Naga Plebiscite a ‘sacrosanct covenant’ — Adinno Phizo

‘Naga Plebiscite was backed by legitimate historical facts since ancient times’

CHEDEMA: President of Naga National Council (NNC), Adinno Phizo, on Tuesday said the Naga Plebiscite of 1951 is not a mere expression of what the Nagas want but a “sacrosanct covenant” of what the Nagas were, are and will continue to be, and that is Nagaland — a sovereign nation.

On the 72nd anniversary of Naga Plebiscite Day held at Peace Hall in Chedema on Tuesday, the message of Adinno Phizo, President of NNC, was read out by Kolezo Chase CEC-cum-Spokesperson of NNC.

She reminded that on May 16, 1951, the Nagas as ‘one body, mind and spirit’ led by then NNC President A Z Phizo unanimously expressed its self-determination to continue to live as a free and an independent nation.

“This Naga Plebiscite of May 16, 1951 was not an event that happened out of the whims and fancies of the Nagas but is backed by legitimate historical facts since ancient times,” she said.

She maintained that even during the British period, the Nagas had made their stand clear in the 1929 memorandum to the Simon Commission, and subsequently declared independence on August 14, 1947.

“To reinforce, affirm and clear any doubts and aspersions of our declaration of Independence, the Naga National Council conducted a national Plebiscite on May 16, 1951 with observers from our neighbouring country, India.

“This plebiscite decided our destiny to continue to live as a free and sovereign nation with the result of 99.9%,” she said.

She pointed out that despite the plebiscite and historic legitimacy of Nagaland, India chose to invade Nagaland and the Indo-Naga war ensued; many Nagas died in the defensive war against a mighty aggressor, professing to be the world’s largest democracy, she stated.

“To this day, it baffles one to think that India, the largest democracy, would do such a thing that is completely antithetical to the democracy she professes. This antithetical action of India upon Nagaland belittles the very principles of democracy; it is the rape of the right of sovereign nations,” she went on to state.

She pointed out that India has legitimate rights to claim Pakistan and Bangladesh, which were historically, racially and culturally part of it, but did not do so as it had legitimately became nations by its own right.

“However, to claim Nagaland which never had any political, cultural, racial or historical relation with India as part of India is a shameful act,” she said.

The NNC president claimed that it is comparable to a “narcissistic delusional man claiming that all the islands in the ocean belong to him and then throwing a party in one of the Islands by inviting his acquaintances despite the protest of the inhabitants of the Island”.

She added that it is exactly what happened as recently as a few weeks ago with a chapter of the G20 summit being held at Kohima in Nagaland.

Meanwhile, NNC President alleged that ‘India continues to illegally occupy our beloved country and toys and tests our peaceable patience while making Nagaland her geopolitical playground’.

“If India in particular, and the world in general, cannot see the truth and take it for what it is, then the rights of all sovereign nations are at peril from the likes of bullying larger nations like India,” she said, maintaining that Nagas cannot afford to shy away even if they have to face a juggernaut with all its perplexities.

“In situations and circumstances like these, where we may have to stand alone for our sovereign nation that we hold dear, the Plebiscite of 1951 must be upheld even more strongly with an indomitable spirit of patriotism, which we Nagas do not lack,” she added.

Meanwhile, Sano Vamuzo in her speech lamented over “divided Nagas” and appealed to the people not to blame one another but “remain in God”. 

The programme was chaired by Kolezo Chase, CEC-cum- Spokesperson NNC, while Rev. Phomlee Van, Pastor of Kohima Phom Baptist Church (KPBC) read out a scripture and offered prayers.