NAGALIM VOICE SEPTEMBER 2022
EDITORIAL
TIME FOR PM MODI TO MEET NAGA PEOPLE’S ASPIRATIONS
It is ironic to point out that Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi who loves to advertise his achievements is expected to take the Naga issue to logical conclusion as the stalled Indo-Naga talks pick up the threads with focus on the Framework Agreement and Formulated papers. Seven years ago when he took the initiative to supervise the high profile Framework Agreement signing ceremony on the 3rd August, 2015 at his residence, it generated much hype and hope going by the tone of his highly enchanting speech he delivered. He took pride in announcing to all political leaders who matters that he has solved the longest insurgency movement in Southeast Asia. Going beyond that, the ceremony was live- telecast all over the world to put on record his achievement in solving the Naga issue.
He began his speech, “This day marks the beginning of a new age. The 3rd August, 2015 will be inscribed in the pages of Indian history with golden letters.”
25 years of Indo-Naga political talks and 7 years of Framework Agreement (FA) is a long period of endurance and commitment exhibited by the Naga people for peaceful settlement of the Naga issue. Modi also said, “Six-seven decades is a prolonged time period; you must have been through numerous hardships, and the wounds must be deep.” These beautifully framed words still remains hollow. Yet, Modi cannot simply shy away from Naga issue but have a relook through the prism of Framework Agreement, his own political brainchild. The credit he has taken in bringing about FA should be unerringly interpreted to take forward in solving Naga issue.
The stand of the NSCN on FA has been distinctly stated time and again. The decision of the National Assembly on 31st May 2022 and the solemn declaration (resolution) adopted on 26th August, 2022 by the Naga National Workers of NSCN from Nagaland State reaffirming “one people one nation” and to stand by the Framework Agreement, is on record. The unifying principle of One People One Nation symbolized by the God given Naga Nation Flag is non-negotiable in the name of Naga political solution.
Kuknalim!
Let us recall the speech of NSCN General Secretary Mr. Th. Muivah during the signing ceremony of the Framework Agreement with the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi on the 3rd August 2015, New Delhi.
I thank God for this momentous occasion. On behalf of the Chairman Mr.Isak Chishi Swu and the Naga people kindly allow me to begin by saying that Naga people have a great respect for Mahatma Gandhi because he understood and respected the Nagas when the Naga delegation met him for the first time in 1947. Unfortunately, after his demise, the Indian state resorted to military might to crush the Nagas. Armed confrontation followed inflicting heavy losses on both sides.
After a long fighting, Mr. Narasimha Rao, the then Prime Minister of India had the courage to admit that it is a political issue and should be solved through political negotiations. We appreciated his wisdom and accepted the Ceasefire Agreement to start political negotiation in 1997.We gave our commitment to him that NSCN shall leave no stone unturned to find a negotiated amicable settlement between the two parties.
The Nagas were very happy when the Government of India under the leadership of the then Prime Minister of India Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, declared the recognition of the “unique history and situation of the Nagas” in 2002. We Nagas appreciated the statesmanship of Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee and we gave our commitment that if the Government of India would understand the reality of the Nagas, the Nagas will appreciate the reality of India even ten times more and we never back-track from our commitment.
Today, under the visionary leadership of honourable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, we have come to understand each other and have worked out a new relationship between the two parties on the basis of this uniqueness. We appreciate your wisdom, your leadership and your vision to build an enduring relationship between the Nagas and Indians. The Nagas will ever remember you for your statesmanship and your profound understanding of the Nagas with warm heart for them.
Beginning from now the challenges will be great so also the responsibilities. The obligations to meet the needs of the people shall be paramount for both the parties to make this historic endeavour more meaningful. Let me also assure you that Nagas can still come closer if their rights are respected. On behalf of the Naga people allow me to assure you once again that Nagas can be trustworthy and take into your confidence for any policy in the Northeast and beyond the frontiers.
God bless you and your leadership. Kuknalim!
IN DEFENCE OF ONE PEOPLE ONE NATION
Ever since Naga Independence Day was declared on the 14th August, 1947 and followed by May 16, 1951 Plebiscite with 99.9% that favoured independence, the Naga political movement has always been guided by the principle of “one people one nation”. The Naga people pledged allegiance to this irrevocable vow that was symbolized by Naga National Flag as a living testimony to the world.
