NSCN (IM) celebrates Raising Day "Naga Nation and history were placed on the brink of vanishing in the hands of the NNC"

Newmai News Network
DIMAPUR, JAN 31: NSCN (IM) vice chairman Tongmeth Wangnao said today that "we must continue to pursue for the solution that should be acceptable and honorable in consonance with our legitimate rights as testified before the Government of India, vis-à-vis the uniqueness of Naga history and the Framework Agreement that followed".
The NSCN (IM) leader said this while delivering a speech at the "46th NSCN Raising Day" celebration at Camp Hebron near Dimapur, Nagaland, this morning.
45 years ago the "Naga nation and history were placed on the brink of vanishing in the hands of the NNC (Naga National Council)," said Tongmeth. "That was the time when some members of NNC/FGN miserably failed to stand the test of time when cornered by the Government of India, to surrender on their own volition accepting the Constitution of India without conditions, thus creating a dangerous terminus," the NSCN (IM) vice chairman alleged.
 It was the most shocking incident that caught the people of Nagalim and the bona fide National workers off guard, he also said. "That was the time when NNC vice president Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Th Muivah were in China. The Chinese were no less shocked by the traitorous elements among the NNC. They expressed their empathy and advised Isak Chishi Swu and Th Muivah to go back and reorganize the Naga political movement," Tongmeth disclosed today.
Despite the pressure mounted on the NNC leadership led by AZ.Phizo to condemn the Shillong Accord, there was no response, Tongmeth also said. So it became a matter of political exigency that a new political organization with a new concept must be put forth, he stated.
Thus, a new chapter of Naga political movement was started under National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) on January 31, 1980, to carry forward the Naga political struggle, electing Isak Chishi Swu as chairman, SS Khaplang as vice-chairman and Th Muivah as general secretary, he added.
Significantly, the launch of NSCN marked a tryst with destiny- a huge challenge for NSCN to showcase the Naga people the way forward to survive the Naga political movement to keep alive the Naga Nation, Tongmeth also said.
Accordingly, NSCN fought left and right to give new meaning to the Naga political struggle to withstand the suppressing forces of India, never giving in under any pressing situation, he stated.
 Finally, India was faced with the awakening realization that a new age has dawned under NSCN with their invisible fighting force, Naga Army, Tongmeth also said.
A clear message was delivered by the top Indian Army generals that a military solution is not going anywhere for ending the Indo-Naga political crisis, the NSCN (IM) leader further stated. After nearly twenty years having tested the nerves of NSCN, the Government of India invited NSCN to sit across the negotiating table to find the way forward to a Naga political solution, he claimed.
"At this particular juncture we put forth before India the bona fide standing of NSCN as the only legitimate organization that carried the Naga issue on its shoulder. When the Government of India stated in no uncertain terms that it is the NSCN that holds the Naga political issue, we reciprocated in good faith to enter a ceasefire to pave the way for political dialogue," he added.
Tongmeth reminded that when the Indo-Naga political talks started "we maintained our dignity and tenacity in the same manner we demonstrated in the battle fields, taking the strong stance to defend the legitimate rights of the Nagas at the negotiating table as well".
 As the talks gained momentum "we made our stand sharp and clear saying, 'If the Indians respect the history of the Nagas, we the Nagas will respect the history of India ten times'" Tongmeth said.
Accordingly, the Government of India gave official recognition to the rights of the Nagas on two historic occasions, he stated.
The first was official recognition of the uniqueness of Naga history on July 11, 2002, in the Amsterdam meeting followed by the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, New Delhi, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the architect of the historic agreement, he said.
Significantly, Prime Minister Modi was accompanied by a whole host of top level Ministers including the then Home Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doyal, the Chief of Army Staff and other high dignitaries who matter in the Government of India.
The NSCN was equally represented by the presence of its entire members of collective leadership. "These two official recognitions are the indelible milestones that the world has come to know about the Indo-Naga political negotiations. Significantly, the signing ceremony of Framework Agreement was given high profile political status when the whole program was live telecast for the world to bear witness," Tongmeth recalled.
Tongmeth then said that, for the past more than 27 years "we have been talking with the Government of India on the strength of truth behind the Naga political movement". He added by alleging, "However, it is very unfortunate that the Government of India agencies have indulged themselves in unethical conduct to create many enemies behind the Naga political talks led by NSCN". Then he called upon the Nagas to stand alert and be vigilant. "We should put on the whole armor of God, and stay strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. No wonder, it is our bounden duty to defend our country, our people and our legitimate rights for self-determination to define our political identity as a nation," he also said.
 Tongmeth then recalled how they overcame the many situations filled with exigencies.
"Our rights give us the courage to take the irrepressible stand to keep fighting to defend the pride of the Naga nation. In the process I am proud to say that NSCN was able to justify our political movement in the international platforms and finally got admitted into UNPO as a bona fide member and followed by occasional forays in the UN Human Rights and Indigenous Forums. This international factor certainly added weight to our negotiation that led to the signing of the inalienable Framework Agreement that recognizes our sovereign rights as a nation," Tongmeth stated.