Dear Naga people,
Today is our Naga National Martyrs’ Day on which we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for Naga Sovereignty. I, on behalf of the Naga National Council, salute all our Martyrs who laid down their precious lives for Naga Sovereignty on this 60th Anniversary. The NNC the Parent Body of the Nagas pays our highest homage to the Martyrs’ and their families on the occasion as we remember all of these great souls.
The Naga Martyrs’ sacrificial deeds for sovereignty will never be in vain as their blood and bones are scattered across the South East Asian Region. The price they paid for our freedom will be solemnly remembered by the Nagas for generations to come. May the Good Lord bless their souls as we pray for them and remember them and the Naga Nation today.
We appeal to the Naga people to utter prayers and remember the National Martyrs’ Day and to pay their highest respect and honour solemnly to the National Martyrs’ on this occasion.
The NNC on this Day must say again, loud and clear, that in the name of the Naga Martyrs, let us stop killing among ourselves and ceases the factional fights which have brought shame, tears, and curses upon the land of Nagaland for Christ. These destructive factional fights have deeply damaged our Naga society and tarnished the cause of Freedom and Sovereignty. And we are ultimately responsible for the destruction wrought by the factional leaders. Our Nation is ruined by these abominable acts. Let us the National workers repent and confess all our sins of commission and omission today on this sacred Naga National Martyrs’ Day so we may be forgiven by our living God Jesus Christ and He may heal and bless the Naga Nation for the extension of His Kingdom.
Also the NNC is very sad to see some sections of Naga people and individuals trying to rewrite Naga history and political events to mask their wrongdoings and try to show the people that they were right. But the real truth of events , incidents, etc. will remain. Nobody can alter or hide the true facts or the reality of the events that took place in the past.
Specifically there have been issues around the Naga Political Rights and the four National Days of 22nd March (Naga Republic Day), 16th May (Naga National Plebiscite Day), 14th August (Naga Independence Day) and 18th October (Naga National Martyrs’ Day) as officially and publicly declared when Naga people were solidly one and united. Past events have recently resurfaced these days in a media war, for the sake of peace & unity in the Naga Homeland, the NNC do not want to dig up the past or elaborate at this critical juncture lest things become more ugly and dangerous.
Today, the Naga society has become such that even the civil societies (NGOs) working for the common good have become one-sided in their dealings regarding Naga National affairs and this has caused havoc and further divisions. These things we the NNC condemn in total.
The NNC without any hesitation must say today in the interest of Naga people and the Naga Cause in particular that the present Joint Legislators Forum of so called Nagaland state will fail like FNR because of their bias and one-sided approach to the Naga political problem. The state politicians speak about inclusiveness and reaching out to all the Naga National Political groups, but in reality their approach is just the opposite; they only met the three different NSCN groups and the rest they ignored and neglected. This is their way of dealing with the Naga Political affairs. To tell the fact about these state politicians, their political strategy is to gain the right to contest the Indian election next year.
The NNC must say that who will really and honestly bring all the Naga political groups together in reality for final political settlement is the biggest question mark now in the Naga Homeland.
Today, many people talk about settlement, but without any unity among the National workers and also without any proper political discussion in the Homeland by all the groups, there will be no permanent political settlement. Even if a faction settles with the Government of India the settlement will not be final without the involvement of all Naga National groups. This is what we the Nagas must know without any question. And, if at all a settlement comes without all the groups, it will be a big mistake again and there will be no peace in the Homeland. This will be disastrous.
The NNC is surprised to see that the Church bodies especially the NBCC are shouting at the top of their voices about the clean election of Indian politics in the so-called state of Nagaland when the burning Naga political problem of settlement is at hand. The fact that NBCC and its branches are so concerned about Indian elections in the state to be held some time next year is disgraceful. If they are true Naga patriots then they should be more concerned about Naga politics than the Indian election. The Church leaders should fear the Living God than the heathen Nation of idol worshippers. May the Living God straighten the path and save the situation for His glory.
The NNC once again have to say today when Eight ambassadors of European Union came to Nagaland and openly discussed the Naga political problem without any hesitation and reservation, then why are we the National workers fighting among ourselves and remaining silent?
Let us the National workers rise up above the differences of leadership, party colour and, worst of all, our factional fights, and come together to work and shout in the international arena to achieve our rightful freedom of sovereignty .
The NNC must say again that Government of India will never settle the Naga political problem as they are successfully implementing their policy of divide & destroy but they shall not able to wipe out the Naga National workers and Naga politics of six decades. The world, especially the neighbouring countries, is closely watching the political scenario in the Region. At present they think that all we the National workers have to do is to unite solidly again to work together to achieve our National sovereignty. Let us wake up before it is to late to save our Nationhood.
KUKNALIM
(The above is the speech of Mr. Z.Royim Yimchungru, Acting President of Naga National Council on the 60th Anniversary of Naga National Martyrs’ Day of 18th Oct. 2012)
