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12/05/2008: "A. Z. Jami PRESS RELEASE 5TH DEC.08"

PRESS RELEASE 5TH DEC.08 By A. Z. Jami

INDIA CANNOT HOLD ON THE NAGAS AND THEIR LAND:
Whether ones like it or not, the truth remains. I would, therefore, like to say that India is not a nation in the strictest term of the word. India is a British make India. No one can refute this truth. As the History speaks louder, there were more than six hundred princely
states in the Indian sub-continent ruled by the Rajas, Maharajas, Nawabs, Sultans and petty so called emperors before the advent of the British. There were constant fightings and rivalries for hegemony and territorial expansions among themselves, which enabled the Britishers to easily conquer them one by one and established the British-India
Empire.
As the History goes, the Indian Empire under Maurya Dynasty (Chandra Gupta Maurya, Ashoka, etc) did not cover the southernmost part of India and the present Northern India in the 4th and 3rd century B.C. Again, the Indian Empire under the Gupta Dynasty (Chandra Gupta 1 & 11, etc) in the 4th and 5th century A.D. did not cover the Southern
part, Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir of the subcontinent. The Indian Empire under Harsha Vardhana in the 7th Century, A.D., did not cover many of the princely states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Northeast and Southern India. The Indian empire under Akbar, the Great and his successors did not embrace the present Northeast India.
Only under the British Indian Empire, the present Northeast India came under the British administration including some parts of Nagalim. From the above cited Historical facts, it is understood that the Nagas also remained almost in perpetual Independence from time immemorial. Therefore, the British Govt., had had practically no right or
authority to hand over the Nagas and their land to the Indians in 1947. Likewise, the Indian Govt., has no moral, legal and political right to hold on the Nagas and their land against their wishes.
Now, coming to the Nagas in general, I would like to say that the "Naga Freedom Movement" started as an invincible force. In the beginning, there were no highly educated men, no strong economy and good weapons to fight against the mighty aggressor. But, the Nagas fought with iron determination and courage in the past, which baffled the mighty Indian Army, compelling the Indian Govt, to have a ceasefire with the Nagas starting from Sept. 1964, for the first time. But regrettably, the Nagas freedom movement had been degenerated into fratricidal wars and after the signing of the infamous Shillong Accord
(1975), fightings and killings between the two factions of NSCN and the two groups of NNC existed. Killings are almost a daily occurrence to the delights of the common enemies. What a pity! Sometimes, the death bodies of each group's victims were and are hidden, which are against Christian ethics and violations of human dignities. All these dirty affairs should be stopped forth with and joint hands together to fight against the common enemy either militarily or politically, which is necessary. Otherwise, Nagas are to expect divine punishments in the form of natural calamities like earthquakes, cyclones, epidemics, famines or wars. Because, we have already come across many areas in the world where there were communal disharmonies, infightings between the different groups of peoples of the same area, like Gujarat, Orissa, etc, in India, Kashmir, especially Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan and in many Africa countries. It is not a mere speculation, but a high degree of certainty, if the Nagas do not stop hatred and ill feelings against each other.
If we take the Indian freedom movement of the past as a model, we see the Indian National Congress (INC) was founded by A.O.Hume in Bombay in 1885. All Indian Muslim League was formed in Dhaka (presently Bangladesh) in 1906. CPI (M) was founded in 1920. Indian Party was founded in 1923. Akali Dal was founded in 1925; Congress Socialist Party founded in 1934. National Conference was also founded in 1934. Lastly, Forward Block was founded by S.C.Bose in 1939, just at the start of the Second World War. But we find no fightings or killing among themselves, except between Hindus and Muslims during the time of the 'Partition'. As cited above, there were many political parties during the Indian freedom movement, but they all acknowledged the leadership of the Indian National Congress and the political dialogue
with the British Govt, was conducted under its leadership. Likewise, today, the NSCN (IM) leadership is conducting the political negotiations with the Govt. of India in the name and on behalf of the Nagas. So, let us rally round the current peace process.
The Hon'ble General Secretary of NSCN Th. Muivah, the Chief negotiator for the Nagas has gone to the extent possible to clinch an honorable political settlement with India. But, still the GOI is seemed undecided by taking advantage of the divisions among the Nagas.
Some Indian authorities and intelligentsia are sowing seeds of discord among the Naga National workers in one way or the other. But, every responsible Nagas should guard against such hypocrisies. In the past, God had commissioned some of His Naga servants to go to Delhi to tell the Indian leadership to 'let the Naga go'; otherwise God would
dispense judgment against them for holding on the Nagas unrightfully. This was to be done seven times. So His Naga servants had already performed their missions starting from the time of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India. As God has spoken, so it would be fulfilled. Indian had been forcing the judgment of God in various
forms starting from the time of Indira Gandhi till today. There are troubles and disturbances everywhere in India. India cannot overcome all these troubles unless it 'let the Naga go'.
India has become a land of political insurgencies and militancies, why because it is not a nation as I have mentioned. It is a British make. Therefore, every Nation or community in India wants to regain their lost freedom and maintain their distinct identities. In most
cases, political maps of the world are changed through major wars and serious political upheavals in a particular region or continent. Therefore, let us hopefully watch and see. It is my firm conviction that one day or the other, Nagas and their land would be emancipated by the Almighty in one way or the other. As for me, I have spent my entire life span for the cause of the Nagas. Therefore, whether in active service or out of service or dead or alive, I am a Naga freedom fighter. From my personal experience, I can say that Naga could have no trucks or associations with Indians. The NNC in the past had categorically declared, "We are hated by one for our beef and by other for our pork". And, this is exactly so, even today. About fifteen crores of Muslims in India survive anyhow among more than eight crores of Hindus, then how can a few million Naga Christain survive among such huge multitudes, who are socially and culturally quite opposite to us. Look, how few Christians in Indian mainland are persecuted by the majorities. The above statements are purely my personal views and assessments and not necessarily the views and opinions of the organization in which I am a member.

Issued by: A.Z. Jami Member,
Steering Committee, NSCN.