Chq, Hebron, May 10, 2017
History will ever speak of the fact that the Nagas are a sovereign independent people from time immemorial. Of course, in the early part of the nineteenth century, the British imperialist forces occupied a part of Nagalim after 48 years long bloody confrontations with the Nagas. However, the rest part remained free from any alien power, which was called as ‘Free Nagas’. It is also a fact that the Nagas from the British occupied areas declared their independence on August 14, 1947 a day ahead of India and united with the ‘Free Nagas.’ The principle of ‘Free Nagas’ is the foundation of Naga politics and their unique history. The plebiscite conducted in 1951 was a reaffirmation of the stand of the Naga People on their national principle.
Ours is a case of invasion and that it is a resistance movement against the aggressor states of India and Myanmar in defence of our national principle. Our negotiation with the Government of India (GoI) is principle-based. So obviously, solution to the problem will also be principle-based. Any political arrangement or solution that betrays the principle is a road block to the solution. The Naga people continued their movement as past agreements and accords did not solve the problem. It is pointless to glorify the people or the Organization who made the accords of treason; it is meaningless to shift the blame to the enemies who outwitted and out manoeuvred the authors of the accords; it is ridiculous to invoke the names of heaven and earth for the political mistakes one has made; it is unscrupulous to justify the political wrong one has done. One must have the courage to speak the truth and amend the mistakes he has made for the sake of the people.
The good news is that the Naga politics did not end there. The Naga people continued their movement under the banner of NSCN, where they have made many extraordinary achievements in course of their struggle. Indeed, they fought back the aggressors with all their available resources and strength. However, they cannot keep fighting; they must talk with the GoI so that the problem is solved through dialogue. After decades of confrontations, punctuated with negotiations, the historic ‘Framework Agreement’ was finally signed between NSCN and the GoI as two entities. The agreement, which embraces all Nagas and their territories, is based on the uniqueness of Naga history. It speaks about mutual recognition of sovereign rights of the two people clearly stating that sovereignty of the Nagas lies with the Naga people and the sovereignty of India lies with the Indian people. It also speaks about recognition of the Naga identity and territories. But, the authors of the agreement did not stop there. They further took the commendable step in making the wise decision for co-existence and shared-sovereignty of the two entities in order to arrive at an honorable and durable solution. Rest assured that this agreement does not betray the principle of the Nagas; it will protect the right of the Nagas and guarantee the security of India as well; it will promote and strengthen harmonious interdependent relationship of the two nations. We are confident that it will open a great opportunity for the Nagas to develop themselves into their fullest size - materially, intellectually, spiritually and socially.
The Naga people have a lot of reasons to say thank you to Mr. Narendra Modi, the honorable Prime Minister of India, his colleagues and Mr. R.N. Ravi, the Interlocutor of GoI and they are also equally thankful to late Mr. Isak Chishi Swu, His Excellency the Yaruiwo, Mr. Th. Muivah, honorable Ato Kilonser, the Chief negotiator of NSCN and his team for the historic ‘Framework Agreement’ signed on 3rd August 2015. This framework agreement has turned the politics of confrontation and opposition into the politics of dialogue and cooperation; it has turned our enemies into our friends; it has turned repressing of our right into respect of our right; it has turned suppression of our right into recognition of our right; it has turned the threat of our future into protection of our future. This agreement will certainly heal the chronic scars of war and the wounds of oppression and persecution imprinted in the body and mind of the Nagas. It will rebuild the damaged psychology and broken relationship of the two people. It will be a strong bridge between the Nagas and the Indians for generations. It will provide an ample opportunity to the two peoples to building a highway of peace and progress in the region in particular and the South East Asia in general. Rejection of this historic agreement will amount to murder of the precious second chance the good Lord has given to the Nagas.
On the other side of the coin, our people are witnessing the communal and factional cards being played by the agencies of GoI, which cannot be justified at all when both the parties are looking for the genuine solution at the highest level. Entertaining the ill-opinions of the anti-peace process elements is another sign of insincerity or double-standard. However, the Naga people hope and trust that GoI and NSCN will overcome all these hurdles and come to a smooth landing. They are convinced that the Framework Agreement will open the era of peace and progress in the land.
At this crucial point of time, there are some people from some quarters who are out there talking of other option. The Nagas have had bitter experiences of Indian duplicity and imposition of their will upon them in past negotiations. It will be a futile exercise for any actors if the propagated option is to be a kind of political arrangement within the parameter of Indian constitution. Repeated shouting for principle is not enough, it must accompany with the survival strategy and policy for solution. Definitely, the Nagas are for the solution that does not betray the principle, which our collective leadership emphasizes on ‘principle-based politics and principle-based solution’.
There are also other people who are trying to interpret the issue in terms of number, not truth. It is a dangerous political hypothesis if the claimed number does not represent the issue. We view the Naga national issue as sacrosanct because everything of the Nagas is in there. It must be defended at all costs and fought out even to the last man. The history of the Israelites would have been ended at the Mount Sinai had there not been Moses and a few of his followers who were deadly opposed to the motion of going back to Egypt. Our politics is about the future of the Nagas. Our solution too aims at it.
We reassure our neighboring peoples and nations that the Nagas bear no ill-will towards any of them. The Nagas are for a harmonious interdependent relationship with them but on equal footing. Framework Agreement is about the Indo-Naga political issue. It is about the issue of the Nagas and their territories.
The Naga people are not opposed to their issues. They are for a peaceful and harmonious relationship with them on the basis of mutual respect and recognition of their respective rights.
K U K N A L I M!
