Seventy Second Independence Day Speech of Gen. (Retd.) Viyalie Metha, Kedahge (President), Federal Government of Nagaland

Viyalie Metha / Federal Government of Nagaland | August 14, 2018

Date: Urra, Chedema, Nagaland, August 14, 2018.

Dear fellow countrymen,

As we gather today to celebrate our 72^nd Independence Day, let us all give thanks to God who has preserved our nation through all the past 71 years of trials and adversities. And today, as all our national leaders and workers along with the public gather again to celebrate our Independence Day, we proudly recollect all our fallen comrades who have sacrificed their lives for our national cause. They have indeed forever etched our nation’s identity in the annals of world history. Also, looking back at all our achievements in the past 71 years, I wish to reiterate the following facts for all future generations of our people.

1. Based on the historical facts of having inhabited our native land for over two thousand years, we declared our independence on 14^th August, 1947. Even prior to this formal declaration, we Nagas had always existed as a free country owing no allegiance to any foreign nation or Government. And though 30% of our territory came under British administration for a short period of 68 years (i.e. 1880-1947), we never signed any treaty of capitulation with the British Colonial Power. Also prior to the British departure from their South Asian Empire in 1947, we had clearly told to the British that we would remain sovereign as before. This was done through the submission of the Naga Memorandum to the British Simon Commission on January 10, 1929.

2. As for the declaration of our independence on 14^th August, it is a universal fact that the declaration of any nation’s independence is the exclusive prerogative right of that particular nation. Here, no nation needs another nation’s permission to declare their independence over their own territories. In conformity to this International norm, we Nagas also declared our independence over our own territories on August 14, 1947.

3. Therefore, it should clearly be understood by all perpetrators of aggression on Nagaland that Nagas are not demanding their independence from any other country or countries. On the contrary, it is the bounden duty of the neighbour countries as well as the UNO to recognize the Nagas’ declaration of their independence. This bounden obligation is more so, because all necessary information about Naga history, geography and political stand were furnished to the concerned countries in a series of memorandums before the declaration of Naga independence. The lists of some of these memorandums are as follows:

a. Memorandum to the Simon Commission on Jan. 10, 1929.

b. Memorandum to the British Cabinet Mission in April, 1946.

c. Memorandum of the case of the Naga people for self-determination and an appeal to Her Majesty’s Government on March 17, 1947.

As for our independent territories, our Nation’s Yehzabo (Constitution) had clearly states that: “The territory of Nagaland shall comprise of all the territories inhabited by the Nagas from time immemorial.” (Yehzabo Art.1) In conformity to this declared territory which is true by all historical records, the Federal Government of Nagaland does not recognise any other artificial boundaries drawn across our lands by any other countries or governments.

All these facts and timely actions taken on our part, stands as irrefutable testimony to our collective wish to be a sovereign and independent country. We have also taken solemn oaths before God and man that we would never forsake these historical and political actions undertaken by us. These oaths were taken through historic national events like the National Plebiscite of May 16, 1951 and the Lakhuti resolution of April 27, 1955. The Lakhuti resolution reads:

“Any person or persons who in order to destroy or undermine the integrity and the well- being of Nagaland and who for this purpose act, abet or set up organisations against or oppose the political, administrative and traditional institutions of the nation– or attempt to do so, whether with or without the aid of other country or countries, shall be deemed to have committed TREASON.”

The Present Stand of the Federal Government of Nagaland.

1. The Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) recognizes the fact that the Indo-Naga conflict remains unresolved due to the invasion and continued occupation of our land by India and Burma.
2. The Federal Government of Nagaland has not entered into any agreement with India other than the 1964 Ceasefire Agreement which became effective on 6^th September 1964. This International Ceasefire Agreement was signed between the Federal Government of Nagaland and the Government of India through the Nagaland Peace Mission.
3. On the part of FGN, knowing the fact that too many lives were lost due to the armed conflict in a period of almost ten years from 1954 to 1964, we gave our consent for a Ceasefire and are upholding the same till today. However, the successive leadership of the Indian government continued to pursue a violent policy rather than peacefully resolving the conflict. The policy of the Naga National Council is Non-Violence and the FGN is still holding to that policy.

In the light of these historical and political facts, the FGN reiterates that the long drawn Indo-Naga conflict is not an Indian internal Law and Order problem. Nagas are not secessionists or insurgents. The conflict is an international conflict of invasion by India and Burma.  Nagas are only defending the Naga Nation. Therefore the conflict can only be resolved from an international level.

The Naga National Council and the Federal Government of Nagaland are the only two nationally mandated institution and established Government of the Naga people to uphold the historical and political rights of the Naga Nation. Hence, the NNC and FGN do not, and will not; recognize any factions or organisations that may commit Naga citizenship to any other country. The NNC and FGN stand to protect Naga sovereignty and independence.

Coming to the question of so called integration of all Nagas territories under one single political umbrella, it is hereby made clear to all concerned, that Nagas were an integrated nation even before the official proclamation of their Federal Republic on March 22, 1956. In this connection, Nagas have always been an integrated nation occupying a continuous Naga territory throughout all the aeons of human history. These two facts of Naga anthropology and geography form the basis of Naga nationhood. Therefore, the NNC and FGN will consider any acts of integrating Naga territory under the constitution of any foreign country as acts of treason against the nation.

In conclusion, in the present fast changing world where many small nations have become members of the UN, we Nagas also can be confident of a new dawn in our history.

May God bless Nagaland.

KUKNALIM (Victory to Nagaland).