Mokokchung, 14 August (MTNews): “We celebrate our Independence Day today not because we are already independent, but because we were once independent,” stated Col (Retd) Isak Sumi, Ato Kilonser, during his 77th Naga Independence Day speech on Monday, 14 August. He elaborated, “We also celebrate this occasion not just because we yearn for independence, but because we have always been free, independent people since ancient days, and rightfully so.”
He further clarified that the nearly century-long struggle is “not a war against any people or nation,” but rather a “just struggle to defend our birthright.”
“We don’t demand freedom from anyone; we only ask to be left free and undisturbed, as we have always been,” he said. He added that like any free nation worldwide, the Naga people desire and deserve the freedom to manage their own affairs, determine their destiny, and live in harmony with the world.
However, he expressed the tragic irony that after the end of colonialism, particularly post-World War II, the Nagas were forcefully and illegally colonized by the same people who were once colonized themselves. Referring to India and Myanmar as ‘neo-colonial forces,’ he asserted that no force on earth can extinguish the ‘flames of freedom.’
Citing examples of small ancient Greek city-states and small countries defending their freedom with their lives to remain independent, he noted that the Nagas, with ample territory, natural resources, and millions of brave patriots, lack nothing to restore their freedom and independence.
New generation Nagas have become ‘miserably’ dependent on occupational governments
Sumi acknowledged that unlike the great forefathers who were genuinely independent, the new generation of Nagas has imprisoned themselves. They have failed to develop an independent mindset and have ‘miserably become completely dependent on the occupational governments,’ he rued.
“A nation will naturally lose its independence when its population develops a subservient mindset,” Sumi stated. He pointed out that the new generation Nagas are gradually losing their pride in independence, as well as their sense of culture, identity, and history as free people.
To reverse this course, he urged the Nagas to instill themselves with a patriotic spirit, love for their land, and respect and preservation of their culture, customs, and traditions. He also observed that the Nagas’ inherent qualities of honesty, joviality, and hard work have weakened and made them vulnerable to powerful global economic and political forces.
He further highlighted the threat posed by the shrinking of international boundaries due to modern technologies, global economics, trade, and commerce. Unless the Nagas harness their abundant resources, both natural and human, to be self-sufficient, they risk being absorbed into a global mass ruled by dominant political and economic forces.
Greed for power, position and easy wealth the most potent threat
Speaking about the split of political groups into numerous factions, Sumi identified greed for power, position, and easy wealth among Naga National workers as an emerging threat. He stated that recent events have revealed shameless and unrestrained behavior among leaders and workers of Naga political groups. He said several groups are being created primarily for extortion, benefiting only themselves.
Sumi also likened the use of money and guns by factions to secure positions to how crime syndicates operate, and said that it portrays the Naga struggle in a very poor light before the world. And, therefore, he urged the Nagas to segregate such ‘gangsters who are misusing political platforms’ from the genuine Naga groups urging to bring honorable political solutions.
“Without strong morality and sound ideological conviction our struggle will be doomed and we will become a lost people in our own land,” he said, asking the people to remember the solemn commitment to ‘Nagaland for Christ’.
Sumi remarked that the only solution for the decay and decline in present society is a peaceful resolution of the Indo-Naga-Myanmar political conflict at the earliest. He argued that the political and economic roadmaps outlined in the ‘Agreed Position’ by the W/C, NNPGs are the “only window of opportunity” to restore the Nagas’ rightful legacy as free, independent people.
“The Naga struggle belongs to the people, and therefore the people must decide their destiny,” Sumi stated. He added, “Prolonging the conflict only to prolong the ‘reign of exploitation’ over the Naga people should no longer be tolerated.”
He urged all concerned Nagas to come forward and fight against the menace of terror and socio-eco-political exploitation masquerading as Naga nationalism. He emphasized that forces not arising from or belonging to the people will never be for the people.
“Together we must unite in our purpose to assail this threat both from within and without lest we consign ourselves into the abyss of slavery,” he added.