Nagas urged to focus on sovereign state
Source: Chronicle News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, May 18 2025: Senior NSCN-IM leader Rh Raising has urged the Nagas to focus on sovereign state and not on dependent state while reminding that the Naga nation comes from the Naga foundation.

The history, political concept, identity, culture and sovereign state of the Nagas came from Naga foundation, which if betrayed or murdered will see Nagas perishing, stated Raising during the Naga Plebiscite Day observed in Ukhrul on May 16 to commemorate the Naga plebiscite of 1951 .

Nagas urged to focus on sovereign state

Addressing the gathering at the event organised by All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and participated by leaders of United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women Union (NWU), NPMHR and other Naga organisations, Rh Raising said the Nagas were living free and independent until the interruption and occupation by the British.

On the eve of the departure of the British, the Naga people declared their independence on August 14, 1947 .

The Nagas were then invited to join the Union of India but the Naga National Council (NNC) under the leadership of AZ Phizo rejected.

A plebiscite conducted on May 16, 1951 reaffirmed that decision, with the public mandate conveyed to the United Nations and many countries through their embassies in Delhi.

Contrary to the democratic method, the Government of India tried to subdue the Nagas through military might but to no avail.

The military actions rather created a horrible human rights situation in Nagalim, which drew the attention of the world, the NSCN-IM leader said, adding that under its ugly colonial policy, the Government of India imposed the so-called 16 Point Agreement in 1963 in the stolen name of Naga people's convention.

However, the Naga people rejected the agreement.

In its incessant attempts to murder the Naga political issue, the Government of India dictated the infamous Shillong Accord in 1975, also rejected outright and condemned by the Naga National Assembly under the leadership of Isak Chishi Swu and Th Muivah.

"That historic decision saved the future of the Nagas once again.

The Nagas see no future in those accords of treason," he added.

Raising said that after 40 years of confrontations punctuated with negotiations, the Government of India and NSCN-IM signed the Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015.This agreement stopped fighting, killing, horrible army atrocities and violations of human rights in Nagalim.

It has turned armed confrontation into political negotiation, guerrilla warfare into mass warfare and enemies into friends.

The Framework Agreement will certainly protect the sovereign right of the Nagas and security interest of India.

Through this agreement, the Nagas will view India as partner and vice versa and will even bring the two people closer for a greater and higher cause, he said, calling the agreement bridge between the two people.

Speaking on the occasion, ANSAM president Th Angteshang Maring highlighted that the August 14, 1947 independence declaration, rejection of the Panglong Agreement of 1947 and the May 16, 1951 Plebiscite for Nagalim independence represents Nagas' unique history and national principle on sovereignty.

This historic day demonstrated that Nagalim was never a part of India or Myanmar (erstwhile Burma) either by consent or by conquest and is one of the key foundations for Naga freedom, the ANSAM leader said.

According to Angteshang Maring, two important agreements have been signed between GoI and NSCN, which officially recognised Nagas' unique history and sovereignty and strengthen the significance of observing May 16,1951 Plebiscite Day.

One of them is the Amsterdam Joint Communique of July 11, 2002, which recognises Nagas' unique history and situations and the other the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 signed on the foundation of sovereignty.

The Framework Agreement recognises the sovereignty of Nagas as agreed to enter a new relationship of the two entities based on 'Shared Sovereignty', the ANSAM president added.