The attention of the NNC/FGN is drawn to the statements of Dr. S.C. Jamir on seeking for an early settlement to the Naga Issue at a press conference held by him recently. While not doubting his desire for an early solution, his reasons and approaches are may be far from trustworthy. One is made to wonder if this is his last-ditch attempt to salvage his fast-fading political image or to try to surrender the rights of the Nagas to live as free people once again. As claimed by him, he is as free as anyone else to express his thoughts and meet anyone of his choice.
However, if his views negate or undermine the aspiration and values of the Naga people, they must be examined critically by all the right-thinking Nagas.
This is all the more imperative in his case since he is responsible for much division, violence and bloodshed in the history of the Nagas.
He claims to speak for the Nagas but judging from history, his loyalty to the Naga people is certainly doubtful. Modern Naga history and identity are shaped largely by the desire of the Naga people to live as free and one people.
However, he is known in Naga history for conspiring with the adversaries to obliterate this desire of the Naga people. He projected himself as a pro-Indian who championed the interest of the Indian state. His rise to political leadership was not by advancing the interest and cause of the Naga people but by pleasing and serving the Indian state through an oath in the name of the God. The modern independent India, following the footstep of its former colonial Raj, has been holding hostage the right of the Nagas to self-determine our own future.
Right from his early political career to his hey-day at the helm of power, he was averse to the idea of seeking solution to the Naga freedom struggle through peaceful and democratic dialogue. He went so far as to even sabotage a possible meeting between Nehru and Phizo to find a peaceful solution.
As a Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he wrote to the then Chief Executive Councilor of Nagaland, Mr. P. Shilu Ao, the first Chief Minister of Nagaland (dated the 22nd March 1963), “Uncle Shilu, what is that the Prime
Minister is talking about of meeting Phizo, a terrorist? If his meeting with Phizo becomes a reality then I will come back home packing my bedding.” What more evidence do we need to expose his true political color? Yesterday, Phizo was labeled by him as terrorist. Today, the Naga political groups are extortionists to him.
Dr. Jamir is right when he stresses that there are numerous Naga political groups today. This is an undeniable fact. However, can he sincerely deny that he absolutely has no hand in dividing our people, especially our freedom fighters?
Anyone who has sufficient familiarity with our freedom movement knows that he is not innocent. Again, it must be noted that the Naga Peoples Convention (NPC) was responsible for sowing the first seed of political division in Naga society. It was formed and convened under the supervision of Indian Intelligence Agency to undo the voluntary Naga Plebiscite of 1951 where 99.9% voted in favour of Naga Sovereignty. What has been sought through Naga sweat and blood was hijacked through ignoble means, through the betrayal signing of the 16th Point Agreement that sought to trade off the rights of the Naga people.
Nagaland state was born and the Naga homeland got divided. Much division and distrust (including tribalism and regionalism) exist within the Naga family today because of this divisive agreement with the Indian state. Even if he has forgotten all this, history will not. Decades after pioneering the division of Naga homeland through creation of the Nagaland state, he seems to be taking much pride in saying that Durga Puja is celebrated supposedly by the Naga Christians in the state of Nagaland. As an Indian politician, making Nagaland “part and parcel of the Indian family” is an achievement. It certainly appears to be very important for him that these achievements are recognized by the RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat. As such, one is made to wonder if he is still trying to impress his Indian masters through misleading and inaccurate representation of the Naga Christianity.
Dr. Jamir is more than welcome to seek a solution for the Indo-Naga conflict if he truly sees himself as a Naga and Christian. All we ask is that he does it in a way that is true, just and honorable. If we just look back at our recent historical memory, he was found colliding with the Indian agencies to undo the mandate of the Naga people: the NPC was formed solely to challenge and replace the Naga Plebiscite of 1951. In the past, he thrived, just like the vultures, in his political career amidst the violence and bloodshed in the Naga homeland. When was the last time he truly represented the rights of the Naga people? What is he up to again now, perhaps, forgetting his advancing age, that he has suddenly taken interest in the Naga issue?
Zhopra Vero
Kedahge, NNC/FGN
Wednesday, September 16, 2026