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DIMAPUR — Niki Sumi-led NSCN/GPRN Ato Kilonser Starson Lamkang stated on Monday that Nagas declared independence on August 14, 1947, before India and Burma (Myanmar), and if God willing, Naga Independence Day will be celebrated in a Naga parliament house one day.
He said this during the 77th Naga Independence Day celebration at the Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFSB) office at Padumpukhuri, Dimapur.
Lamkang stated that the Shillong Accord implied accepting the India constituency, whereas the formation of the NSCN/GPRN marked a stance against it, and that it has been 45 years since then, and he questioned what progress has been made.
Furthermore, Lamkang stated that after 1980, rather than achieving Naga unity, the movement experienced fragmentation because they were not focusing on the welfare of the people but instead created problems for the populace.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]According to his observations, the proliferation of various factions can be attributed to a complex set of reasons, as leaders who claimed to be making sacrifices for the nation have constructed luxurious residences and acquired apartments in different cities, and there has been a disturbing trend where adversaries manipulate and incite conflicts among the Naga brethren.
Lamkang stated that NPG leaders should not act in such a way that future generations will condemn them for their actions.
Lamkang also lamented that the current Naga Hoho is not as strong as it once was and that the Naga Mother Association's influence has dwindled, and he believes that a reformation of Naga Hoho is required to restore robust unity among the Naga people.
Lamkang stated that their dedication is to the nation, not business, but buildings that IAS and IPS officers could not build are now being built by NPG leaders, and this situation should make NPG leaders ashamed. He noted that only those involved in the political dialogue can truly comprehend the potential solutions; however, he is sceptical of the possibility of a viable solution materialising.
While speaking with the media, Lamkang emphasised that the ENPO's demand for a frontier state is not a new one, recalling how ENPO leaders approached the late S. S. Khaplang for support in 2008.
Lamkang went on to say that the response from NSCN was that while ENPO had the right to demand public welfare within the framework of the Indian constitution, their request should not impede the overarching demand for sovereignty.
Regarding reports of the ENPO region surrendering arms after their demands are met by the government of India, Lamkang noted that there may be potential pressure from the Indian government on the ENPO region to disarm once their demands are met, but he remains hopeful that the ENPO region will stand firm and not surrender their arms.