Neisakholie Ziephrü
Senior Citizen
1. The Naga political issue is well known to all—our leaders, intellectuals, and the common people alike. The memorandum outlining the rights and demands of the Nagas was submitted to the Simon Commission on 10th January 1929, and the memorandum was subsequently deliberated upon in the British Parliament. In 1935 the British Government in a notification classified the Naga Hills as excluded area. The House recognized the legitimacy of the memorandum and acknowledged the rights of the Nagas, including their right to self-determination.
2. Following the conclusion of the Second World War, with India on the brink of independence, A. Z. Phizo, then President of the Naga National Council (NNC), wrote to the Governor-General of British India in 1946, reaffirming the rights and demands of the Nagas. However, the Indian leaders at the time refused to recognize these rights and demands. Consequently, on 14 August 1947, the NNC declared Naga Independence Day, one day before India declared its independence. Even after independence, the Naga issue remained unresolved. In 1951, a plebiscite was held, in which, 99.9% of the Naga population voted for independence and self-determination. A copy of the plebiscite was submitted to the Government of India and the United Nations for necessary action. In the 1952 general elections in India, the Nagas, according to this account, cast no votes.
3. In 1956, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru sent 55,000 Indian soldiers to Nagaland, and the conflict between the Nagas and India intensified. Many villages were burned, many people were killed, and the population suffered immense hardship. In response to the devastation suffered by the Naga people, some Naga leaders formed the Naga People's Convention (NPC) and held talks with the Government of India on the Naga issue. In 1963, Nagaland attained statehood and a State Government came into existence. However, the conflict between the Indian Army and the Federal Army of Nagaland continued. The Naga Baptist Church Council (NBCC), with the intervention of Rev. Michael Scott and Jayaprakash Narayan of the Indian National Congress (INC), mediated the 1964 Ceasefire Agreement. The Shillong Accord was subsequently signed in 1975. However, three individuals— Thuingaleng Muivah, Isak Chishi Swu, and Shangyung Khaplang—left the NNC and formed the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), remaining in conflict with the Government of India until a ceasefire agreement was signed in 1997. Subsequent talks were held in overseas countries, and the historic Framework Agreement was signed on 3 June 2015. In 2019, the then Interlocutor, Ravindra Narayana Ravi, was appointed Governor of Nagaland to facilitate the finalization and implementation of the 2015 Framework Agreement. However, Thuingaleng Muivah's demand for the inclusion of a separate flag and constitution has, delayed a final settlement to date.
4. The NNC has, to date, given rise to more than 37 separate factions. Are all of these factions motivated by the intention of fighting for the rights of the Naga people? Nagas claim to be 99% Christian, but do the principles of Christianity reflect in our actions and thoughts? Church leaders today speak about Christian values in the church, but are the spirit and teachings of Christ evident in their lives and among their church members?
5. The issue of the flag and constitution has kept the general public confused for a long time. The core of this issue is well known to our Naga national leaders and the State Government, but they have not been transparent with the Naga public. The states of Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir were accorded special constitutional provisions under Articles 371A and 370, respectively. Article 370 gave Jamu & Kashmir the provision of having a separate flag and constitution. In 2019, the Government of India rendered Article 370 inoperative, and the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was altered, with the former state being reorganized as Union Territories. If Article 370 can be revoked, then Article 371A can also be revoked. Nagaland has been protected by Article 371A to date, and if it were to be removed, people from outside Nagaland could have greater access to our land and resources, creating a situation similar to that which occurred in Tripura. We Nagas will therefore have to be very careful about the steps we take and the decisions we make concerning our future.
6. The position maintained by successive Prime Ministers, from the late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to the present Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is “No Sovereignty, No Integration.” Put Thuingaleng Muivah in their position, and he would also be expected to maintain the same position. He, too, would be expected to protect the territorial integrity of India and the Constitution of India. The former Chief Minister of Manipur, Rishang Keishing, stated that not an inch of Manipur's land would be given to Nagaland. If Arunachal Pradesh were to claim any area of Nagaland, the Chief Minister of Nagaland would likewise have to take the same stand as the former Chief Minister of Manipur. So, the issue if integration at this point of time remains an impossible problem to solve.
7. The attainment of statehood and the formation of the State Government were the direct results of the efforts of the NNC. Without the NNC, Nagaland might still have remained a district under the State of Assam. Let us not allow the sacrifices and efforts of our forefathers and the NNC to be in vain. The villagers of those days, though stricken by poverty, gave their best for the Naga national cause.
Ten households were responsible for providing food and upkeep for one Naga Army soldier, and this helped sustain the Federal Government at that time. The Government today should ensure the upliftment of rural Nagaland and should not ignore it. Today, the ground reality and the condition of villagers are very different from the reports and utilization certificates submitted by the State Government. State Government programmes are not reaching the intended beneficiaries, and their benefits are being appropriated by a privileged few. If such blatant corruption continues, the NNC and the people of Nagaland has the right to question the legitimacy of the Government.
8. At this point of time, we are not holding the atrocities committed by the Indian Army on the Naga villagers at that point of time against India – it is all forgiven in the interest of moving forward to better things and strengthening of relationship. A solution to the Indo-Naga issue is the need of the hour and this process cannot be delayed anymore. Let us today do the needful in truth and love for our people put an end to this issue. Future generations if necessary will redeliberate and revisit the issue and engage with India in the form of democratic dialogue. Let us give them a future to grow and reach the potential they are capable of.
