The Position of Nagas in Present Situation

Who are the Nagas and what is the status of Nagaland and its people? This is the question that has to be addressed in today’s confused Naga mind; and in doing so, clarifying it to the world about the Nagas and Nagaland. This question is the easiest of questions to answer if we are to take the historical and legal basis of the Nagas as a people, independent and free. Historical facts and evidences clearly establish the very existence of Nagaland and its people legally as a legitimate sovereign nation state. To establish its legal basis and truth, that Nagaland is an independent sovereign state, the question that needs to be addressed here is – what makes a nation/country/state independent? The answer to this is- 1. Sovereignty: Nagaland declared its independence on the 14th of August 1947 (one day ahead of India’s independence) and further strengthened it with the Plebiscite of 1951 with 99.9 % to remain independent. 2. Territory: Nagaland comprises over 120,000 square kms “located between 25° 60’ and 27° 40’ latitude north of equator and between the longitudinal lines 93° 20’ and 95° 15’ E. 3. Population: Approximately 4 million. 4. Government: The Federal Government of Nagaland was established in 1956. It went on to even sign an International Ceasefire Agreement with the Government of India in 1964. On the basis of the above given facts and truths, Nagaland and the Nagas are a people free and sovereign. To this effect Nagas therefore, cannot be termed as divided or broken. And in the light of these facts, therefore, no other nation/state/country can impose its will upon the Nagas and Nagaland. However, recent developments in India on its Citizenship Amendment Bill is being extended towards Nagaland which is never part of India. This is being done in the name of democracy through a puppet state government of India, set up by India in Naga territories which was the outcome of a so-called 16 Point Agreement which was done without the mandate of the Nagas. Whatever may be the case, even the content of this agreement does not justify for such a move as the agreement was never a final solution agreed upon by the signatories or even the government of India. Moreover, this puppet state government of India stands nullified for the fact that even after it’s so-called establishment in 1963, the Government of India directly made an International Agreement for a Ceasefire between Nagaland and India with the Federal Government of Nagaland in 1964, on Naga soil where the puppet government had been established. Nowhere in the history of the Nagas and Nagaland have the Nagas submitted to aggressors or made any treaties to surrender their sovereignty or freedom. Therefore, the legitimacy of India over Nagaland after the colonial period is illegal and an act of aggression. Thus the imposition of Indian acts and laws is an act of blatant aggression and amounts to the denial of the rights of any independent nation/state existing on the face of the earth. We do not need “Adhaar” to be identified nor do we need India’s citizenship amendment bill for we are Naga citizens. Not one state of the Indian union came into existence by an agreement except puppet state of Nagaland. All other Indian states came into existence by the ratification and acceptance of the Indian constitution. Therefore, if ever the argument is that, the Nagas are Indians and Nagaland is part of India on the basis of the 16 point agreement; then know this that a son cannot sell the land of his father with a fake land deed or document, and without the consent of his father and other brothers. If ever he does sell it then it is illegal and the sale thereof is illegitimate and nullified by the fact that his document is fake and does not have the mandate of the family. In as much as the Indian puppet state of Nagaland is illegal and illegitimate: the imposition of Indian laws and its forcible implementation of Indian citizenship, no matter how beneficial it may be, is illegal, illegitimate and an abomination to democracy and the rights of independent states. Nagaland is as much an independent state as India is, for the very fact that Nagas have legally and legitimately undergone all due processes of international law in establishing themselves a sovereign state even before sovereign India came into existence. However, India continues her aggression with the creation of an Indian puppet state government in Nagaland. Therefore, whether India recognizes our sovereignty or not is immaterial as it is enshrined in the article 3 of the Montevideo Convention thus “………..existence of the state is independent of recognition by the other states.” Now, therefore, may the world understand that the Nagas are not Indians. May also the Indians understand that Nagas are not Indians. Moreover, it would do much good for India to help her helpless millions of homeless poor to at least provide water and basic shelter with the money being wasted in Nagaland’s puppet Indian state, run by a remorseless few who have no true sense of belonging towards either the Nagas or India, hence corruption. It is pertinent, therefore, to take serious note of the legal and historical evidence of Nagaland’s position as a legitimate sovereign state/nation/country and withdraw the occupation of Nagaland and its people which is the only sane solution that is needed for the Indo-Naga problem to be resolved.

Kolezo Chase, Spokesman, Naga National Council.