My dear countrymen,
Greetings on behalf of NSCN/GPRN as we mark the 68th Naga Republic day. Historically, this is the day when the NNC/FGN began to commemorate this occasion after the first Tatar Hoho in 1956.This auspicious day also marks the formation of the NSCN/GPRN in the history of the Naga struggle for independence 44th (Forty Four) years ago in 1980. With the passage of time, the NNC/FGN has gradually diversified into various entities with different nomenclatures but the purpose for this day remains the same, that is, to pursue and reclaim the Naga People’s birthright and sovereignty as a republic.
Locating ourselves within this historical point of reference, we urged the Naga People to join us as we reassert our right to freedom and sovereignty as a republic and rejuvenate the spirit of Naga patriotism.
At the outset, no matter how rich or prosperous, a nation without its definite identity and a recognized territorial boundary is vague and void before the galaxies of sovereign communities in the world. Nagaland is one such nation, still struggling to be recognized as an independent entity. We are not lesser lives but voiceless; our voices go unheeded before the international platforms, our intellectual assets are controlled and utilized to build up foreign nations, and our rich natural resources are under the subjugation of dominating authority. On this auspicious occasion, I want to call on my beloved Nagas to reflect on our history and the direction we are taking towards the future.
Brethren, throughout our journey it has been clearly established that we are unique in our identity and our history. Have we not spent enough time in exercising our intellect to generalize our distinct identity before the world? We have bartered our identity in exchange of momentary comfort but do we not recognize that wealth, fame, and glory alone cannot generate complete contentment unless we have a legally recognized freedom.
In this collective journey towards the future, it is important to acknowledge that there are weeds that grow along with the corn. And while it is unfortunate that today, we tend to focus more on the darker side of the actions of our freedom fighters, as prudent Nagas, we should not let the adversities in the system completely blow out the flame of patriotism that has somehow being kept burning thus far.
Along these lines, today it is pertinent to place on record that the recent commotion/conflict within the group has no collusion with our Naga struggle for freedom and should not be considered as a hindrance towards our goal. Rather, the recent events unfolded as a result of growing concerns that the seat of leadership should be used to truthfully further the greater Naga cause.I reiterate again, that the matter should not be considered an obstruction to our greater Naga cause.
My beloved Nagas, God has given us knowledge and wisdom ; can we not use it to truthfully comprehend our history and dispassionately discern our identity without selfish interests? He has given us strength and resilience; can we not forge through and dedicate our efforts today for a tomorrow where our children may hold their head high before the world, proudly declaring themselves as the Children of sovereign Nagaland? Brethren, how long? For how long should we voluntarily remain handicapped when we have full capacitated minds and bodies, strong enough to strive and toil for our dignity, integrity and pride? Why do we choose to continue to remain acquiescent and pretend to be blind when we can clearly see where we are heading? Why should we remain dump when we can raise our voice and eloquently speak our right and freedom? We seem to lend our deaf ears to our children crying against discrimination. Are we doing justice to our upcoming generation?
There were times in history when violence was employed to fight for rights and freedoms. However today, weapons are contained from combat and warfare against rivals and adversaries but for peace keeping and security. Today, dialogue and diplomacy has substituted bloodshed and violent mediums of patriotic communication. With the door for dialogue keep wide open, we renew and reaffirmed our stand to strive for freedom of Nagaland-our God gifted land and its people.
We call on all the Naga people from all walks of life-Let us rekindle the spirit of nationalism and continue to strive for freedom and sovereignty.
“KUKNALIM”
Ato Kilonser Gprn Isak Sumi
All glory to God the almighty for having sustained us through the ages of our existence as a nation and our sacred struggle for liberation. At the outset I would like to take this privilege to extend the 44th Naga republic day greetings to all the rank and files of NSCN/GPRN and to all my fellow Naga citizens. On this auspicious occasion let us pay homage to all the martyrs who have given their ultimate sacrifice with their life and sanctified our land with their blood for which we are where we are today proudly holding our heads high as a nation and people. I also would like to thank and applaud Nagas from every walk of life for their unflinching and unwavering support towards our sacred struggle rendering their service through prayers and sheltering us from the adversaries for more than 7 decade of our struggle. Today because of the sacrifices and collective efforts and mandate of the Naga Civil societies and Naga people from all walks of life the NNPG have signed the “Agreed Position” with the Government of India and successfully concluded the Indo-Naga political negotiation on 31st of October 2019 and have painstakingly prepared the future of the Nagas on the basis of our historical and political rights, the Nagas must also acknowledge the recognition endowed by the GOI that the Nagas have every right to self-determine our own future as in consonance to the contemporary political realities. And even as we are gearing up to open the new chapter in the existence of Naga nation let us remain vigilant of the evil designs of the adversaries from sabotaging our dream. Once again taking this privilege on this auspicious occasion 1 on behalf of all the rank and file of the NSCN/GPRN heartily congratulate our newly elected President/Chairman NSCN/GPRN His Excellency Luyangba Yimkhiung a true patriot who have stood the test of time through his 67 years of Naga National service and not once given away to worldly pleasures and other materialistic pursuits by holding his ground and serving faithfully thus far. He is and will always be our pride and leading beacon and we must all continue to emulate his example. The Prayers of the Naga Nation will always be with him for his good health and long life so that he will lead us to our long cherished dream. LONG LIVE THE NAGAS.
