At the very outset, I would like to say thank you to the leaders of UNC, NWU and ANSAM, for inviting me on this historic Naga Independence Day celebration, organized by the three apex organizations and hosted by NPO.
Happy Independence Day to all of you who are gathered here in this assembly ground. Let me begin with the question,
1. What is that in your hand?
1. A living history or a dead history?
2. The issue of a sovereign state or dependence state?
3. Solution or problem?
4. Jesus or Idols?
Everyone walks with something in his/her hand, good or bad, blessing or curse. There is no vacuum in the heart of man. If you are not for the Naga national issue, then you are anti-Naga. If you are not for Christ, you are anti-Christ. Decide and choose what you want to be. Your decision will make you who and what you will be. You cannot stand neutral because there is no third option.
No two peoples or two nations come from the same history, speak the same language, practise the same culture and sing the same song. Even animals of different kinds do not sing the same song. All peoples and nations come from their respective foundations.
The Nagas also come from their own foundation. The history of the Nagas, politics of the Nagas, culture of the Nagas, identity of the Nagas and faith of the Nagas come from Naga foundation. ‘Nagalim for Christ’ is the foundation of the Nagas. Anyone who goes against this principle commits sin of the highest treason.
2. We are the aggrieved not the aggressor
We are the victims of colonial policy of the British and the Indians. History says the British came to India on August 24, 1608 in the guise of East India Company. The British power captured Bengal after the decisive Battle of Plassey that took place on June 23, 1757 through the help of Mir Jafar, a traitor. Thereafter, Delhi, the heart of India was captured in 1803 that led to total colonization of India. However, the British colonial power finally met a crushing defeat in the hand of the Indian nationalists.
The Indian too came to Naga country with the same colonial policy. Under its colonial policy, the government of India (GoI) set its war machine to subjugate or exterminate the Nagas with military might or colonial laws. In addition to its armed forces, the government of India has been using Naga traitors and its mercenary forces in fighting against the Nagas. Nagas are not waging war against India or any others, but they are resisting to stop this ugly war forced upon them. They are defending their own land, their inherent sovereign right, their history, their future, their politics, and faith. They cannot part with their land. The Nagas and their land are inseparable parts of their nationhood. The Nagas are a revolutionary people. They are fighting for their future with conviction and commitment. They are a force to be reckoned with. But forces of the aggressors are mercenaries, not revolutionaries. Every Naga should know that anything that comes from or offered by the generous aggressors is colonial and neo-colonial policy tainted. As animals are trapped with baits so peoples and nations are trapped with political baits. We must beware of that bait.
3. 3-Pronged Strategy:
1. National Revolutionary Front:
• The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), the one and only authentic Political Organization of the Naga people is mandated by the Naga National Assembly.
• Naga people spearheaded by NSCN confront the aggressors in the military front.
• Naga people represented by NSCN talk with the Government of India on Indo-Naga political issue.
• Naga people represented by NSCN speak to the world leaders on Naga national issue.
2. Democratic Front:
• Civil societies
• Human Rights organization
• People’s elected Representatives.
Our people in the form of Civil Societies speak on issue in the street and through mass media. They also fight for the cause in the legal battle. People elected representatives speaks in the Assembly and Parliament.
3. The Church Front:
Naga people ceaselessly pray in the Church for the Indo-Naga political talks and for the peace of Nagalim.
4. Who will go and fight for us?
We are being threatened by the enemies from all quarters for no reason. Whatever be the price we have to pay, the Naga people must stand up to stop this monstrous war. The national decision of the Nagas is that they must survive from the onslaught of enemies of all hues and glorify the name of the Lord.
When the British forces intruded into Naga country, it was Lothas and the Tenyimia people spearheaded by the Angamis who resisted the British forces for decades.
In 1927, it was the Zeliangrong people led by Haibu Jadonang who revolted the British power. Though Haibu Jadonang was arrested and hanged, the British colonial power could not crush the spirit that carried the weight of Naga national issue.
After departure of the British power from the Indian sub-continent it was the Angamis and other Tenyimia people, the Sumis, the Lothas, the Aos and the Tuensang people who led the resistance movement in the forefront against Indian aggression. They fought the enemies like lions. This is no less a laudable devotion and sacrifice for the dear cause of the Naga political issue.
The movement, however, was brought down to low ebb by the signatories of the infamous Shillong Accord in 1975. But that was not the end of Naga politics. The accord created leadership vacuum in the movement. It was those revolutionary patriots under the dynamic leadership of Isak and Muivah who picked up the Naga national banner from the grave of Shillong Accord and continued to move forward till date.
