FGN president Gen (Retd) Viyalie Metha and others during 74th Naga Plebiscite Day at Chedema on May 16. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 16
Naga National Council (NNC) president Adinno Phizo today stated that a voluntary national plebiscite called by NNC on May 16, 1951, was necessitated “as the Government of India, particularly the Assam administration had not only doubted the independ
nce of Naga people but also challenged the veracity of Naga independence of Nagaland as declared on August 14, 1947.”
In her message, read out by NNC spokesperson Kolezo Chase, during the observance of Naga Plebiscite Day at Chedema Peace Hall on Thursday, Adinno stated that the object of conducting the voluntary plebiscite was “to let the world know of our independent status since ancient times and also to ratify our unique position as established by the independence declaration.”
It was to show India and the world of our aspiration that there was an effective unity of the Naga people. The plebiscite was not to decide on whether or not Nagaland should become a part of India, Adinno stated adding that the purpose was to make “our position perfectly clear by the people’s mandate in print and to put on record the result achieved through the democratic process.”
“The Naga national plebiscite fulfilled all the elements universally prescribed and ascribed for conducting a plebiscite,” she stated adding that the NNC tabulated the result of the plebiscite and formally announced the result in March 1952. The result was a resounding 99.9% ‘YES’ mandate for independence.
“Plebiscite 1951 has since remained a time-tested Naga oath. Whether or not, India recognized the plebiscite was not an issue,” she added.
‘Nagas do not need another plebiscite’
In recent years, some people, ignorant of our own position have mooted the idea of another plebiscite or a referendum. Nagas do not need another plebiscite. A referendum is not applicable in our case as the sovereignty of Nagaland has nothing to do with the internal affairs of other sovereignties, Adinno stated.
She continued that the 1951 plebiscite had decisively concluded Nagaland’s position as an independent nation. “None can deny that plebiscite and NNC were like the two sides of a coin, inseparable. NNC was the sole author of the plebiscite,” she maintained.
Asserting that NNC had the peoples mandate, she stated, “Any political organization claiming the mandate of plebiscite will need to prove that there was smooth transition of power from NNC to that organization by due democratic process as governed by general international convention.”
“Out of ignorance or confusion, some people are continuously harping on finding a solution to self-created problems within the Constitution of India. Occupation situation is the political problem. It has to end first for serious and meaningful dialogue to begin. Plebiscite mandate is a path-finder towards that direction. So long as this historical fact is ignored, there will be no break-through in any political talk,” Adinno said.
Kegwanye Kent, president RRC, NNC and Naga Students’ Federation vice president Mteisuding also delivered short speeches.
The programme was chaired by Shevohü Keyho, killo killonser, Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) while vote of thanks was proposed by Dziesevilie Kesiezie, advisor NNC. FGN president Gen (Retd) Viyalie Metha was also present at the programme.
