Dimapur, August 14 (MExN): According to a joint press statement from the GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN Naga villages “exercised purest form of democracy” and that “perhaps only ancient Greeks practiced this type of administration.”
A joint note from the MIP and Rali Wali said that the “idyllic existence” of the Nagas was disturbed by the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826 between the British and the Burmese. “It undoubtedly allowed the British to spread their tentacles towards the Nagas and their neighbors. Despite sending expedition after expeditions into Naga territory to subdue Naga warriors but the British were never successful in their attempts. It is to be noted that the British were able to annex more than 600 Indian princely states by force and through various policies,” the note asserted
The group said that on the eve of the departure from the Indian sub-continent having ruled India for more than 400 years, the British had only a small portion of Naga territory under their control. “On 14th August 1947, the British occupied Naga territory rightly declared that the British power would cease to exist and all authority would be in the hands of the Nagas. In other words, neither India nor any external power would be allowed to inherit the legacy of the British because occupied Nagas areas merged with other unadministered Naga on this historic day,” the note asserted.
It was also to remind that Naga homeland “beyond the Tizu River” never succumbed to outsiders at any point of history. The GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN stated in length: “Government of India under Jawaharlal Nehru in the 1950’s forcibly poured its military might to crush the Nagas but as history is the witness, Naga people never parted with their greatest gift in this world, their freedom! It is in solidarity that Nagas both from occupied regions and unadministered areas expresses gratitude to visionary leadership of the Naga National Council (NNC) every year for unleashing the power of liberty for every Naga to embrace. It is for the love of liberty that Nagas are committing themselves to Reconciliation and Unity.”