25 years down the line NSCN stands boldly to safeguard the political identity of the Naga nation, leaving nothing to doubt about its unwavering commitment to the principle of one people one nation as reflected in the historic Framework Agreement of the 3rd August, 2015, New Delhi that was guided and supervised by the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi.
The hard hitting speeches delivered by the top leaders of NSCN leaders at the historic Co-ordination Meeting of Naga National Workers from Nagaland State held at Agri-Expo, Dimapur, 26th August, 2022, is not just an empty rhetoric. It was crucially necessitated to save the Naga Nation from the hands of treacherous elements. The Naga issue cannot be handled in the manner that deviates from the Naga Plebiscite of 1951. We have to assert our stand that we cannot allow the Government of India to keep on fiddling with Naga political issue by applying only divisive based solution as done in the past.
NSCN’s stand on Naga solution is loud and clear. The 16-Point Agreement type of solution is never to be accepted under any circumstances. Naga history is clear that this hideous 16-Point Agreement was engineered by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) of the Government of India (GoI) in collusion with the Naga People Convention (NPC). The same policy is at work again using the gullible Naga political groups and by scheming with other vulnerable civil society organizations (CSOs) to follow the same line of Naga solution. Unfortunately, God has not given the Naga nation to be destroyed in this manner.
NSCN is also conscious of the Nagas being put to test at this critical juncture of the Indo-Naga political dialogue. Our vigilance is at full alert. We have to show the world just the way God created the Naga nation and not what the Government of India wanted to create. Enough harm has been done to the Naga political issue under the pretext of Naga solution tinged with deception and deceit.
It was under this background that the Naga National Workers of National Socialist Council of Nagalim from Nagaland state rise up to the occasion when nearly 7000 (seven thousand) members from both the civil and army wings congregated at Agri-Expo in Dimapur, Nagaland with the fixed agenda of “Reaffirming of One People One Nation” to stand for unified Nagalim.
The tone and mood of the speeches delivered prior to adoption of resolution signifies the resolute stance of the 16 (sixteen) regions of Nagaland state under National Socialist Council of Nagalim for a unified Nagalim. The speakers minced no words as they speak out forcefully against other groups and civil societies who professed to be concerned for Naga political solution while their cry for Naga solution found no link whatsoever that respects the great Naga martyrs who steadfastly stood by the historical and political rights of the Naga people. It is therefore, unthinkable that NSCN who brought ceasefire with the Government of India for peaceful settlement of Naga political issue will succumb to any pressure that fail to meet the standard set for it: honorable, acceptable and inclusive.
Significantly, the Global Naga Forum (GNF) also jumped into the fray to save the Naga nation. It organized the “Naga Solidarity Walk 2022: One people, one Destiny”. It was a walk from Kohima to Tahamzam (Senapati) that raised Naga consciousness of the peoplehood of the Nagas in a self-determined governance system in an undivided ancestral homeland comprising all the Naga territories. It reminds the Nagas the indelible record in the history when the Naga Club submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission on January 10, 1929 to assert the national identity of the Nagas as independent people and nation.
No wonder Naga history is very clear about how the Naga nation was rescued by NSCN from the state of passing into oblivion. NSCN was formed on January 31, 1980 to save the Naga nation from the hands of NNC after the infamous Shillong Accord. After the Second Indo-Naga Ceasefire in 1997 and the political talks that followed, NSCN stood the test of time to defend the Naga nation.
It is important to note that the moment the Government of India look at the Framework Agreement with aversion it set the alarm bell ringing as it matters our nation’s survival. NSCN was thus, driven to the point to call for emergency national assembly on the 31st May, 2022 where the resolution was passed to uphold and protect Nagas unique history and national principle at any cost under the leadership of Chairman Ino Q. Tuccu, Vice Chairman Ino Tongmeth Wangnao and General Secretary Ino Th. Muivah.
The simmering suspense of the Indo-Naga political talk reached the tipping point when a few organizations up the ante, sloganeering for Naga solution with divisive tone. Ironically, NSCN, the torchbearer of the Naga political movement took a strong exception to such an abominable approach to Naga solution.
