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10/12/2004: "October 29 2003 press release to Prime Minister of India"

A Naga International Support Center, Nisc,
A human rights organization

Press Release

Amsterdam, October 29 2003

Though pitfalls and stumbling blocks remain, the historic visit of the Prime Minister of India Atal Behari Vajpayee to Kohima Nagaland raises expectations for peace between the two nations.

Nagas from the Naga homeland and thus from beyond the borders of Nagaland State gather in Kohima to prepare a warm welcome to, the Prime Minister of India. Knowing that the peace talks between India and the Nagas are continuing realize that he and his entourage are on Naga soil. In relation to this perception both Atal Behari Vajpayee and the Nagas are fully aware of the historic visit to Kohima in 1953 of Jawarlal Nehru, the late Prime Minister of India, which resulted in India declaring war on the Naga Nation. Feeling bypassed for not being heard while the border between Burma and India was discussed and drawn by U Nu of Burma and the late Nehru the Nagas felt insulted for Nehru refused to hear any representation from the Nagas.
Then when the Nagas went to Delhi to discuss a settlement of the issue between them through peaceful means Nehru retorted saying: ‘even if heaven falls and India goes to pieces and the whole country will run with blood, I will not allow Nagaland to be independent’. It is said that he even said that he could station one Indian soldier for every tree in Nagaland and I would be a matter of a few days for the Indian Forces to crush the Nagas. The ground reality is that it has taken more than 50 years for the mighty Indian Armed Forces and yet they could not crush the Nagas. To the contrary, the Indian leadership including generals declared that military solution to the Indo Naga issue is no longer possible. The are the historical realities!
Fifty years and a war later in which it is said that hundreds of thousands of Nagas have lost their lives, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee stands on the land of the Nagas with an economic package in hand.

Regarding the fundamental right of the Nagas to self determination the Naga International Support Center, Nisc, lauds the Government of India to have decided to come to Nagaland to assess the situation and to promise the Nagas a more dignified life economically. However, Nisc raises some questions:

1 – Though the British had no right to turn over Nagaland to the to be formed Union of India and though well known Indians like Gandhi spoke favourably on the right to self determination of the Nagas it was Nehru’s decision to start the Indo-Naga war. Atal Behari Vajpayee now in Kohima faces the legacy of the classic mistake by his forebear, for Nehru believed that India with its formidable force could crush the Nagas in a matter of days. Nehru proved to be wrong. Fifty years later Kohima bears witness to a willing Prime Minister, who recognized the unique history of the Nagas thus recognizing the right of the Nagas to determine their own future.

2 – It is a fine initiative by the Government of India to stimulate the economy of Nagaland through an economic package. Does Prime Minister believe that the offering an economic package contribute to the solution of the problem? The crux of the problem is political. How can be one be convinced that the present Indian Government is prepared to solve thee problems?
Therefore one sees that the approach of the Indian Government to the issue is still away from being realistic.
Does the Government of India think that by appeasing the Nagas with an economic package they then will agree to be part of India?

3 – The Indo-Naga conflict has been termed by India as an internal conflict. The international community followed India’s stand though the Nagas declared their independence. Due to this stand India was able to keep this long standing conflict a secret to the outside world and prevented international journalists from entering.
Does Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee think that by keeping the Indo-Naga conflict out of the international arena, the Government of India will eventually win the hearts and minds of the Nagas?

For more information:
Visit the site of the Naga International Support Center, Nisc www.nagalim.nl
Or contact us through nisc@nagalim.nl