The Nagas have been living in their own ancestral domains since time memorials, never in any other people’s land. History will ever speak of this.
Their free existence was interrupted when the British imperial forces intruded into their own country with a view to subjugate them. The Nagas, however, put up tough resistance against the aggressor in defense of their territory, identity, culture and future. In their final attempt to colonize Naga country, the British under their diabolic divide and rule policy bifurcated the Naga territories into two parts and placed them under-India and Burma. The British established their headquarters at Mawliek as an initiative to physically control the Naga areas in Burma, but in ended in a failure as the Nagas were not responsive.
On the eve of departure of the British in 1947, General Aung San convened a meeting of all heads of the tribal council in Burma at Penlong for formation of Union of Burma in which the Nagas were not a party to it.
After declaration of Burmese independence of 4th January 1948, the Naga areas covering Namyung, Tanai, Lahe, Hkamti, Thamanti, Leishi, Homalin, Phombian, Mawliek and Tamu townships were forcibly annexed to form Sagaing Division during the Prime Ministership of U.Nu. Those recognized Naga townships were also reaffirmed by the successive government of General Newin.Thereafter, the Naga Hills District headquarters was shifted from Mawliek to Hkamti.
Under the rule of military junta even the basic rights of the Nagas are deprived. Nagas are placed in a horrible situation. Womenfolk are mass-raped, villages burned every now and then, force conversation of religion, force labor without payment, and innocent villagers are used as potter for carrying ammunitions and rations for the army during military operations for weeks and months in Naga area and summary execution of people on the pretext of Burmese state security are common occurrences.
There are no facilities for children education, no electricity, no medical care and communication system is extremely poor during these more than six decades of forced occupation of Naga areas. The worst of all is the present installation of autonomous district council which embraces only three out of the previous ten townships namely: Leishi, Lahe and Namyung while the rest of the Naga townships have been arbitrarily sliced off and given away to Kachin state and Sagaing Division. This being the situation the Naga people can never be silent spectators to the destruction of their homeland.
Under such circumstances the Naga people once again are compelled to stand up to the situation being created by the military junta and condemn such broad daylight land robbery in the strongest term. Be it informed that any arbitary decision imposed on the Nagas will be acceptable to them. This is now the era of democracy and we all know that the right to self determination is the essence of democracy. Therefore, the Naga people will decide their future only by themselves and that is their inherent right.
Let this be known by the whole world.
(Mr. Sosa)
President
NNLD (Naga National
League for Democracy)
Their free existence was interrupted when the British imperial forces intruded into their own country with a view to subjugate them. The Nagas, however, put up tough resistance against the aggressor in defense of their territory, identity, culture and future. In their final attempt to colonize Naga country, the British under their diabolic divide and rule policy bifurcated the Naga territories into two parts and placed them under-India and Burma. The British established their headquarters at Mawliek as an initiative to physically control the Naga areas in Burma, but in ended in a failure as the Nagas were not responsive.
On the eve of departure of the British in 1947, General Aung San convened a meeting of all heads of the tribal council in Burma at Penlong for formation of Union of Burma in which the Nagas were not a party to it.
After declaration of Burmese independence of 4th January 1948, the Naga areas covering Namyung, Tanai, Lahe, Hkamti, Thamanti, Leishi, Homalin, Phombian, Mawliek and Tamu townships were forcibly annexed to form Sagaing Division during the Prime Ministership of U.Nu. Those recognized Naga townships were also reaffirmed by the successive government of General Newin.Thereafter, the Naga Hills District headquarters was shifted from Mawliek to Hkamti.
Under the rule of military junta even the basic rights of the Nagas are deprived. Nagas are placed in a horrible situation. Womenfolk are mass-raped, villages burned every now and then, force conversation of religion, force labor without payment, and innocent villagers are used as potter for carrying ammunitions and rations for the army during military operations for weeks and months in Naga area and summary execution of people on the pretext of Burmese state security are common occurrences.
There are no facilities for children education, no electricity, no medical care and communication system is extremely poor during these more than six decades of forced occupation of Naga areas. The worst of all is the present installation of autonomous district council which embraces only three out of the previous ten townships namely: Leishi, Lahe and Namyung while the rest of the Naga townships have been arbitrarily sliced off and given away to Kachin state and Sagaing Division. This being the situation the Naga people can never be silent spectators to the destruction of their homeland.
Under such circumstances the Naga people once again are compelled to stand up to the situation being created by the military junta and condemn such broad daylight land robbery in the strongest term. Be it informed that any arbitary decision imposed on the Nagas will be acceptable to them. This is now the era of democracy and we all know that the right to self determination is the essence of democracy. Therefore, the Naga people will decide their future only by themselves and that is their inherent right.
Let this be known by the whole world.
(Mr. Sosa)
President
NNLD (Naga National
League for Democracy)
