Message of NNC President Adinno Phizo to the Central Executive Council at the Annual Meeting
Ladies and Gentlemen, The formation of the Naga National Council (NNC) is in the seventieth year since its formation in 1946. In this period, the NNC represented the Nagas as the parent body and has been protecting the rights of the nation. At the present time, there are various groups mushrooming in our midst, but the NNC cannot split into factions because it is not seeking political power neither is it a political party. On the contrary, it is the ultimate political institution of the Nagas. As such, every Naga has a responsibility to uphold the Naga National Council. Here, I quote from what our leader A. Z. Phizo had written about the NNC's role: "The Naga National Council does not pretend to, nor does it intend to have an ideological bias apart from what it believe is our traditional values and concept of national harmony which is far more superior to the modern political ideology of socialism or communism".
With this true foundation, free of any external influence, the NNC has been upholding the rights of our national stand in all the difficult times over the years. These activities have been carried out without becoming the Government of the Naga people. The maintenance of law and order for the Naga people is in the hands of the Federal Government of Nagaland. As such, in 1964 when the Ceasefire Agreement was signed, it was between the Federal Government of Nagaland and the Government of India.
Naga National Council and its Policy: The national destiny of the Naga people has been entrusted to the NNC, and the NNC will continue to pursue that National interest with an uncompromising stand. Let us remind ourselves again today that the Naga National Council is the only body entrusted with our national mandate and it will remain so for all times to come. The following policies of the NNC are herewith reiterated again:
1. The NNC is the embodiment of our people and gives expression to our national aspirations.
2. The NNC is the national institution of the Naga people and not a political party or Government. There will be no change regarding this NNC stand and policy.
3. The legitimacy of the Federal Government of Nagaland will continue to be maintained.
4. Equality of Regional Councils will continue to be maintained.
5. The unity and liberty of our nation will always be guarded by the NNC.
6. The policy of Non-Violence in settling outstanding issues shall continue to be the paramount policy of the NNC.
7. Friendship based on mutual respects with all nations of the world shall always be maintained by the NNC.
As far as the Naga stand is concerned, Nagas are not "demanding" nor are they seeking to "achieve" independence or sovereignty from India. All that Nagas are demanding from India is that they withdraw all their illegal occupational forces from Nagaland, so that Nagaland and India can co-exist as two nations with good neighborly relationship.
Even during the British occupation, "The Naga Hills Excluded Areas" was a separate country from the British Indian Empire. This was because the Naga statements given to the then British were wise and brave enough to protect our country from that Colonial period to the present generation. All Nagas should be proud of this legacy and never become a subject people under any circumstances. In these sixty-nine years of conflict with India, the Nagas have always found that the Indian proposals or "agreements" has got no meaning in the end except only as talking points. But in the final fact, any agreement done without proper authority will never bring lasting peace for any country. If money can buy any country with armed power, many nations would have been lost in this world. But people who love their country have always risen up and won in the end.
Nagaland was a self-sufficient country even during the British occupation. No beggar ever existed in Naga society. Crime was also a very rare event. That the Naga people were a joyous and happy people can be discovered from our past folk songs. When the Whitemen first saw our people in the 19th century, they admired and envied the village people so much that they have recorded it in their writings. But when it came to occupying our land, their former stand became totally different and they started calling us "savages", "head hunters", and so on. They justified their changed stand saying that it was a human phenomena and nature of things.
The year 2016 is ending very soon but our country is still occupied with enemy armed forces armed with the order of "Armed Forces Special Power Act of 1958." But almost everyday, their representative continue to talk of "Unity" and "integration". Also over the years of occupation, "corruption" has now almost become a way of life. But though India has devastated our country with their brutal military forces and many people have suffered and died, by the grace of God, we have overcome all those terrible events.
As a believer of Jesus Christ, no one should use God's name in vain. Man can deceive man, but no one can deceive God. Our people were foretold in 1974 that we would face an evil time through His messenger Chaplain Kipfelhou. Later it actually happened. But these events came not by the enemy but from our own people. These evil Nagas who have killed many of our people were in pursuit of political power and money. Many Nagas were also led astray by them.
In conclusion, the Nagaland issue is not a "political problem". The ultimate problem is unprovoked military aggression by India. India must have thought that such a small country like Nagaland could be crushed easily with military might but it did not happen. On the other hand, it is a most scandalous fact that despite its billion population, not a single Indian citizen had so far criticized their own Government over the atrocities that India is guilty of having committed in Nagaland. But on our part, let us continue to have faith in God who will surely deliver us in His own time.
May God bless Nagaland. Urra Uvie. Adinno Phizo President, Naga National Council.
