I send my warmest greetings to our people on the occasion of the 65th Anniversary (1947-2012) of Nagaland historic formal declaration to the world to stay independent on 14 August.
Regardless of the prevailing externally driven state of affairs, every year our people who love Nagaland know Naga Independence Day on 14 August and those who do not know, they know. Nagaland never was an integral part of another country. There is no ground for contest and nothing can sway our enduring Nagaland from upholding the Yehzabo (Constitution) of Nagaland. Besides, our people can never forget the huge sacrifice of thousands of Naga patriots in the cause of Nagaland sovereignty.
False episodic dawn is not something new to our resilient people and when it occurs rightly taken as a passing phase. So it should be seen in this light about yet another creative sound of “sensitive stage” to end the “vexed Naga problem” emanating from Delhi lately. Unlike in 1964, Delhi cannot be serious as to date no approach made with the Naga National Council (NNC) and the Naga Constitutional Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) to resolve the protracted conflict. Perhaps the Government of India (GoI) forgot that it started the longest international war in modern time against Nagaland and the unremitting massive Indian occupation army militarised tyranny since India brazenly invaded Nagaland in 1954 couldn’t have stranded by mistake. It would be futile exercise on the part of GoI resorting to blatant circumvention of the legitimate Naga government for a “final solution” between the two nations. Moreover, the probable frightening consequences of a stage-manage solution is unlikely to enhance Indian diplomatic standing long seen incapable to resolve its first foreign invasion debacle.
The people of Nagaland are in own country and ever grateful to our Naga Representatives led by our sagacious leader A Z Phizo who ahead of the impending profound political changes in the world in the aftermath of the Second World War (WW2) together took the momentous decision to name Naga country Nagaland and declared Nagaland independence to safeguard Naga people freedom and handed to coming generations.
Besides given ample time, the Naga Representatives made crystal clear to the British India rulers and emerging Indian Leaders beforehand the unequivocal intention of the Naga people to stay independent. Nothing was left to chance of the desire of the Naga people on their political future. Incidentally, the British Colonial ruler of India granted British India its’ independence a day behind in 1947.
Following the indelible 1947 independent declaration, our leader A Z Phizo personally visited every village on foot in the then “Naga Hills District” so as to deliver his political vision of a Naga common goal, namely, Urra Uvie (Our Country is Ours’), heretofore, far from a cohesive federation of independent Naga Village-states and Communities (Tribes). The resounding success of the Naga Voluntary Plebiscite held under the aegis of NNC on 16 May 1951 was irrefutable Naga people testament in support of a single Naga identity and crucially, reaffirmed Nagaland independence.
By a quirk of history significant Naga Communities in the East were stranded in British India hangover “North East Frontier Agency” (NEFA) in the early 1950s. So in order to bring them home into one family our leader visited the East and with the consent of the people named their territories Free Nagas. And remarkably in the midst of the Indian army shocking invasion of Nagaland in 1954, NNC and Free Nagas newly formed Hongkhin Government reached mutual agreement for a merger to be duly enshrined in the First Naga Yehzabo (Constitution).
It couldn’t have been more appropriate that the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) was established on 22 March 1956 with full legal authority derived from the new Yehzabo of Nagaland. Regardless of GoI fixated self-delusion to deny the FGN and NNC existence, the world know the GoI (External Affairs) recognised FGN and entered into an International Cease-fire Agreement in 1964.
Let it be known that the Naga stand on sovereignty is based on sound historical facts and the will of Naga people led by good leadership in arriving at a common goal of nation-state. It is a fallacy to suggest the conflict between Nagaland and India is an internal “political problem”. Politics is never as simple as “give and take” and “compromise” and the idea of a “share sovereignty” floating around is no more than a defeatist language. Paradoxically, in not too far distance, the deceit and treachery of those malicious proponents of the certainty of “Shillong accord” as binding on the parties concerned will be exposed as Statutory Evidence never existed.
By the grace of God, Naga nation is not demanding any favour from India. The people of Nagaland simply ask India to withdraw her occupation army from Nagaland for India own sake. I reiterate no nation has the right to trample over the freedom of another nation. No matter even Indian money trap cannot prevail over the inevitable outcome. For the truth shall prevail over evil.
May God bless Nagaland. Urra Uvie
Adinno Phizo
President
The Naga National Council
