Q Tuccu
Yaruiwo, NSCN (IM)
My dear people of Nagalim, on this historic day, I greet you all in the living name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
History says Naga country is composed of thousands of sovereign independent village-states which were ruled by councils of elders headed by kings. But their independent and peaceful life was threatened when the British colonial forces intruded into the land of the free Nagas. The Naga people felt the necessity of forming a united force under the banner of one national government and organization to confronting the aggressors in defense of their land. So, the birth of a republic government was necessitated. The Republic government called Federal Government of Nagaland was formed on 22nd March 1956. But its legitimacy ceased with the signing of the Shillong Accord in 1975. Thus, the second Republic government called Government of the People's Republic of Nagalim was formed and declared on this day, the 21' March 1980. Change of government from monarchy to Republic is historic. Republic is the rule of the sovereign people through their elected representatives where voice of the people is supreme.
The Indian authorities also acknowledge the historical fact that the Nagas have the history of independence; they have neither been a part of the Union of India nor that of Burma. In 1950, the constituent Assembly of India invited the Nagas to join the Union of India, but it was rejected by the Naga people. If the Nagas had joined Union of India 71 years ago, they would have been assimilated and perished in the ocean of Indian cultural imperialism. Our fathers clearly understood that there is no future for the Nagas when their sovereign right to decide their future by themselves is murdered. The big no to the Union of India had saved the future of the Nagas. The Nagas are alive and kicking on account of that historic decision.
In the negotiations, the Indians and the Nagas leaders took their respective parallel stands never to meet. The stand of Gol was — 'solution within the parameter of Indian constitution and Union of India' whereas the stand of the Nagas was —'nothing to do with India, nothing short of total independence and total sovereignty.' Finally, after a long series of talks Government of India proposed the Framework Agreement as a formula of win/win solution. All the successive Prime Ministers of India understand that Nagas will not merge with Union of India, but they are willing to coexist with Union of India. They are also well informed of it that Nagas will not accept Indian constitution; however, they are not opposed to sharing sovereign power with India. The Framework Agreement is the meeting point of the two sovereign peoples. Sensible Nagas understand that this is one of the options where the Indians and the Nagas can come closer to each other because it serves the purposes of both the parties. And therefore, it would be a great loss for them if they would betray the Framework Agreement or miss the chance. But as for the Nagas, we will keep the Framework Agreement.
We don't believe in the philosophy of stopping war with war. All wars in history and all human problems are settled with the politics of negotiation and agreement. We believe the Indo-Naga political problem can also be settled through political talks. We strongly believe Indians and Nagas can walk together, work together, live together and fight together through agreement both in the time of peace and war. The Scripture says, "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" We have understood the fact that Indo-Naga political solution will not come from the east or from the west, it will come only from the bilateral talks between the Nagas and Indian leaders. And therefore, we reiterate our stand on the negotiated settlement.
Nagas are highly political people. We are issue-based people; we are principle-based people who can never be lured and purchased with quantum of money or high sounding promises. Government of India must not repeat the wrong colonial 'carrot and stick policy.' Colonialism is a thing of the past already condemned by the world today. Indian leaders admitted that the so-called 16-point agreement and the Shillong Accord did not solve the problem. That is why the government of India invited the NSCN leadership to have political dialogue with them for a lasting political solution. But we can assuredly say any agreement that is not based on the issue is no solution at all. I believe Indian leaders today will not commit the mistakes of the past. For the Nagas, we survive if we hold fast to the issue, but we perish if we drop it.
