Naga National Council president, Adinno Phizo on Saturday reaffirmed the Naga sovereignty position while commemorating the 76th Naga Voluntary Plebiscite Day, calling upon Nagas to uphold what he described as the “historical truth” of Naga independence.
In her address marking the occasion, Adinno said May 16 remains a “historic day” for the Nagas as it commemorates the 1951 voluntary plebiscite through which Nagas asserted their independent status. She stated that the plebiscite was not an emotional or sudden decision but a calculated move necessitated by historical circumstances.
Tracing the historical background, she claimed that the Nagas were traditionally free people, who are not Indians and Naga territories were not Indian territories.
Stating that the village states were free from external aggression, she said the British tried to subdue the Nagas between 1832 to 1878 using military power, but each village fiercely fought against the invasion and defended its own freedom.
Referring to the memorandum submitted to the Simon Commission in 1929, she said Naga leaders had appealed to the British government to “recognise our independent status or leave us alone to determine our own future.”
The NNC president also reiterated the organisation’s claim that the Naga Independence Declaration was made on August 14, 1947, a day before India attained independence.
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She stated that the subsequent 1951 plebiscite under the leadership of AZ Phizo was conducted to demonstrate unity among the Nagas after what she described as Indian attempts to portray the independence declaration as being supported only by a handful of leaders. She said the plebiscite recorded “99.9 per cent mandate for sovereignty,” with participants reportedly casting votes “by finger print”, some allegedly using their own blood.
She also criticised political arrangements such as statehood, terming them attempts to “cover up aggression and forced occupation of Nagaland.”
Further, she rejected descriptions of the Naga issue as a “movement,” or “self-determination,” stating that these were coined by adversaries and their collaborators to confuse the people, internally as well as externally.
On the auspicious day, she called upon all Nagas to uphold the historical truth, remain resolute and dedicated in their democratic fight against occupation.
“History is on our side. We have nothing to fear or be discouraged. In unity with one voice, we should stand by the position established by our grandfathers and fathers,” she reiterated.
