Adino Phizo: Nagaland is not for sale. Instead of meeting the genuine Naga representatives and find out what the Naga people think of India, he confined his visit to meeting the converted and cheer crowds transported from Manipur state. My people told me that the visit is seen by the vast majority of the Naga people as nothing more than rewarding the current puppet state government for accommodating BJP — the Hindu nationalist party who for one moment could not have imagined to set foot in Nagaland.

From the outset of bringing together the Naga people, our leader A.Z. Phizo emphasised our unique history. He was the author of modern Nagaland so his authority on the subject could not be challenged by the Indian leaders as it was based on historical facts. The Nagas in the first place, did not share a common history with India, and secondly, had no treaty with foreigners, including the British imperialists, who made peace with his Khonomas’ ancestors. On Prime Minister Vajpayee’s recent visit, it will be seen as a positive step if he is sincere in what he commented on the bilateral issues during his public address in Kohima.

The informed Naga people were not aware that the Indian Prime Minister would be bringing with him any surprise package in connection with the "peace process." They are somewhat surprised and bemused at the tenacity of India that the stage-managed goings-on have not broken up! Hitherto, India’s hypocritical policy towards Nagaland is not compatible with "peace process."

It is not the first time that India tested the resolve of the Naga people by offering financial incentive to join India. The former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru sent his trusted Minister Sri Prakasa to meet the Naga leader A.Z. Phizo on 7 July1951 and offered a "blank cheque" to enter any amount for the development of Nagaland. It was not accepted and according to B.N. Mullik, Indian Intelligence Chief, the shocked Indian Prime Minister thought the Naga leader was a crank! No sensible Naga is likely to be too impressed by the recent promise of Rs. 1050 crore financial package because it smells political bribe. The opportunist Nagas will no doubt see it as BJP baksheesh but Nagaland cannot be bought.

The core issue of the Naga people is unequivocally upholding the sovereignty of Nagaland. On the question of Naga integration, NNC has been consistent with its stand on unqualified membership for the Naga people. By virtue of this, the Naga people look upon NNC as the embodiment of Naga body politic and it reflects the aspirations of the people.

"Naga integration" or "greater Nagaland" is a flowery slogans adopted by a section of political misfits to deflect from the real issue. Cheap rhetoric on peripheral issues without Naga sovereignty makes little sense. Nagaland already is an integrated nation enshrined in the Yehzabo (Constitution) of Nagaland.

The issue of "Naga integration" is simply a red herring. There can be only one solution to the conflict between the two nations and that is, the unconditional total withdrawal of Indian army and its camp followers from Nagaland. The vast majority of sensible Naga people deeply resent the unreasonable interference by a section that were not known or seen to have participated in the Naga national cause.

NNC and the Federal Government of Nagaland are totally committed to the democratic wishes of the Naga people. But sovereignty cannot be imposed on the unwilling, for instance, some Nagas from Manipur who sought-after and joined NNC in 1964 later appeared to have an identity crisis. A section of them broke away and in blatant contravention of Naga Yehzabo call themselves among others United Naga Council and NSCN (IM). Surely for them and their collaborators who now cry for "integration" is a self-contradiction.

NNC has been consistent on the issue of Naga territories arbitrarily removed ostensibly for "administrative convenience" during the British India regime in the 19th century. Naga oral tradition supported by the British survey records gives a clear historical picture of the Naga territories before and after it had been changed. Broadly speaking, the Naga territories, which now form part of the states of Assam and Manipur, were not included in the then the "Naga Hills" in order to establish a "buffer zone" for protecting the British commercial interest.