Former ‘captain’ of NNC, Sanguto Chase has observed that any agreement that left out the issue of sovereignty of the Nagas would not bring a lasting solution to the protracted Naga political problem.
Interacting with media persons at his residence here over his recently released book “The Battles We Fought – Indo-Naga War, A few exploits of the Naga Army in the Naga National defence”, Chase warned that if sovereignty was compromised, another turmoil could recur in future. He, therefore suggested that even though it was taking time, the solution should be lasting and sovereignty should not be compromised.
He also asked that when the Government of India had recognised the rights and uniqueness of the Nagas, why sovereignty should be compromised.
Chase alleged that though a ceasefire was signed in 1964, New Delhi was not serious about addressing the issue of Naga sovereignty.
He claimed that, “owing to national responsibility”, he chose to join the Naga struggle on October 17, 1963 after completing class VIII.
The former NNC leader started writing his book in 2011. It was released here on September 22 by former ‘general’ Thinoselie M Keyho.
Chase explained that his main intention in writing the book was to pass down the history of the Naga struggles to future generations.
He said, if the story was not recorded, it would fade and might even disappear altogether, even as he recalled how Naga Army personnel had undergone gruelling hardships for the sake of safeguarding the Naga national interest.
“In fact, our Naga national cause attained this profound level of credibility due to the Naga Army’s selfless sacrifices, its untold endurance and tenacity beyond compare,” he claimed.
In his book, Chase mentioned how a certain section of “our people who were not at all in the picture to begin with; who had not lifted even a single finger of support when the goings were tough and thick, have now come in and are trying desperately to steal the limelight; as if they had steered our movement successfully and single-handedly to this lofty position – most by default; to the cruel intent of crowding out the actual heroes and martyrs; so you must surely write down and bring out the Fact File”.
He said, if the very little that remained now were not kept duly recorded, posterity would be “poorer at the costly loss of national interest”.
The former NNC veteran also narrated stories of the trips to the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), some of which turned out to be very arduous, besides one to China that was very tough.
Out of all the foreign trips undertaken by Naga Army personnel, Chase noted that the second batch to China in 1967-1969 under ‘general’ Mowu Gwizantsu encountered the maximum number of hurdles.
He said this batch took two months and 13 days to reach China on February 13, 1968, adding that the sheer distance and physical elements were not the only factors that that had to be tackled by the men on this leg of the journey.
The 75-year-old former captain said a total of eight months were spent by the Naga Army personnel in getting trained in various disciplines, including handling of weapons, wireless, medical, artillery, motor vehicle driving, mechanics, etc.
Chase recalled that upon their arrival in China, they learnt that then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Burmese counterpart General Ne-Win had reached an agreement in Rangoon in April, 1968 whereby Ne-Win had agreed to not allow a single soldier of the second batch of Naga Army who were in China to return to Nagaland alive.
He said out of the 354 Naga soldiers, 45 died in the mission and the rest returned home.
He said some of the fiercest battles of Naga Army were with Burmese Special Forces.
Along with other Naga Army personnel, Chase said he too was imprisoned in various jails – Tihar Jail in New Delhi, Hazaribagh Central Jail in Bihar, Nagaon Central Jail and “illegal and parentless” Mawlai Special Jail, Shillong. He added they were incarcerated for eight years and two months.
After being released on May 8, 1976, Chase announced his retired and though he was later offered jobs in the armed forces and civil services, he declined the offer and resolved to live the life of a cultivator.