Global Naga Forum
Both Government of India and Nagas know the history of the Indo-Naga political conflict from 1947 to the present. But the two narratives of that history contradict each other. The Indian version suppresses and tries to silence the Naga version, which is a reflection of the uneven power relations between the parties for over seven decades.
India has legitimized its narrative of the conflict to the world in various ways, most recently by claiming it as a domestic law and order problem internal to the Indian State. Government of India has apparently succeeded in winning the world community over to its point of view. This makes Nagas wonder if India has been given tacit permission by world leaders to deny Nagas our basic human right of self-determination, because of India’s status as a nation-state with a seat in the United Nations, which confers on the Government of India a global voice and a network of international political influence, while indigenous Nagas, living between northeast India and northwest Myanmar, are condemned to live as lesser human beings, because we don’t have such voice and are denied access to networks of political influence.
Every August 14, since 1947, we have observed the Naga declaration of Independence as an act of self-affirmation against this lesser-human-beings status imposed on us as a people by others. We commemorate our elders’ declaration of independence despite the fact that the declaration has not become a political reality. Observing the day is important to us. It allows us to claim our proud history of resisting colonial rule and to renew our determination to continue standing up for our indigenous right to self-determination. It is an intentional enactment of our commitment to a future where Nagas can determine our own governance and live as one people.
We gratefully welcome the words of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ statement on the occasion of this year’s Indigenous Day: “There is no excuse for denying the world’s 476 million indigenous peoples self-determination and meaningful participation in all decision-making. Free, prior and informed consent is central for indigenous peoples to exercise their own vision of development.”
These are heart warming words for us. Nagas have pleaded and suffered and waited for over seven decades for the right to self-determination, which was taken from us by force. We were separated and put under different administrative units and still live in four Indian states and in Myanmar. So we look hopefully to the UN, India, and Myanmar to translate the Secretary General’s words and provisions in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into a reality for the Nagas. We want an undivided Naga homeland with a self-determined future.
We are commemorating the 75th year of the Naga declaration of Independence on August 14, 2021, because we want a new relationship based in good faith that ensures human rights, justice, and peaceful co-existence for all the stakeholders: India, Myanmar, and the Nagas.
KUKNALIM!
