Nagaland: NNC/FGN rejects PTPF’s ‘no factional tax’ call

Naga National Council/Federal Government of Nagaland (NNC/FGN) has strongly reacted to the Phek Town Public Forum (PTPF) press statement titled “No more factional taxes in Phek Town”, published on January 12, in the local dailies, stating that the statement reflected a serious disregard for Naga history and the sacrifices made by the people in pursuit of a free Naga homeland.
In a rejoinder issued by midan peyu Chakhesang Region, NNC/FGN, Sekuto Shijoh, the NNC/FGN said it was appalled by PTPF’s position and maintained that the statement failed to acknowledge the patriotism and nationalism of the Naga people, particularly the Chakhesang community, as well as the immense contribution of Naga leaders and national workers. It asserted that the hardships, sufferings and sacrifices endured by national workers had been central to keeping the Naga national spirit alive.
Tracing the political history of the Nagas, NNC/FGN recalled that the NNC was formed on February 2, 1946, with the objective of determining the terms of relationship with India after British withdrawal from the sub-continent. It referred to the signing of the Nine-Point Agreement between the NNC and Assam Governor M.S. Akbar Hydari on June 26, 1947, and stated that when doubts arose over its implementation, NNC leaders met Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi on July 19, 1947. With his consent, the NNC declared Naga Independence on August 14, 1947, the statement said.
The rejoinder further recalled that after A.Z. Phizo was elected as the fourth president of the NNC in 1950, the organisation decided to conduct a voluntary referendum to demonstrate Naga aspirations before the Government of India and the international community.
The Naga Voluntary Plebiscite held on May 16, 1951, reportedly recorded 99.9 per cent support for full sovereignty, it said. NCC/FGN also highlighted the boycott of India’s first general elections in 1952 and the boycott of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit to Kohima on March 30, 1953, when he arrived with Burmese Premier U Nu to decide the Indo-Burma boundary.
According to NNC/FGN, when it became evident that the Nagas would not willingly join the Indian Union, India deployed large numbers of armed forces in Naga territories, leading to widespread suffering among the people and the persecution of NNC leaders. It said the NNC, being committed to non-violence, lacked means of defence, which led to the formation of the Federal Government of Nagaland on March 22, 1956, with a military wing, the Naga Army, to defend Naga rights. The FGN, it said, emerged from the merger of the NNC and the Hongki Government representing Eastern Nagas.
The statement reiterated the three slogans that shaped Naga nationalism– “Tax or March,” “Ten for One,” and “Our Land is Ours”– explaining that they symbolised collective responsibility, support for national workers and the defence of ancestral land.
Taking exception to PTPF’s description of all Naga political groups as “factions,” NNC/FGN asserted that it was not a faction and had never been one, stating that the NNC was a political institution of the Nagas and the FGN a government mandated by the people. It questioned whether affirmations of support to NNC principles were accompanied by concrete contributions.
The rejoinder emphasised that no nation was ready-made and that nation-building demanded sacrifice, sweat and even blood. It recalled earlier generations who valued freedom and identity and were willing to endure hardships for the cause. Questioning present attitudes, it asked whether real dreamers and contributors still existed today and cautioned against expecting miracles while withholding commitment.
Stating that thousands of national workers had continued to endure hardship to keep the Naga dream alive, the NNC/FGN called for revitalising the founding principles of the movement, asserting that no one could remain insulated from the national cause if the dream of a free Naga nation was to be realised.