Public Statement: Delivered on behalf of Naga people at the Civil Demonstration for Early Solution held on 12th December, 2005, 9 AM, at City Tower Junction, Dimapur, Nagaland.
The CIVIL DEMONSTRATION FOR EARLY SOLUTION is the expression of a suffering people yearning for answer to a problem for which they are not at fault. The demise of British imperialism over the world including Naga country was hastily replaced by Indian imperialism. The Nagas have struggled for self determination for 60 years in the course of which untold sufferings and misery have been inflicted upon the people from the hands of opponents. The struggle raged from the 1950s until 1964 when respite came through a landmark Ceasefire.
However after six rounds of talks between, the NNC and the Government of India, the cease fire was unilaterally abrogated by the Government of India. This led to a revival of persecution and military atrocity culminating in the signing of the infamous Shillong Accord in 1975 which created confusion among Nagas leading to bloodshed. The Nagas continued to suffer under various circumstances and discrimination. The erstwhile oneness of the freedom movement began to crack and due to wide gap of communication compounded by divisive and destructive agencies, the NNC branched out into NSCN which in turn split into two groups. Lives continue to be lost and a people in search of peace and freedom were further plunged into disorder:
It was during the 1990s that contact with a wider circle of friends across the globe particularly and more efficiently by the NSCN (1M) leadership began to attract serious attention on the Naga issue from among international community. The Atlanta Meet of all the Naga underground and civil leaders in 1997 further created a new dimension of world opinion. Just a month prior to this Meet, Nagas were once more greeted with respite when the NSCN (1M) entered into a Ceasefire Agreement with the Government of India effective from 1st August 1997.
The Ceasefire of 1997 created ground for both the Government of India and the Nagas to delve deeper into the heart of the matter for which the general public awaited with great hope. However, it remains far from satisfactory. On the one hand, it became a time for the Security Forces to loosen its nerves, relax and remain oblivious to the factional feuds and misery of public caught in the crossfire while the Government at Delhi appear to delight itself with the new experiment. On ground, back home, a force which had spent an entire life away from normal social life fighting for the freedom of their people, suddenly emerged. In the course of this shift, there were times when excesses occurred where civilians were either killed or tortured. Public outcry was persistent both at the rampaging Indian security forces as well as against erring elements. The drama appears to amuse the bosses at New Delhi which displayed exceptional generosity in signing extension after extension of the Ceasefire without seriously considering arriving at a settlement. The present Ceasefire is due for expiration in January 2006. The Naga public yearning for a permanent peaceful life has always appealed for peace.
What has baffled the people today is that after 8 and half years of Ceasefire, no tangible result is seen. This situation has created more confusion than solution. The growing suspicion of the public that the Ceasefire after all, was being used by the Government of India as a toy to appease the crying baby is beginning to gain credence. The message today is that GOI must stop its antic forthwith and save the situation.
The message of the Civil Demonstration today is to tell the world that a Ceasefire alone, no matter how long or how well the ground works are laid down, is meaningless unless it leads to a concrete result. The peoples’ cry today is not Ceasefire for the sake of ceasefire alone, but that the ceasefire which facilitated the Indo-Naga peace process MUST ULTIMATELY LEAD TO A FINAL AMICABLE AND HONOURABLE SOLUTION FOR THE PROTRACTED INDO-NAGA POLITICAL PROBLEM.
The public today demonstrate to show the world that we mean business and we are for peace. Symbolizing peace and the spirit of cooperation, the people today hold replicas of both the National Flags of India and Nagaland which signify peace talks under process among the two nations. We submit no memorandum but spell out our views and demands through this PUBLIC STATEMENT for the entire world to know. Billed as the longest freedom struggle in Asia, the Nagas and their rights for nationhood has for too long been suppressed. Vested agencies have fished in the troubled waters of the prolonged and unresolved Indo-Naga issue for too long. We call for an end to this perfidy. We call upon all concerned to desist from sowing seeds of division, hatred and violence. We call upon all citizens to let the Sovereign God take control of the issue and unite. The forces at work against the interest and welfare of the Nagas then shall be defeated and truth and peace shall ultimately triumph.
The Civil Demonstration at Dimapur today calls upon the Government of India, its esteemed Prime Minister and the august Parliament of world’s largest democracy, its teeming millions to consider the plight of the Nagas and evolve an early amicable solution to the Indo.Naga political problem. We call upon world Governments not to remain silent but support the genuine cause of the Nagas.
WE WANT SOLUTION,
NOT CEASEFIRE ALONE.
WE WANT SOLUTION,
NOT DELAY TACTICS.
God Bless Nagaland