Kuknalim
Yilow Humtsoe, Acting President of NNC
Dear Naga People,
On this 68th year of Naga National Republic Day, I on behalf of the Naga National Council (Parent Body) sincerely wish all the Naga people in the homeland and abroad, and also to the North-East people who stood for the Naga Rights of Freedom.
The NNC also extend our sincere wish to all our sympathisers and well-wishers who support the Naga cause for Freedom on this occasion.
Today, with reverence, I remember & honour all the Naga Martyrs who sacrificed their all for Naga Freedom of Sovereignty. As we observe our National Day, may we rededicate ourselves to stand strong and work collectively for the freedom of our Historical and Political rights as a people and Nation. The Military Junta of Burma and the Government of India have forcefully invaded and divided the Naga Homeland to their advantage, hence the Nagas never accepted nor can we accept this forceful division of the Naga Homeland into parts of India and Myanmar. Therefore, the Naga people must fight together to restore all the Inhabited lands back to the Homeland for peace and tranquillity in the region as longed for by the people and for the best interest of all concerned.
The NNC on this occasion must also insist all our North-East people stand together to protect and defend our God-given Region to flourish and attain freedom of democracy as our historical facts are solid. We have to work for our future progress and development while also preserving and protecting our rights, culture and religion.
Our region has seen enough political games of the Indian Government and even during the recently imposed Indian elections in the region, we were able to see how the election was used as a divisive tool to create enmity between families, clans, villages and our society in general. Our society which is grounded on the traditions of peace and honesty as a Mongoloid race has been polluted and infiltrated with fraud and corrupted money causing division, hatred and even loss of lives. Such are the techniques of the Indian Government to eliminate our society and completely dominate us and our Homeland. Therefore, our people in the region must realise this danger of domination before it is too late to save our people and Homeland.
The world political scenarios are shifting rapidly and endless wars are prevailing among nations and regions. Therefore, our people must stand strong to defend our rights to become a free and recognised Nation, as the Nagas have fought and stood for the last more than 70 years. Long live Naga National Republic Day.
Kuknalim
Gen. (Retd.) Viyalie Metha, Kedahge, FGN
Dear Countrymen,
In the history of the Naga Nation, 22nd March is a red letter Day from 1956 onwards. As we commemorate the 68th Nagaland Republic Day, in the first place we must thank the Almighty God for His protection and blessing upon the Naga Nation all these years. We are also grateful to our former Naga National leaders who took timely initiative to declare Nagaland a Republic at Parashen in the Rengma Region, and formed the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) encompassing all the Naga territories on 22nd March, 1956.
On this important national day, let us not forget to acknowledge but remember afresh the wisdom and strength of our ancestors who carefully protected our land and our people from falling to outside forces.
Thereby, handing the unspoiled legacy to the modern era at the right time and moment where our pioneering national leaders could organize our people into a nation state in keeping with the international trend. We are immensely indebted to them for their foresight and timely action.
We owe our existence to them today. Secondly, it is an occasion to say thank you to all the national workers who are currently serving the nation at various levels; in the Federal Government, the Naga National Council (NNC) and the Naga Army. Your patriotic services and tenacity speak volumes. The Naga nation salutes you.
Talking of the Naga National right and stand, Nagaland’s position is unique – it lacks nothing. To briefly enumerate, Nagas were never conquered by any foreign power. Hence, it could formally declare its age-old independence on14th August, 1947.
To that effect, a voluntary plebiscite was conducted on 16th May 1951 to ascertain the declaration of independence and received overwhelming mandate of 99.9% to stay independent.
With that mandate the Federal Government of Nagaland was formed on 22nd March, 1956. With these impeccable historical rights and position of Nagaland, Nagas are accepted and recognized by the International Community wherever we go.
However much against our will, the newly gained independent India launched its naked aggression on Nagaland by 1954 and is occupying much of our land till today.
