On the eve of the 66th Naga independence day on August 14, NNC president Adinno Phizo, FGN president ‘brig. (retd)’ S. Singya and acting president NNC Z. Royim Yimchungrü sent their respective greeting messages on the occasion.
Adinno Phizo reiterated that the Naga issue was neither a political blunder nor territorial dispute. Adinno said the conflict “between Nagaland and India is not a political problem” since “aggression is not a political problem”.
She said since British rule, Nagaland had no treaty with Britain and therefore there was no question of a ‘hand over’ of Nagaland to India.
She said the offer made by Gopinath Bordoloi as head of Indian delegation to NNC leaders in Kohima, May 1947 and also the offer of 9-Point Agreement by Assam Governor Sir Akbar Hydari June 1947 indicated that “India fully understood Nagaland was not a part of India.”
On the Shillong Accord, Adinno said it was not signed between the FGN and India but by certain persons “without justification” who misled the Nagas and even “killed their own fellow men”.
FGN president ‘brig. (retd)’ S. Singya in his message, reaffirmed that FGN would never “sell our historical and political rights to politics of convenience” but remain convinced that Nagas “are born free” and therefore “destined to live as a free nation”.
He lauded the FNR for uniting all Naga groups to a common platform where differences were aired to accommodate all views. He slammed those who were trying to derail reconciliation for their political interests.
Acting NNC president Z. Royim Yimchungrü, questioned the three NSCN factions as to what they sought to achieve by years of cease fire and “routine talks” with Centre but “without any political solution”?