Significantly, the Co-ordination Meeting of the Naga National Workers from Nagaland State reaffirming the national principle of One People One Nation will go down into the Naga history as a turning point in defending the historical and political rights of the Naga people. Importantly, it is a message that is resolute: NSCN will reject any kind of divisive and repressive policies perpetrated upon the Nagas by the adversaries and collaborators on the basis of the arbitrary administrative boundaries. More than seven decades of Naga political movement cannot be allowed to dwindle into nothingness, leaving out the rest of the Nagas outside Nagaland state.
LEST WE FORGET
6th September-Pochury Black Day (In solidarity with all Naga Martyrs)
The Story behind the 6th September Black Day
On the 14th August 1960 the Naga Army attacked the Assam Rifles Out-post at Thuda (Phor village) in Pochury area. The attack was undertaken by the Eastern Command’s 1st Brigade under the command of Major General Zuheto, along with the 4th Battalion of Pochury Region under the command of Lt. Colonel Thorpa. The monsoon was at its height during the time and all major rivers like Tizu, Lanye and Thethsii were in full spate. The attack was launched after the Naga Army destroyed all the six bridges on all the rivers. This was done to stop reinforcement from reaching the besieged Indian Army post.
As the fierce fighting continued for thirteenth day ammunitions on both sides were running short. On several occasions the Indian Air Force (IAF) tried to drop relief materials and ammunitions but prevented by the Naga Army. At the same time the IAF jet fighters strafed the Naga Army positions.
An Indian transport plane (Dakota) trying to drop relief materials and ammunitions to the besieged post was shot down by the Naga Army on the 14th day of the siege and crash landed at Zathsii, a paddy field of Meluri village. The Naga Army captured all the 9 (nine) airmen including Flt. Lt. AS Singh. This led to heavy operation in Pochury area by the Indian Army, engaged in the mission to search and rescue the captured airmen. None of them were tortured but later set free through the Red Cross. In the operations to rescue the airmen many villages were burnt down and untold atrocities and tortures were inflicted upon the villagers.
On 6th September 1960, the Punjab Regiment posted at Kanjang village reached Matikhrii village (both Pochury area) at around 10 AM. The entire village was encircled in three rings and all villagers were ordered to gather in one place. Men folks were separated from women and children.
All the men were made to keep jumping and do sit-ups for more than 5 hours in the scorching sun, naked. Any signs of tiredness were met with kicks and hit with rifle butts. Then just before the sun set, the Indian army not satisfied with the punishment meted out to the villagers, rounded them up inside the Village Chief’s house and were forced to sit heads down like a to be slaughtered. Late Thah, the then Village Chief, knowing what was in store for them bravely volunteered to sacrifice. He stood bravely for the Naga cause, even to his last breath and said:
“IT’S A MAN’S PRIDE. NO SURRENDER, NO COMPROMISE FOR OUR BIRTH RIGHT. THIS SACRIFICE IS TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOM. I SHALL GLADLY LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR THE NAGA FUTURE GENERATION.”
Then an Indian Army jawan, holding the blunt dao chopped off the head of Lt. Pogholo, who was the first in line.
Witnessing the brutality and horror in front of their eyes and knowing that all of them were going to be killed in the same manner, one of the villagers managed to escape the execution forcefully. Then one after another, heads rolled down, separated from the bodies….
The people of Pochury have since then observed the 6th September as “BLACK DAY” in memory of all those who had suffered and laid down their lives for the greater glory and freedom of the Nagas. It is a day of sadness and a day to acknowledge the sacrifice made by the martyrs (Courtesy: Pochury Students Union).
This story of supreme sacrifice by the Nagas in Pochury Region can never be sidelined or forgotten as we negotiate with the Government of India to bring solution that is honourable, acceptable and inclusive. The desperate attempt to bring the 16 Point Agreement type of solution under the present context of the Indo-Naga Political Talks, NSCN is fully aware and vigilant. The Nagas have had enough of bitter lessons because of the past mistakes committed by the treacherous Nagas (Naga People Convention/NPC).
NSCN cannot afford to repeat the same crime committed in the past.