Dimapur, March 22 (MExN): Kedahge of the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) Brig (Retd) S Singnya has said that “the need of the hour for the Nagas is to unite and to stand united against all odds for the Naga Cause and pursue the clarion call of the Nation with one voice.”
Addressing the 67th Republic Day in Dimapur on Tuesday, he paid homage to the “Founding Fathers of our Nation through whose vision and far sightedness our Nation became a Republic based on the Historical and Political Rights of the Nagas.”
Terming it as a ‘red letter day,’ Singnya gave a brief historical account of how Nagaland became a Republic in the year 1956 when the NNC convened the First Tatar Hoho, bringing together “Free Nagas represented by the Hongki Government and the Naga National Council representing the then Naga Hills District leading to the establishment of the Federal Government of Nagaland.”
“With the National Mandate entrusted to them in 1951 and acknowledging that the Almighty God alone is the Supreme Sovereign over this whole world…our leaders established our National institution based on the modern principles and ideals of Democracy, Justice, Liberty and Fraternity,” he added.
In commemorating the 67th year, “we also rededicate ourselves to follow in their footsteps, to focus on what we all hold dear to our hearts and to address the issues that are confronting us as a people and a nation,” Singnya stated.
The FGN leader also said that the Naga people need to “move forward in the best way possible to achieve our goal and follow the path till our historical rights find full expression.”
He said that rights, whether it be birth right or historical rights or political rights will not change anything until those rights are legitimately established. “Naga nationalism was founded on courage, the courage to believe that Nagas are different and unique as a people and as a nation, founded on the historical and political reality of the time. We must travel back in time to the distant past to reclaim our rights that was declared in unity and trust and struggle together with pride and dignity,” he said, while expressing belief that “there is a future before us.”
He went on to state that the NNC/FGN, as a part and parcel of the NNPGs, continues to support the Working Committee of the NNPGs for an honorable solution the Indo-Naga Political problem based on the historical and political rights of the Nagas, the political dialogue for which was concluded on October 31, 2019.
Singnya further stated that it was the “bounden duty of all right thinking Nagas to give refuge and humanitarian aids wherever necessary to our hapless Myanmar Naga brethren who in order to save themselves from the intolerable persecutions and human rights violations of the Myanmar army and their desire to uphold their belief in the Democratic Principles, have crossed the borders and are now in different parts of the Naga inhabited areas.”
Meanwhile, the NNC/FGN Ministry of Rali Wali Affairs stated in a press release, that the Republic Day celebrations took place in two locations—Dimapur and Nokhu Noking village.
In Dimapur, the Naga National Flag was unfurled by the FGN Kedahge S Singnya while Secretary General Ghuvishe V Zhimomi chaired the programme. Republic Day Speech was read out on behalf of Kedahge by Secretary General while FGN Kedallo Zhopra Vero spoke on the developments on the ongoing Naga political issue. Short speeches also were delivered by Hekhuvi Achumi, Kilonser; Litsaba Sangtam, Kilonser; Victor M Thuu, Kilonser; and Maj Gen Anito Yeptho, GOC, W/C, the release stated.
During the celebrations at Nokhu Noking village under the Khiamniungan Region, the National Flag was unfurled by Puthai Lam, Killo Kilonser, as per the release.