Under such circumstances, the Wung Tangkhul Region(WTR) with some workers from Shepoumaramth Region were one of the first who uphold the national decision by condemning the accord as treason. No one denies the fact that in many cases, it was under the commandership of the Naga army officers and generals mostly from the Tangkhul community, who defeated the enemies in many decisive military battles.
In spite of hurdles here and there, NSCN leaders spoke on Naga issue in the international platforms many a time. They spoke to leaders of many countries covering five continents. The world is now well informed about the Naga national issue. The Nagas are not alone in their struggle. Ours is an internationalized issue.
Lately the enemies are trying to weaken our economic position under their scorched-earth policy. They do not know that our people are our source of economy and our bank. They do not know that our people are our political power-house and military base as well. Our strength comes from our people. They do not know that the Nagas are a revolutionary people. Their mercenary forces do not know that they are fighting a wrong war here in Naga country.
With the signing of the Cease-Fire Agreement on 1st of August, 1997, fighting between the two forces has been stopped. NSCN has turned confrontation into negotiation. NSCN has been talking with the Government of India since then. But negotiation is meaningless if it cannot touch the heart of the matter. It may be an early solution or delayed solution; solution must be principle based.
NSCN has turned the military warfare and guerrilla warfare into political warfare and mass warfare, where our people headed by the civil societies protested against the aggression of the enemies in the streets, in the towns and in the cities. They are fighting for the case in the legal battle even in the international court.
However strong and cunning they may be, the enemies can never murder the Naga national issue in as much as the name of the Lord is in it. The name of the Lord is the best weapon the Naga people possess. It is the foundation of heaven and earth, the root of human history and the foundation of nations. Our invincible strength comes from it. The sovereign name of the Lord is the epicentre of power that rules and that name is with the Nagas. NSCN could bring the Naga issue thus far through that mighty name.
5. We need an Agreement:
We cannot keep on fighting the military battles because it is a political war, not military war. The Nagas believe in a negotiated settlement. We know all wars in history were stopped with political agreement. But imposition of one’s will upon the other and dictated accords have never ever solved problems, rather they magnify problems and prolong the wars.
The two contending parties realized that armed confrontation brought no dividend to both of them. Thus, the historic Framework Agreement that was officially signed between the Government of India (GoI) and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) on August 3, 2015. The letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement published and widely circulated is now in public domain.
The Framework Agreement is the bridge between the two peoples. It must be protected and valued by both parties.
We talked of 14th August, 1947 Independence Day, we talked of 16th May, 1951 Plebiscite Day, we talked of ownership of Naga territories, and we talked of Naga national identity and culture. But that is not enough; they must be made recognized entities. Framework Agreement recognizes all of them.
6. We need a sovereign state
We are poor and weak in many respects because we don’t have a sovereign state as of now. The present puppet states cannot feed the hungry millions Naga people. We must have our own sovereign state. Riches do not come from silver and gold. Sovereign state power makes money and development. Sovereign state can make and unmake everything. It makes peace with others. Man has subdued nature through the power of sovereign state and become master of the air, master of the sea and planets. Man has turned deserts into rivers and green pastures through the power of sovereign state. War, natural calamities and diseases are combated through the instrument of a sovereign state. Hungers and thirsts are eradicated through it. Dense forest and swamp lands are developed into cities of skyscrapers through it. Scholars, scientists, writers, statesmen, administrators, Army generals are the products of quality educational institutions of sovereign states. We must not wait for other people to develop our country. We are the prime factor.
7. Universal principle of peaceful co-existence
The Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim have mutually agreed that Indians and Nagas will co-exist sharing sovereign power. It was agreed that the Nagas would decide their future by the Nagas themselves and they would manage their affairs by themselves without interference from others. But there will be mutual coordination and cooperation, mutual consultation and sharing of sovereign power as defined in the competencies.
Indeed, the Nagas need an agreement with India. And that the Framework Agreement is here with us. It will protect the sovereign right of the Nagas and will also protect the security interest of India. We no longer view India as our enemy, but we view her as our indispensable partner and vice versa.
This Framework Agreement will certainly stop the long drawn out Indo-Naga war. It will bring the two peoples closer for a greater and higher cause.
KUKNALIM !
Sd/-
Rh. Raising
Member, Collective Leadership, NSCN.