‘Nagas have always been free people’

March 23, 2021 56 Views No Comment

FGN celebrates 66th Naga Republic Day in Kohima

Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 22

The Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) on Saturday celebrated the 66th Naga Republic Day at the Transit Peace Camp Kohima.

In his address, FGN President Gen (Retd) Viyalie Metha said that 66 years ago, “God gathered our Naga National Council (NNC) leaders from their respective regions to the historic place of Parashen in Rengma Region and on March 22, 1956 our leaders inaugurated the formation of the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN),” and extended gratitude to the past leaders for their vision and sacrifices.

“We share border with China in the north, Manipur in the south, Burma in the east and Assam in the west and the people living along these frontiers are our own. History testifies to the fact that Nagas have always been free people. We were never under the yoke of any foreign rule or monarchy,” he added.

The FGN President said that in the past, the Naga people lived in village states where everyone was equal and every region had its own unique customs and tradition. Every village was self-sufficient and defended its pride fiercely and were governed by their own customary laws which were based on fairness, justice, equality and honesty, he added.

He said the British, following the annexation of Ahom and Meitei kingdoms, came to Nagaland to do the same, “but after witnessing the courage and sacrifices of our ancestors to protect their inherent rights, made peace and set up their administration in some parts of our land for some time.”

However, when the British left, “India forced it’s dominion over us. This marked the beginning of Indian Army’s atrocities on our people,” Metha said. “Tens of thousands of our people were killed; national workers were taken captive and tortured mercilessly before being killed like wild animals, thousands of women were raped and stripped of their dignity, more than nine hundred Villages were burned and completely destroyed. However, this violent invasion could not defeat us nor deter us from defending and loving our country,” he said.

He said the Government of India resorted to political trickery and bribery to induce few Nagas who called themselves as the Naga People Convention, resulting in the creation of an illegitimate ‘Puppet State’ without the mandate of the Naga people and its authority concerned.

“So Naga National Council and Federal Government of Nagaland did not recognize the action of the so-called NPC as the NPC itself was neither a mandated organization and worked in direct contravention to Lakhuti Resolution and the Yehzabo of Nagaland,” he maintained.

He said the creation of the state brought more turmoil and conflict, so the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) took initiative and formed the Peace Mission which eventually succeeded in negotiating a Cease-fire Agreement between the Federal Government of Nagaland and the Government of India in 1964.

“Even to this day, we stand true to this agreement. From 1954 we bear witness to our pain and suffering, our sacrifices and courage, our faith and victory,” he said.

As we celebrate the 66th Republic Day today, we pay homage to our patriots, who with faith instilled in them from above, gave their yesterday for our today, he said adding that “Their sacrifices shall forever be engraved in our hearts.”

With eternal God as our witness, let us pledge, as one people, one nation, in one voice to continue their legacy to set our people free, he added.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/nagas-have-always-been-free-people