Speech of Z Royim Yimchungrü on the Occasion of Naga National Martyrs’ Day

Dear Naga People,
It is my duty to speak out on our National Martyrs’ Day – the hallowed day that we have been observing on 18th of October since 1952. On this precious day we solemnly remember the martyrs who died in thousands, sacrificing their very lives for the sovereign right of the Naga people. We also remember the families of these martyrs who also suffered immeasurably as a result of the sacrifices made.

The Naga National workers in particular and the people in general have fought and died in defence of our sovereign rights to be a nation in the land inhabited by the Nagas. Our people fought the invaders and aggressors in the homeland and ventured far afield, to Pakistan (East Pakistan now Bangladesh) and to China and to Europe, for the cause of the Naga freedom. Thousands and thousands fought and died for the just cause of Naga freedom and sovereignty.

Therefore it is our bounden duty to remember the martyrs on this sacred day and to make prayer and petition to God in remembrance of the heroes and the noble cause.

The present generation of Naga people, wherever they are, should observe the day and come forward to promote the noble cause of Naga freedom. This is a sacred duty that every Naga should perform.

I, on behalf of the NNC, humbly salute all the martyrs on this occasion in humility. May our noble cause strengthen as we march forward to freedom inspired by the precious blood of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The present Govt. of India is hand in glove with RSS (Hindutva) and, as confirmed by the CPI (M) party of India and stated clearly in the media on 13th of October 2016, the Indian arm forces move at the whim of RSS. This media report absolutely confirms the clear statement made by the NNC on May 27th, 2016.

The present government’s political agenda in their five-year term is to suppress all other religions and political parties in India; thereby demeaning and degrading the secular tradition of the world’s largest democracy.

The Govt of India sprang to the defense of Balochistan in Pakistan and decried human right violations by the Pakistan army while its armed forces were, at the same time, in complete violation of international human rights, suppressing and oppressing people of the northeast and of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Naga people in particular have suffered dreadfully at the hands of the Indian armed forces since thousands and thousands of Nagas have been killed since the 1950s.

People of principle and conscience should condemn these atrocities and the RSS-inspired policy of the Govt. of India.

We, the NNC, call on the present Govt. of India in Delhi and the Govt. of Myanmar to recognize the sovereign rights of the Nagas without any further delay, before a neighbouring country (or countries) liberates Nagaland through another war in the region. We the NNC, while adopting a non-violent stance, insist that these Governments help to secure much-needed peace in the region by recognising and acceding to our just demands.

God bless Nagaland.