Gen (Retd) Viyalie Metha
Kedahge/President of FGN
Dear Countrymen,
In the history of the Naga Nation, 22nd March is a red letter Day from 1956 onwards. As we commemorate the 68th Nagaland Republic Day, in the first place we must thank the Almighty God for His protection and blessing upon the Naga Nation all these years. We are also grateful to our former Naga National leaders who took timely initiative to declare Nagaland a Republic at Parashen in the Rengma Region, and formed the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) encompassing all the Naga territories on 22nd March, 1956.
On this important national day, let us not forget to acknowledge but remember afresh the wisdom and strength of our ancestors who carefully protected our land and our people from falling to outside forces. Thereby, handing the unspoiled legacy to the modern era at the right time and moment where our pioneering national leaders could organize our people into a nation state in keeping with the international trend. We are immensely indebted to them for their foresight and timely action. We owe our existence to them today. Secondly, it is an occasion to say thank you to all the national workers who are currently serving the nation at various levels; in the Federal Government, the Naga National Council (NNC) and the Naga Army. Your patriotic services and tenacity speak volumes. The Naga nation salutes you.
Talking of the Naga National right and stand, Nagaland’s position is unique - it lacks nothing. To briefly enumerate, Nagas were never conquered by any foreign power. Hence, it could formally declare its age-old independence on14th August, 1947.
To that effect, a voluntary plebiscite was conducted on 16th May 1951 to ascertain the declaration of independence and received overwhelming mandate of 99.9% to stay independent. With that mandate the Federal Government of Nagaland was formed on 22nd March, 1956. With these impeccable historical rights and position of Nagaland, Nagas are accepted and recognized by the International Community wherever we go.
However much against our will, the newly gained independent India launched its naked aggression on Nagaland by 1954 and is occupying much of our land till today. That, in defense of our land and nation we have lost thousands of lives, so many tortured and maimed, our women humiliated and violated, and our villages and properties destroyed over and over in many Regions. The war crimes committed by India must be accounted for sooner or later.
Nagas will always remember and pay their deepest homage to the supreme sacrifices of lives and sufferings given by patriotic Nagas for the sake of Nagaland and its people. On the part of the Federal Government of Nagaland, it is our bounden responsibility to safeguard and uphold the sovereignty and integrity of Nagaland at all times.
Long live Nagaland.
KUKNALIM.
