'No Hills Tax Payment' martyrs remembered
Source: Hueiyen News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, August 27 2015: Tangkhul Civil Society Organizations on Thursday observed the Martyrs Day at TNL Office to commemorate the supreme sacrifices of Asiisii Hepuni, Mahriili Lorhrii and Modo Kholi who laid down their precious lives for the cause of "No Hills Tax Payment" movement at Mao on 27 August 1948 .

In his welcome address, TNL President V Weapon Zimik hailed the spirit of the three martyrs who sacrificed their precious lives at the hands of Indian security forces for the cause of the Naga Integration.

Speaking at the gathering, three former TNL Presidents P Peter, Ngalengai Ramsan and Vakham Zimik took it in turns to relate their personal experiences and accounts of the geneses of "No Hills Tax Payment" as part of Naga Movement.

Ramsan recalled that when the Britishers left in 1948, such places like Mao, Kohima, and parts of Manipur etc were independent princely state and around that time the "No Hills Tax Payment" movement emerged when the Indian Administration tried to forcibly merge Mao into Manipur state to bring them under Indian Union.

This led to the loss of three precious lives of Asiisii Hepuni, Mahriili Lorhrii and Modo Kholi at the hands of Indian forces in 1948 .

Peter said that while India got her Independence in 1947, the Simon Commission had alreadyrecognixed the uniqueness of the Nagas in 1929.He then added that till the year 1960, such districts as Ukhrul, Tuensang etc remained unadministered districts.

Addressing the gathering, Vakham reiterated that Nagas are a Sovereign people since time immemorial and they should remain so.

He also said thatNagas were never a part of the Merger Agreement when Manipur signed the same to join the Indian union in 1946-47 .

During the programme a 2-minute silence was observed in honour of the three martyrs.

The day's programme which was organized by Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) under the aegis of United Naga Council (UNC) was attended by representatives from Ato, Aze, Zingsho and Zingtun Longphangs and public leaders of the district.

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