72nd Naga Independence Day Speech
Gen(Retd) Thinoselie M Keyho
President, Naga National Council, Nagaland
My beloved countrymen,
On the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day, I salute you all.
The Naga Nation started from almost zero position, but we managed to survive all these years and reached this day, the 72nd anniversary of our “Independence Day”, how wonderful it is. This is possible not because of our strength but because of the love and grace of our Almighty God, we praise and give thanks to Him.
My dear Nagas, never misrepresent the rights of the Nagas either in our speeches or in writings. Never exchange our rights with the wrongs of our adversaries!
Many people writes or say “demanding, fighting for, struggling for Independence….”but this is wrong. The Nagas declared Independence before India, it was declared on 14th August, 1947 and therefore, from that day onward we are an Independent Nation. Once born, can it be said that it is yet to be born?
Our fight with the Government of India is because the Indian Government refused to recognize our sovereign right and started to invade us. Our fight is to defend and protect our sovereign right to continue to remain as a “Independent Nation”.
If the Nagas were to be defeated, it might have been at the nascent stage of our nationhood. Had the NNC surrendered or had the Government of India crushed or defeated the Federal Government of Nagaland, the fate of the Nagas would have been doomed. Had that happened, the former British Naga Hill District may still continue to remain as a district in Assam. Likewise, the other Nagas too may continue to live as they had lived during the British days. However, we have found the favor and grace of God, if we have won. So let us not be afraid.
Government of India have no moral right or authority to govern us. Therefore, Indian Government is applying the policy of “divide and rule” to split Nagas into groups and engineered fights among us, this is how they are playing with us. GOI had even nurtured some groups to support them and taking advantage of these groups, forcefully occupying Nagaland against the desire and aspiration of the Nagas.
If the GOI were to review its action, it will find that all the actions they had taken ostensibly to find Naga Solution were counterproductive. By penning down the 16 Point Agreement of 1960 or the Shillong Accord of 1975, did the Naga National Movement disappear? By signing these agreements, could the problem be solved or any solution found? Even if GOI is to finalize the Framework Agreement devoid of sovereignty, it will end up the same way as before. Even if the present day National Workers phase out, it can be seen that a much more bigger, stronger and wider generation is coming up again.
I, therefore, beseech the Government of India to recognize the Sovereign Rights of the Nagas and leave Nagaland in the interest of peace and to coexist as friendly neighbours. Now the ball is in the Court of Government of India. Praise the Lord!
KUKNALIM
