I send my warmest greetings to our people on the occasion of Nagaland commemorate the 62nd Anniversary of the Declaration to Stay Independent on 14 August. No nation can reverse history. When the British adventurers first encountered the “fearless” independent Naga people in the early 19th century, they were astounded to find a thriving tradition of “purest democracy” that seemingly, impossible to discern a centre of authority. Furthermore, the people lived in harmony and were self-sufficient. In subsequent 47 years intermittent war, with no likely winner in sight, the British intruders sought meeting with the legendary Naga leader. The two sides met at a prearranged venue and reached a Peace Concord on 27 March 1880, popularly recognised as “unique” on account of the Naga leader unprecedented refusal to enter into a written treaty or agreement. By and large, the British kept their word not to interfere in Naga affairs during its colonial rule over the surrounding countries.
In 1947, when the Nagas formally declared to the world that Nagaland will stay independent on 14 August, all around were a sea of British empire, paradoxically, so was the then British India. Nagaland never look back since our sagacious Naga representatives led by A Z Phizo, took the bold and momentous step on the political future of Naga people, heretofore, far from a cohesive federation of diverse independent communities to the modern world stage.
Still, neighbouring India grotesquely prevent the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) to exercise Naga sovereignty and to date deny much needed nation building progress speak volumes of successive Indian leaders awful hypocrisy. India reneged on the word of Mahatma Gandhi, Father of modern India, when asked pertaining to future bilateral relations by the visiting Naga National Council (NNC) delegation to Delhi on 19 July 1947; “Is might right?” He said, “No.” His successor, Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of nascent Union of India, contemptibly abandoned his own often stated role to the world as champion of freedom and perversely ordered the invasion of Nagaland in 1954.
As a consequence of Indian army brutality, over one hundred thousands (100,000) Naga civilians lost their lives and thousands of Naga patriots resisting the aggressors were killed. Evidently, the Government of India (GoI) badly miscalculated the will of the Naga people to resolutely defend Nagaland independence following the 16 May 1951 voluntary plebiscite pledge embedded with NNC. On the war front, the Indian army not far from bordering debacle swayed the Indian leaders to sign an international Cease-fire Agreement between the Federal Government of Nagaland and the Government of India, effective on 06 September 1964. While it lasted, a series of high level bilateral talks were held in Delhi, from hindsight ineptly managed. In nothing short of contempt, the GoI abruptly ended the talk and unilaterally abrogated the Cease-fire Agreement in August 1972. The massive Indian occupation army militarised tyranny in Nagaland has not gone away.
Despite the GoI gross interference in the internal affairs of Nagaland, the FGN consistently maintain a non-violence policy of no firing except in self-defence when first fired upon, and unswervingly adhere to NNC vision, Our Country is Ours’. Naga nation will never condone peddling in half-truths and contradiction so as to incite sectarian violence in any form to dominate other Regions against the Yehzabo (Constitution) of Nagaland. Far too long, largely educated Nagas, could clearly be seen incline to bury bad news and shied away from civil responsibility. Let us stand together for a free and happy Nagaland.
Once again, the people of Nagaland earnestly urge the Government of India to Quit Nagaland, the days of colonialism is long gone. Before late 1980s, the GoI imposed total communication blackout to conceal India’s undeclared war against Nagaland. Now that the Internets made the whole world accessible, no longer can a nation hide its evil deeds. The current outrageous “peace process” the GoI stage with a proxy militia gang collected from the Indian state of Manipur, aka, the tormentors, to undermine the original stand of Nagaland simply manifest poverty of right minded leaders in India. Until the GoI resolve the core issue of the conflict between the two nations with NNC and FGN, the civilised world will find Indian hypocrisy perplexing and unacceptable. Show the world that India has the capacity to rise above the ordinary even at this late time. Notwithstanding commercialism seemingly dictate international relations, in a fast changing world, no country has the right to trample over the freedom of another country with impunity.
Our long suffering people know all along the Almighty God sustain Naga nation and Nagaland will be free in God’s own time. Bearing in mind the many thousands of our very dear and love ones who gave their lives for our freedom and posterity, let us humbly pray to God for His unfailing love be upon Naga nation whilst not shy away from meeting the challenges ahead.
May God bless Nagaland. Urra Uvie
Adinno Phizo
President