That, in defense of our land and nation we have lost thousands of lives, so many tortured and maimed, our women humiliated and violated, and our villages and properties destroyed over and over in many Regions. The war crimes committed by India must be accounted for sooner or later.
Nagas will always remember and pay their deepest homage to the supreme sacrifices of lives and sufferings given by patriotic Nagas for the sake of Nagaland and its people. On the part of the Federal Government of Nagaland, it is our bounden responsibility to safeguard and uphold the sovereignty and integrity of Nagaland at all times.
Long live Nagaland.
KUKNALIM
Brig. (Retd) S. Singnya Kedahge FGN
My beloved Country Men and Women,
It is a great honour and a privilege for me to address you on this historic occasion of the 68th Republic Day of our Nation. I thank our Almighty God for His continued Guidance and Protection. I put on record our profound gratitude to our pioneers for laying firm political foundations for us because of which we are able to stand up today with dignity and pride.
I pay my tribute and homage to the many martyrs who have made the supreme sacrifice for the Naga Cause. I salute all Naga patriots for their visions and sacrifices in pursuit of the long cherished Naga dream. May their unyielding spirit and selflessness continue to inspire, guide and strengthen us.
Nagaland became a Republic on 22nd March 1956 when the Federal Government of Nagaland was established resulting from the convening of the First Tatar Hoho by the Naga National Council which brought together the Free Nagas, represented by the Hongki Government and the erstwhile Naga Hills District, represented by the Naga National Council. With the National Mandate of 1951 immutably entrusted to them and acknowledging that the Almighty God is the Supreme Sovereign over this world and the authority of the people on the territory as a sacred trust from God, our leaders established our National institution based on the modern principles and ideals of Democracy, Justice, Liberty and Fraternity and instituted the Republic on the concept of the Federal System of Governance. The historic Declaration of Naga Independence on 14th August, 1947 and the Plebiscite of 16th May, 1951 were the foundations which shaped the political course of our people.
As we commemorate the 68th Republic Day, we celebrate the exemplary lives and courage of the pioneers and the numerous patriots. Our history is our legacy and we have to place ourselves within the historical framework of the past and follow the path till our historical rights finds full expression. In the midst of opposition from others, we must free ourselves from distrust, unite and with strength march forward. We believe there is a future awaiting those who are morally strong, determined and resolute to make it their own.
The Nagas as a people and as a nation have an ardent desire to live in peace and harmony and have always sought to live in peaceful co-existence with our neighbours. Thus for Peace to prevail and for a peaceful resolution of the Indo-Naga political issue, the Federal Government of Nagaland actively participated and concluded the political dialogue with Government of India as an entity of the NNPGs Working Committee to arrive at a political settlement which is honourable and mutually acceptable. However after a lapse of more than two years the final inking of the agreement remains. The lackadaisical attitude of the GoI makes us to wonder whether India is genuinely concerned about resolving the Indo-Naga political issue and whether
India is prepared to be honest with her commitments.
History has made us doubt the sincerity of GoI. Our ancestors were honourable people and their words used to be their law. The British recognized this custom and treated the Nagas as honourable people.
Despite several conflicts and agreements between the two, no written document was necessitated. And so we respected each other for what each was. But when the Indian leaders made the first agreement with the Nagas, they neither honoured our customs nor their promises. We had to make a written agreement – the 9 point agreement (Hydari agreement).Even after getting written assurance from the representatives of the GoI, a letter signed by Bordoloi and Hydari themselves, the agreement never saw the light of day. Successive Indian leaders have failed to uphold even the promises made to the
Nagas by their most venerated leaders like Gandhi and Rajagopalachari. These have made us to wonder what we are up against, a people whose honour is questionable. To cite few instances – India never honoured the Hydari agreement; India betrayed the Peace Mission of 1964; India divided the Nagas even after her promise to bring the Nagas under one political umbrella; India is not even serious about her commitments to
the 16 point agreement in all important matters. We are also aware that the conflict between the Nagas and India could have been resolved long ago had the Government of India been really sincere in trying to resolve it.
The GoI in the past has instead of seeking permanent solution rather has basically succeeded in prolonging the problem by manipulating the situations as and when desired by her. It is up to the Government of India whether to restore faith or make a mockery of the Indian System of Democracy. We expect India to live up to her world image as the largest Democracy in the world and hope to see India become a self-respecting and honourable country. We Nagas, as a Nation of trustworthy and honourable people have the moral strength to stand, wait and watch as we firmly believe that what is rightfully ours cannot be crushed by power or might.
May God’s grace be upon us all and His Wisdom continues to guide us and may His will prevail as we continue our journey.
God Bless My Nagaland. Kuknalim.