This public statement is being issued as per the resolution adopted at the 63rd Tatar Hoho of the NNC/FGN on 29th April, 2015.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Naga Nationalist pioneers made the historic declaration for independence on 14th August 1947 which was reinforced by the Plebiscite on 16th May 1951. The momentous Declaration and the irrevocable pledge had created the foundation which has given birth and shaped the political course of our people. The Federal Government of Nagaland stands committed and steadfast in our resolve to defend the declaration and uphold the pledge of our people.Nagaland became a Republic on 22nd March, 1956 when the Naga National Council convened the First Tatar Hoho Session which brought together the Free Nagas represented by the Hongking Government and the Naga National Council representing the then Naga Hills District to establish the Federal Government of Nagaland.
With the awakening of political consciousness, Nagas as a people chose to make, shape and determine our own destiny with freedom, integrity and dignity. Powerful forces opposed to the Cause have sought to weaken us by sowing the seed of animosity and suspicion. Right from the beginning of our struggle till date, our Nation has been facing detrimental forces both internal and external. But we have managed to withstand the forces and tides that sought to weaken and destroy our spirit. This same spirit makes us proud to be who we were then and who we are today and the NNC/ FGN will never bow down to any internal or external pressure.
I and the Eastern Nagas have never been a party to the Shillong Accord of November 1975 and will continue to denounce it. It was for this very reason that I have never set foot in the Transit Peace Camps till date. The NNC/FGN regards the Shillong Accord as the root cause of all divisions and factionalism, standing in the way of real unity and reconciliation among the Naga National Workers. It was a total sell out and betrayal of the Naga Cause and all that the Naga patriots stood for.
The irony of the matter is the fact that the people in the Transit Peace Camp at Kohima, a by-product of the Shillong Accord, who purportedly have agreed on their own volition to accept the constitution of India and who in fact should be rightly denounced as traitors continue to claim legitimacy as a Naga political group forgetting the spirit of the Naga declaration of independence of August 14, 1947 and the Plebiscite of May 16, 1951.
As per article 143 and 144(1) of the Yehzabo of Nagaland, “The Naga National Council shall be the only recognised political institution in Nagaland. The Naga National Council shall work on the following principles; there shall be: A central executive council which will guide and control the political policy and decision of the Nation.”
For any political agreement between the Nagas with any other country to be legitimate, it was mandatory to have the consent or approval of the president of NNC. The Shillong Accord of 1975, however was signed without the approval of the then president of NNC, A. Z. Phizo. A. Z. Phizo was the epitome of Naga patriotism and because of the Naga people’s total confidence and trust in his leadership, he was made plenipotentiary. His works and his deeds for our cause continue to inspire our people.
It is for these reasons that we revere him and his legacy, and also call him the Father of the Nation. The Nagas as such had a lot of expectations when his successor and the present president of the NNC, Adinno Phizo took over the office, after his demise that
the fate of the nation is in safe hands.
But unfortunately, we have observed that she has not been able to shoulder the immense responsibility of our nation vested in her esteemed office. Even after 25 years in office, she has failed to take a stand and continues to be closely associated only with the Transit Peace campers. As such we have lost confidence in her leadership and have decided to discontinue our support to her as president of NNC.
Brig.(Retd.) S. Singnya
Kedahge,
Federal Government of Nagaland
