full responsibility to look after the day-to-day affairs under the Yehzabo of Nagaland.
Notwithstanding the fact that, Nagas and Indians shared nothing in common historically, racially, traditionally and even in terms of religion, Gen (Retd) Metha said “We are completely different from one another.” He said “British history clearly tells that there was no treaty entered with the Nagas.” He stated that Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Indian Prime Minister defined Nagaland which clearly stated Nagaland as Excluded Area from the British India territory (1934). He further added that after a “prolonged and undeclared war” against Nagaland, an international “Cease-Fire Agreement” was signed in 1964 between the Government of India and the Federal Government of Nagaland. “India overlooking and ignoring all facts, covets to annex Nagaland; this is precisely the state- of –affairs between Nagaland and India today. Therefore, India is the aggressor,” he added.
In its attempt to annex Nagaland, he said, India first used her “Might to eliminate leaders and national workers and intimidate the civil population with threat. But our people withstood this might. Following this, India started the ‘divide and rule’ policy making some gullible Naga against Naga national workers. And finally India, with combined powers of its occupational Armed Forces and Money backed by its black laws are trying hard to annihilate our people. However, this will not serve any benefit for India but is adversely exposing India’s own demonic atrocity against Nagaland in front of a modern democratic world.”
He said that now, “conniving with Myanmar, India is notoriously inflicting fragmenting propagandas among the people to break the fabric of Naga solidarity and aiming to suppress the people, thereby to plunder the land’s abundant mineral and natural wealth. In this, he said, the people must be vigilant and by all means protect our properties from being looted by foreign intruders.”
Gen (Retd) Metha said the “unremitting Indian occupational forces in our land has already caused unfathomable destruction in our land- not only loss of life and wealth but even endangering our social and cultural values which were envied by all; as a result, few un-sweating rich and able, tend to be comparatively vulgar whereas courtesy were the ornaments of our traditional social life. However we may not take it as an offence but an example that we may correct ourselves.”
“Our nation has all the way to progress and prosper; we shall proceed on towards our vision as a Nation which is the goal for all Nagas and shall no longer be swayed by petty self interests or misunderstanding,” said the FGN president adding that whatever bitterness we may have come across in the past but with the love of Nagaland together “we shall raise one voice for one purpose that is to be a man among men and a Nation among Nations.”
Lhouvitsü, speaker of the Tatar Hoho, FGN and social activist Kaka D. Iralu also spoke on the occasion.
The function was led by Vezhotso Nyekha, deputy speaker, Tatar Hoho.
