August 14: NSCN General Secretary Th. Muivah, in his speech on the 80th Naga Independence Day, reaffirmed the Naga national position on sovereignty, history, territory, flag and constitution.
Muivah stated that Nagalim is the God-given land of the Naga people and called for the integration of the fragmented Naga territory, which he said had been divided by artificial state boundaries and international borders. He urged the Naga people to value their history, remain united and confidently determine their own future.
Recalling the Naga national movement, he referred to the 1947 declaration of Naga independence, the 1951 Naga plebiscite, the resistance against British rule and the subsequent struggle against Indian and Burmese armed forces. He criticised the 1975 Shillong Accord as a betrayal of the Naga national principle and said the NSCN was formed in 1980 to save the Naga nation from further fragmentation.
Muivah also highlighted the 1997 Indo-Naga ceasefire, the 2002 Amsterdam Joint Communiqué and the August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement. He maintained that the Government of India had recognised the “unique history and situation” of the Nagas and said the ongoing negotiations should lead to an early, acceptable and honourable political solution.
He reiterated that any final political agreement must follow the letter and spirit of the August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement and recognise Nagalim’s national flag and constitution. He said the NSCN would not accept an imposed solution or a return to a military approach.
Muivah concluded by urging the Naga people to remain committed to their national cause and stating that Nagas and Nagalim would stand firm in defending their unique history, sovereignty, national flag and constitution.
