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DIMAPUR — Leaders of various Naga political groups -- NSCN (IM), GPRN/NSCN (Unification) and Yung Aung-led NSCN (K) have urged the public not to lose faith but to recommit themselves to the Naga cause, in their messages issued on the occasion of the 45th NSCN Raising Day.
Addressing the members of the NSCN (IM) at its designated camp in Hebron on Wednesday, the chairman of the group, Q Tuccu reflected on the historical trajectory of the Naga political movement and the current state of negotiations with the Government of India.
While recalling how the Naga political movement took a different turn after the signing of the infamous Shillong Accord in 1975, Tuccu highlighted the NSCN’s role in rejuvenating the Naga political movement and the organisation's commitment to the unique history and identity of the Naga nation.
Reflecting on Indo-Naga history, he said that the ‘Naga Plebiscite’ of May 16, 1951, was conducted to reaffirm the sovereign will of the Nagas, and 99.9% of the Nagas voted in favour of a sovereign Naga independent state.
“We have this proud and unique history,” Tuccu said, as he went on to recall how, in the course of Indo-Naga political talks, “the historical narrative that constitutes the uniqueness of Naga history was convincingly presented to the government of India, and finally, official recognition was given by the government of India on July 11, 2002.”
Terming it as a “milestone in the Indo-Naga political dialogue,” he said the historic Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 was signed based on the unique history and situation.
“We are proud that the world at large has come to know better about the Naga political issue that was zealously guarded by the NSCN. The signing of the Framework Agreement with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, doing the spadework signified the importance of the much awaited agreement,” read Tuccu’s speech, a copy of which has been made available to this newspaper.
He also highlighted the NSCN’s role in getting ‘Nagalim’ admitted as a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) in 1993 and its involvement in UN forums for Indigenous and Human Rights.
“We have proved our credibility as the torchbearers of the Naga political issue and national principles. We have stood the ground to stand by our flag and yehzabo that symbolise our history and national identity,” he said, adding that the group has stood the test of time and its commitment to the Naga political cause has remained steadfast.
“We have shown remarkable resilience and loyalty to the Framework Agreement despite all the difficulties, because it is our stand that the implementation of the political and peace agreement that the Framework Agreement stands for remains the only viable and ideal solution to the long delayed Naga political solution,” he asserted.
(Full text of Tuccu’s speech)
Modi yet to prove himself — NSCN (U) Chairman
Speaking on the occasion at its designated camp in Khehoyi, GPRN/NSCN (Unification), Gen. (Retd.) MB Neokpao Konyak recounted how the 1975 Shillong Accord, “which betrayed the trust of the Naga people”, necessitated the formation of the NSCN on January 31, 1980 to take the Naga political movement forward.
Acknowledging the Naga tribes, churches, and apex civil societies for their support, the NSCN (U) Chairman highlighted the “ideological differences among the leadership" that led to a ‘crisis’ in 1988 and the subsequent split of the NSCN.
“From 1980 to 2024, disastrous division among the Nagas and consequent fratricide killings have left thousands of widows and orphans. The Government of India (GoI) has taken maximum advantage of the discord within and continues to exert hegemonic rule in the Naga homeland,” read his message.
He highlighted the Agreed Position signed by the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPG) with the Government of India on November 17, 2017.
The ‘clear political statement and understanding’ that “the Government of India recognises the historical and political right of the Nagas to self determine their future in consonance with their distinct history and identity..." in the Agreed Position set the tone for political negotiations between the WC-NNPG and the GoI interlocutor, which were officially concluded on October 31, 2019.
“We demand the Indian political leadership to walk the talk on the Naga issue. GoI has the moral responsibility to act since negotiations have been completed,” Konyak asserted.
The GPRN/NSCN chairman underscored that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a committed leader who has yet to prove himself to the Naga people on the unresolved Indo-Naga political issue.
“Indian electoral politics and Naga history are two different matters. Political conflict in India’s eastern flank should not be reignited. To say it will be detrimental to GoI’s look east policy will be an understatement,” he said, expressing hope that the “GoI leadership will not procrastinate any further.”
(Full text of Neokpao Konyak’s speech)
Solution meaningless without sovereignty — Yung Aung
In his message to the Nagas, President of the Myanmar-based NSCN (K) splinter group, Yung Aung claimed that “discord and confusion has plagued the pro-talk Naga political groups as they are about to conclude their so-called solution with the government of India”.
He maintained that India has managed to “tame these groups with monetary packages and sweet-talk”, entrenching its total control under the guise of the peace process.
“Despite the unquestionable right of the Naga people to sovereignty, the GoI and these Naga groups are on the verge of committing another historical blunder by conspiring to end the hard fought movement under the Indian constitution. The so-called Naga solution is meaningless for the Naga people as the main ingredient ‘sovereignty’ is not on the menu,” he said in his 45th NSCN Raising Day speech.
He went on to assert that any document drafted without the Naga people’s sovereign dream would be null and void and that sovereignty cannot be substituted with ‘mere solution.’ Terming it as a mockery of the supreme sacrifices made by the thousands of Nagas, he accused the pro-talks groups of “playing with the destiny of their own people”.
Stating that the “truth will prevail in the end” and the failure of these groups would be exposed, Aung asserted that it will be the Naga people who will have the final say.
“In spite of all the clamour of the Naga politics, I urge you all not to lose faith on the NSCN/GPRN and in our struggle. Despite the ruthless policies and action of our occupiers and their proxies, our struggle continues to remain strong and will keep going forward,” he said.
(Full text of Yung Aung’s speech)