Call for right to self-determination, Naga homeland

Naga Republic News & Analysis

Against the backdrop of the present position taken by Government of India in political talks with the different Naga Political Groups (NPGs) that sovereignty and territorial integration of Naga inhabited areas is not feasible, the first Naga Day declaration on January 10, 2018 has countered this by asserting that “Nagas are a peoples and a nation without borders”.

The Naga Day Declaration being read out by Dr Visier Sanyü and flanked by other members of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation

Though subtle in tone and language, the Naga Day declaration clearly intended to send across a powerful message to the outside world especially India about the sovereign status of the Nagas and their rights over the ancestral lands across four States in India and Burma.

The Naga Day Declaration was explicit in its assertion for the right to self-determination in order to freely determine the Naga people’s political status and also for “a lasting political resolution without borders”, which was another way of putting across the right to Naga “integration” and to live as one people under one administrative setup.

A section of the crowd at the Kohima Local Ground on January 10, 2018

As per analysis of The Naga Republic, with delay, uncertainty and fluid nature of political negotiation, the declaration has rightly impressed upon the Government of India “to honor its commitment to engage the Naga political rights and to bring about an inclusive, just and lasting resolution without borders”.

And with reports now emerging of further delay in resolution of the Naga political problem, the public declaration on Naga Day has urged the GoI that “this must be given paramount priority above all other issues and should be reached at the earliest”.

Also in the prevailing situation with strong opposition to Naga integration from neighbouring States, whether territorial or non-territorial, the significance of the Naga Day declaration can be understood by the resolve made “to strive towards rapprochement with our neighbors in building better relationships based on mutual trust and respect”.

Organized by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and held at Kohima Local Ground on January 10, the Naga Day affirmed to uphold the Naga Hills Memorandum to the Simon Commission, which had voiced to the outside world as early as 1929 that Nagas were a distinct nation and never conquered.

While stating that Nagas were a ‘nation without borders’, in a rare mention, the Naga Day declaration acknowledged that “Nagas are a peoples comprised of many nations (tribes) living in their ancestral lands spread across the present state of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Burma (Myanmar)”. This is perhaps the first time that the multi-national character of the Nagas has been acknowledged and given public expression through the Naga Day declaration.

While talking of freedom and the “collective desire to live as one people”, the declaration also calls upon the Naga people to “examine ourselves so that the path to a shared future is undertaken with responsibility, accountability and a sense of belonging with each other”.

The Naga Day Declaration, which was adopted by the people gathered, centered on themes of Naga reconciliation, political struggle, nation building and Naga Day.

Stating that reconciliation is a “basic necessity to nurture and defend our right as one people”, the declaration called on individuals and tribes to engage in a process of self-examination and “to undertake a shared journey to wholeness through love, forgiveness, mutual understanding, compassion and healing so that Naga reconciliation becomes a reality”.

Importantly, in order to overcome the present “trust deficit” and to strengthen the journey of healing, the Naga National Groups, the State, the Churches, tribe organizations and civil society groups were “encouraged to admit their failures and apologize to the people for the wrongs they have committed and to conduct themselves with honor, dignity and responsibility”.

Also pointing out that the journey to wholeness involves ‘truth-telling’, the Naga Day declaration called on Churches across Naga-land to “create safe and non-judgmental spaces for stories to be told without any fear whatsoever so that healing will be made possible”.

On the Naga political struggle, the declaration called for the right to self-determination in order to freely determine the Naga people’s political status. It also impressed upon the Government of India to bring about an inclusive, just and lasting resolution without borders.

At the same time, the declaration urged that “the Naga National Groups, the Governments of India and Burma must truthfully engage the Naga political rights with utmost transparency, accountability and respect for peoples aspirations”.

Further in order to build confidence with the people and address collective trauma, the Governments of India and Burma have been called to now “go beyond militarization”. And in this spirit the GoI should repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (1958) and all other anti-democratic legislations not worthy of a great democratic nation like India”.

IN order to rebuild relationships and peaceful co-existence, the declaration also encouraged India and Burma to admit to the gross human rights violations and to apologize for their wrong doings to the Naga people.

On the important theme of Nation Building, the Naga Day declaration called on people to work towards “recovering values of common good, nurturing indigenous wisdom, cultivating practices of honesty and integrity, dialogue, respect, sharing and giving”. It also called for upholding gender justice and creating space for young people to lead us in this 21^st century.

The declaration also called on people to overcome social, “systematic developmental aggression” and systemic corruption that are destroying the Naga way of life and undermining the ability of our institutions to nurture and fulfil our aspirations.

In this regard, the declaration points out that in this time of difficult challenges, Nagas need to be led by women and men who are led by God and prayed that God will provide such leaders who will inspire us to walk in the path of justice and mercy.

As part of the Naga Day celebration it was also resolved to “explore and evolve creative ways of educating and empowering ourselves about our history, our culture, our land, our rights and our responsibilities”.

It also agreed “to strive towards rapprochement with our neighbors in building better relationships based on mutual trust and respect”.

Further it was urged that all Nagas celebrate Naga Day on the 10^th day of January every year where ever Nagas may be in a manner that will deepen our relationships and enrich our understanding of each other as One People. It also declared in conclusion that “Naga Day belongs to all Nagas and not to any organization”.

More photos from Naga Day