United Nations Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities
Forty-seventh session.
Oral statement delivered by the Society for Threatened
Peoples on Agenda item 6.
August 1, 1995
Mr. Isak Chishi Swu
Chairman of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland
Respected Mr. Chairman, distinguished members of the Sub-Commission,
I am profoundly grateful to you for this precious moment allotted to me. I am taking my stand here once again as a delegate from the Society for Threatened Peoples, Germany, and on behalf of my people, to present the case of my nation and the suffering to which my Naga people have been subjected over the decades. The suppression of the Nagas and the occupation of our homeland is the issue to which I need to draw the kind attention of the Sub-Commission.
The occupation of free Nagaland by the Indian and Burmese armed forces, in complete violation of the Naga nationhood, and the stubborn resistance put up by the Naga people, have lasted for 47 years. To understand the nature of the human rights situation on Nagaland, I wish to briefly refer to the cause of the
conflict between India and Nagaland and our desire to bring about a peaceful solution.
Nagaland lies in between India, China and Burma. Nagas are a distinct Mongoloid race who migrated to the present Naga inhabited compact areas from the east, some thousand years ago. We are the first settlers of the land. The size of the area is approximately 47,000 square miles with a population of 3 million. Nagas as a distinct nation remained unconquered and independent from time immemorial. Only a small portion of Naga territory in the south-west entered the recorded history of the British imperialists, who occupied the area for some 66 years. (1881-1947).
But the political aspirations of the Nagas in the British occupied area for self- determination was spontaneous. A Nagaland delegation clearly told the British "Indian Statutory Commission" (January 10, 1929) and the "British Cabinet Mission" (April 9, 1946) that Nagas would become free as they had been before, when the British would leave, and the future of the Nagas could never be bound by any arbitrary decision of the British government. No recommendation would be accepted without consultation with Nagas. Consequently, Nagas refused any constitutional arrangement within India. However, after a dialogue at Kohima in June 27-29, 1947, a "Nine-Point Agreement" was negotiated between the government of India and the Nagas. According to which Nagas were to administer their affairs themselves for a period of 10 years, at the end of which Nagas should be asked to decide whether to join the Indian Union or to be free to determine their own future. But to the utter surprise of the Nagas, a few weeks after signing t
he agreement, Indian government bluntly told the Nagas that there was no agreement as such, and threatened that India would use force if Nagas would refuse to join the Indian Union.
Nagas were never shaken in their faith in the nonviolent doctrine of mahatma Gandhi and in his leadership. In Delhi, in 1947, when approached by a Naga delegation, Ghandi told them in no uncertain terms, and I quote: "Nagas have every right to be independent. We did not want to live under the domination of the British and they are now leaving us... ...I believe in the brotherhood of man.
But I do not believe in force and forced union. If you do not wish to join the Union of India, nobody will force you to do that. The Congress Government will not do that" unquote. But unfortunately Ghandi was assassinated before very long. According to plans and preparations, Naga independence was declared on the 14 August 1947, that is, one day before India became independent. The government of India and the United Nations Organization (UNO) were informed of the Naga decision by cable to which UNO was kind enough to send an acknowledgement of receipt. The non-acceptance by Nagas of the Indian constitution, was also conveyed to the Indian government, the UNO and to all the Embassies in Delhi on January 24, 1950 in lucid language: "Nagas do not accept the Indian constitution." On May 16, 1951 a plebiscite on the issue of Naga independence was held to disprove the Indian claim that the cry for independence of Nagaland was only be a few educated people. The Indian government was also invited to witness the hold
ing. The result of the plebiscite was 99.9% in favour of an independent Nagaland state and this was promptly conveyed to India and the UNO. Indian general elections were boycotted. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, made a clear statement in parliament on August 7, 1952 and I quote, "we want no people in the territory of India against their will and with the help of armed forces... ...we want no forced marriages or forced unions. This great Republic of India is a free, friendly and affectionate union of the states of India" unquote. Nehru also declared on September 17, 1953 "whether it is Kashmir or any other part we are not going to hold it by the strength of arms..." But Nehru betrayed his own words when confronted with the reality that Nagas refused to join the union. There upon India sent thousands of her armed forces and occupied Naga territory in the early part of 1954. Armed forces were given full power to deal with the situation.
A shoot-at-sight order was issued. Indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians started. Thousands were beaten up and imprisoned. Hundreds of villages were burnt down, grain was destroyed, women were raped. The whole population was driven into jungles and herded into concentration camps. Thousands died of starvation, disease and torture. As a result 150,000 died within ten years (1954-1964).
Nagas were completely disillusioned with the Indian policy. They proudly stood up to resist the invasion with all means at their disposal. Fierce fighting went on for 10 years but with no favourable change for India. Out of desperation some Naga officials in the pay of the Indian government were made to form a party, conferring semblance of legitimacy, and installed a puppet government in 1963 maintained by force with 200,000 troops. Sham elections were organized and then it was announced that Nagas had accepted the Indian onstitution. But, instead, Naga people condemned it. Bitter fighting continued until today, that is, for 41 years.
On the first of April 1995, Nagaland was declared once again a "Disturbed Area" and along with that 50,000 special troops have been dispatched to reinforce the 200,000 occupation forces already there. Simultaneously, the Burmese junta is stepping up its operation in the east in a joint attempt with the Indian armed forces to crush the Nagas. The desire of India and Burma for a military solution is thus relentless. Notwithstanding these pressures, Nagas are rising ever stronger under the leadership of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).
From the above it is clear the Nagaland's independence is not an issue of separation or secession as stated by the Indian government. For the question of secession or separation arises only when there is or there has existed a union. But the Nagas, as was stated above, did not participate in the union of India or Burma since the time of their formation. Besides, Nagas were never subjugated by India and Burma until today. Therefore, ours is a clear case of resistance against the invasion and occupation by India and Burma.
In the last three years, more than 1,000 innocent Nagas have been killed. Over hundred villages were incinerated; thousands of people are uprooted and homeless. Indiscriminate killing continues with impunity. Regard for human rights is non existent. No fact-finding mission has ever been allowed to visit the region by India. Indian troops are deployed elsewhere in the Indian subcontinent. Killing of civilians never stops in Kashmir, Khalistan, Uttarakhand, in the central parts and in the so called north-east. Thus the continuous Indian state terrorism is crystal clear which deserves international condemnation.
In conclusion, we stand for non-violence and peaceful solution. But India and Burma stubbornly seek a violent military solution and this has been the crux of the problem right from its inception. Human rights violations are a direct consequence of this. The pertinent question is: "Will the international community allow India and Burma to continue to exterminate the Naga nation and its right to self-determination?" Our nationhood and right to self- determination is inalienable and non-negotiable. On behalf of my 3 million Naga people I have come out to earnestly appeal to the United Nations to intervene in India and Burma so that peace and justice may prevail in this part of the world. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland, on their part, is ready to work with the UN and other organizations in order to find a peaceful resolution of the situation.
I am also appealing for the second time to the Sub-commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, to send a fact-finding mission to Nagaland to see for itself what is taking place there.
Thank you so much Mr. Chairperson.
