DIMAPUR, JUN 27 (EMN): Reaffirming that NSCN will not waver from January 13, 2007, declaration for reconciliation, NSCN-IM General Secretary Th. Muivah said NSCN is truly committed to the process of reconciliation respecting the two foundations that upholds the inherent aspiration of the Naga people –Nagalim for Christ and the “Uniqueness of Naga history and situation,” that is now officially recognized by the Government of India (GOI). In a message to the Lotha (Kyong) community, Th. Muivah said he had come to Kyong homeland for peace and reconciliation to reason out the correct history as he said, “we cannot live without understanding the rights of our people.”
He has expressed pride over the crucial national decisions taken in the Kyong homeland particularly on the formation of NNC in Wokha in 1946, formation of the Federal Government of Nagaland, FGN, at Sanis in 1956 and the adoption of resolution for cease-fire declaration at Wokha in 1964. The statement has also acknowledged their participation in the labour corps which later formed the Naga Club in 1918 and the subsequent submission of memorandum to the Simon Commission in 1929.
In a tribute to the leadership of late Khodao Yanthan, ‘the man who died a pauper for our Naga cause and others from Kyong homeland,’ the statement maintained that he would remain an important chapter in the history of the Naga people. It said that late Khodao Yanthan was not a confused man and neither neutral when it came to taking the Naga national stand, adding he made cleared that the 1975 Shillong Accord was not the aspiration of the Nagas and therefore had to be condemned. In honouring him, it said that NSCN would continue to follow his footsteps.
He recalled how in the past, the adversaries carried out a systematic campaign of distorting the history of the Nagas by terming it “internal law and order problem” and whose self-defense was branded as act of “secessionists” and “terrorists” that legitimized the militarization of our land and consequently serious violation of human rights occurred. Stating on the horror meted to Naga mothers and sisters, it particularly pointed to the raping of four teenage girls inside Yankeeli Baptist Christian Church on July 11, 1971, by a contingent of 1st Maratha Regiment. It has appreciated the Kyong people for their endurance during those dark days of our history.
“The formation of the Naga National Council (NNC) initiated a united and organized struggle of the Nagas. However, signing of the 1975 Shillong Accord undermined all the national decisions taken during the time of NNC,” the state regretted and added that NSCN has condemned it outright. It stated that opponents, who refused to condemn the Shillong Accord, joined forces with India to fight against NSCN. It stated that after tough fighting of more than 20 years, its General Shankar Roy Chaudhury declared that “military way solution is no longer possible”.
Subsequently, it said, the Government of India (GOI) agreed that the Indo-Naga issue must be addressed peacefully and politically on three agreed conditions at the highest level, without pre-conditions and outside India in a third country. It also stated the Naga issue was strengthened with the recognition of the “Uniqueness of Naga history and situation” by the GOI on July 11, 2002, in the Amsterdam Joint Communiqué which acknowledged the historical fact that the Nagas never joined Indian union by consent or by conquest. The statement concluded that the current political talks is being held on the basis of reaffirming the British occupied Nagas historic decision of declaring Naga Independence on 14th August 1947 and the 1951 plebiscite to live as free people. It further added that Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, has committed to have a political solution with the Nagas that would be honourable and acceptable to both India and the Nagas through peaceful means.
