Naga Plebiscite - the basis of sovereign nation

NNC observes 65th anniversary of Naga Plebiscite

Our Correspondent
 Chedema | May 16  

The Naga National Council (NNC) today observed the 65th anniversary of the Naga Plebiscite of 1951 here at Chedema Peace Hall, near Kohima.  

Addressing the gathering, NNC president Adinno Phizo said sixty-five years ago on May 16, over six thousand Nagas came from all over “our country to Kohima to witness and to give their pledge that they will stand by our nation.”  

“Big or small, a nation is a nation. But when your next neighbour ridicules your existence, the right way to do is not fight but to show in action. That was the reason the Naga National Council (NNC) “under the leadership of AZ Phizo decided to have a voluntary Plebiscite by the Naga people for the Naga people,” Adinno said.  

She recalled that AZ Phizo travelled all over the country for four months on foot and explained the situation to the people. “As the Nagas loved their country, they understood their right easily. In the Plebiscite, two choices were given - independence or join India. The out-come was 99.9% pledged to stay independent. All the arrangement was carried out openly, and the NNC even informed the Indian government four months before it took place,” she added. Adinno said that this Plebiscite had shown to the world that Nagas are a “sovereign nation.”  

Quoting AZ Phizo’s speech on the day of the Plebiscite, Adinno said: “We shall do all what is humanly possible so that we shall not have to go down in history in shame or live in sorrow and disgrace; what else we cannot, we leave it to God’s own mercy and to His care and pray that we do not become a victim of Indian imperialism. This Plebiscite is not whether Nagaland should become a part of India or not. This is only to show India and the world of Naga unity as one effective nation in order to let India know the position of Nagaland.”  

Adinno claimed that after the Naga Plebiscite result was made known, the Indian Government sent an emissary who held a meeting with AZ Phizo in Shillong, Assam and offered “any amount of money” for the development of Nagaland. She said that Phizo refused, and quoted him as saying: “my body is mine if you need my help, I can help what I can do, but my country is not mine but you can talk to my people.”  

“He was always conscious that once we lose our country we shall no longer be free men, and development does not bring freedom,” said Adinno.  

She further claimed that after the death of Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian Government “disregarded their national policy of non-violence and invaded Nagaland.” She recalled the government sending in armed forces from 1954 onwards to 1964 till the ceasefire agreement was signed between the Federal Government of Nagaland and the Government of India.  

“Everywhere people remembered those who died for their country. Many Nagas suffered and died in defence of our country, and for their sacrifice Nagaland survives today,” said Adinno.  

She however lamented that “a section of Nagas went in the wrong direction and brought in many evils after the ceasefire agreement with India. There are people who use the so-called Shillong Accord as a ghost and scare others to disturb people’s mind but truth shall prevail. Hope they will realize their mistake.”  

Adinno further stated that the Nagas are not asking anything from India. “Nagaland was and is never a part of India. Besides, Nagaland is not an enemy of India. What the Nagas expect from India is that reason must prevail and usher in peace between Nagaland and India,” she said.  

Fifty five signatories of the Plebiscite were present during today’s commemoration. They were honoured with mementos. Among them, Rev. Yankey Patton, former Chaplain FGN and Rev. Majabong shared their experiences during the Plebiscite.

Tribute to the Naga Plebiscite of 1951

Paying tribute to the Plebiscite, Kaka D Iralu said that the event of 1951 was “like seeing the very finger of God directing our national leaders to stake our rightful claims, over our rightful lands, at the rightful time, in our history.”  

Reminding that Naga leaders had also submitted several memorandums to both the British before 1947 and to the Indians after independence regarding the Naga national stand, Iralu lamented that “the Assam Rifles and the Assam Armed Police, from the former British Assam, continued to occupy our lands upto 1954. Then in 1955, the Indian army invaded Nagaland and occupied every nook and corner of our lands after burning our villages to ashes.” Because of this, he reasoned that the Naga declaration of independence on August 14, 1947 and the May 16, 1951 Naga Plebiscite went un-noticed by the world.  

Iralu however said that whether the world recognizes Naga independence or not, it is the prerogative right of any nation to raise their own independence flag over their own independent territories.  

He said that Nagas “have no right to raise our flag over some neighbouring country’s land because such an action would amount to an act of invasion. Going by the same political principle and international law, neighbouring country like India or Burma also has absolutely no right to raise their flags over our ancestral lands and claim that our lands and our people belong to them.”  

He called upon the Naga people to “unequivocally reiterate that we are an independent nation with all the rights and privileges thereof. Let us also, with one united voice, declare again to the world that Nagaland and Naga territories do not belong to India or Burma.”

Youth voices

Also speaking during the event, Chakhesang Youth Front (CYF) President, Welete Kapfo, said that because of the “legacy left behind  by the NNC (and) by our great heroes, even today we uphold the original principle of the Plebiscite -1951 under the leadership of Late A.Z. Phizo.”  

Meanwhile, saluting the 1951 Plebiscite signatories present on the occasion, Angami Youth Organization President Medo Yhokha said “We salute you, we honour you. We will be the ambassador of this Plebiscite.”