Dimapur, July 5 (MExN): General Secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim Th Muivah has reached out to the Nagas of the Eastern Naga People Organization (ENPO) pointing out that “we have to understand each other”. “We are one and united in our common aspiration and I will be failing you my Naga people if I had not come to you. We too will be in great danger if many of the problems created by the Nagas cannot be solved by us”, stated a message issued by Muivah to the ‘Nagas of ENPO’.
Stating that from his early life he had heard about the Nagas in “free Nagalim”, Muivah pointed out that the people of the ENPO had a “proud history” because they were the master of their lands and destiny. On the other hand “Nagas in other parts of Nagalim” faced wave after waves of onslaught from the imperialist forces and were forcibly occupied for a period of time by the British. “Yet, when the time came, unlike other ill-fated nationalities they took the right decision at the right time. They exercised their right of self-determination and declared their independence on 14th August 1947, one day prior to India’s independence and subsequently took several steps in affirmation to that stand - 1951 plebiscite wherein 99.9 % voted for ‘free Nagalim’ and the boycott of India’s general election in the year 1952 and 1957”, Muivah recounted in the statement released to the media.
Pointing out that one of the central points in all the struggles around the world was the attempt of all nations to reshape their history although in many cases the wrongs and humiliation inflicted on them could not be undone, Muivah stated that the Nagas in “Free Nagalim” were also a victim of an intentional distortion campaign when their land was termed as “No man’s land” by Jawaharlal Nehru. According to Muivah this “legitimized the states to posses your beloved land through such fictitious history”. “I see the precedence that has happened to many other indigenous peoples around the globe when the imperialist forces created a legal fiction termed as ‘Discovery’ or ‘terra nullius’ that means ‘legally unoccupied empty-land’. Such imaginary concepts justified the free grapping or claim over territories by the so called conquerors”.
Muivah put the query as to what the stand of the eastern Nagas would be and whether the people had examined how they must decolonize the imposition of ideas on us by the imperialist forces. “It is our bounden duty to reclaim our history by exercising our right to self-determination. You must know that the affairs of the suppressed nation’s vis-à-vis the international communities are changing to accommodate the rights of all the oppressed nations. You should not be left behind in ignorance and imprudence. Arise!!!” Muivah stated in his message.
Stating that states in order to crush our right for freedom had invented many ingenious ways to divide and weaken the Nagas, Muivah mentioned that the Naga homeland was fragmented and placed under various states within India and also in Myanmar (erstwhile Burma). They had also effectively wielded the policy of dividing the Nagas through the various Accords and Agreements that had weakened our people’s historical aspiration. Thus, our national movement witnessed systematic divisive policies orchestrated by the states, Muivah stated in the statement.
Pointing out that God has given the Nagas their land, Muivah urged that it was our duty and right to protect it. “The defense of our homeland is a serious matter. I tell you my Naga people the plan and purpose of God for the Nagas is diametrically opposed to the policies of the imperialist. The bigger issue is do we understand our rights or should we linger and wait for others to come and teach us our freedom? We must be the master of our situation but it will be a great mistake if we believe that others will decide our fate”, Muivah stated in his message.
Acknowledging that at the right time the Naga National Council (NNC) and its leaders including AZ. Phizo, Imkongmeren, Whenha, Kughato Sukhai, Khodao Yanthan, T. Sakhrei and others had given Nagas the right direction, Muivah stated that these leaders had taught us our rights and freedom. However, the states concerned played their role effectively and our freedom struggle was disturbed with the signing of the Shillong Accord in 1975, Muivah stated while going on to describe it as the root cause of division amongst the Nagas. “Afterwards in the later part of eighties the states played their card well again and the worst massacre happened in the East when S.S. Khaplang and the Indian Agencies organized and accused Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah of collecting arms and surrendering to India and butchered nearly 200 of our precious cadres”, Muivah recalled.
Yet, despite the deep wounds that have been inflicted on the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), Muivah pointed out that under the spiritual counsel of Isak Chishi Swu, they decided to go ahead with “Reconciliation”. “After three days of national fasting and repentance we issued the declaration of reconciliation on 13th January 2007. Therefore, we are totally committed to this process but it must be unambiguous to us that the Naga people will have the final say bearing in mind our historical decisions, that is, ‘Nagalim for Christ’ and ‘Unique history and situation of the Nagas’, Muivah stated.
On the declaration of cease-fire on August 1, 1997 between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, Muivah informed that this came about subsequent to both the entities agreeing that the political negotiation will be initiated on three foundations – at the highest level, without pre-condition and outside India in a third country. According to Muivah the opening point of this political negotiation highlights the fact that Indo-Naga issue is firstly not India’s “Internal law and order issue” but a “political issue”, secondly, it was between “two entities” and thirdly a “Fresh political settlement” on the Nagas will be arrived at only through an honourable and negotiated political negotiation.
Stating that the Indo-Naga conflict has dragged on for more than six decades, Muivah reminded that “no Agreements or Accords had been accepted by the Nagas who love their rights” and that today the current political dialogue with the GOI bears testimony of its commitment to all the historical decisions taken by the Naga people and the NNC. Muivah informed that only after five years and six months of tough negotiation the GOI recognized the “Unique history and situation of the Nagas” and termed this as an official recognition of all the past historical decisions taken by the Naga people. “Therefore, the Naga people must judge whether the current political dialogue is a surrender negotiation or otherwise”.
Reminding that the best defining moment has arrived once again in our time, Muivah stated that it was our bounden duty to grasp this historic moment. “While continuing the journey of ‘Peace and reconciliation’ we will not allow any other undesirable approach to hinder the process because this golden moment in our history must be safeguarded at all cost. We continue to urge the Naga people not to be simply misled by the divisive policy of the self-seeking Nagas and also our opponents. All of us must be clear on this”, Muivah added while assuring that they will “not fail you our Naga people” and reassuring that they will come back to the people when the right time comes for us to decide the final political settlement with India. “We will not betray God, the Naga people and our historical decision. We will continue to stand for the truth we know”, Muivah stated.
