Statement of solidarity
Naga International Support Center
Amsterdam, March 15 2005

The Naga International Support Center supports the formation of an alliance among the oppressed peoples of India that stands for their right to self determination. In the quest for freedom and the right to self determination, put heads and intellect together to find solutions to problems you share, for you all face the same adversary, the same oppressor. All share the same goal: to achieve Freedom and Justice.

In the brief existence of India as an independent nation, there has been much blood-shed and human suffering. This blood was not spilled by any outside force, but due to the force the Indian state uses against the minority religious, ethnic, cultural and tribal peoples, all of which have been under Indian rule since the end of the British colonial era in the mid 20th century.

Numerous freedom struggles have been waged against the Indian state since 1947. Most of these have been in the north eastern regions of then Assam, Nagaland, not the state that was only formed in 1963 but the Naga Homeland that extends into Burma, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and in the north western regions of Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir. Coincidentally, it is these two extreme edges of the Indian state that differ most from the Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan heartland of India.

The armed struggle for freedom has been waged by the Naga peoples since the 1950's. The Punjabi Sikhs took up arms in 1984 and the Kashmiri Muslims in 1989. Violence is not a means in itself to justify or achieve a desired end, but self-defence is a right of every nation, and of every human being. The United Nations charter on human rights guarantees a people the right to self-determination as a fundamental human right. It has been quite clear from past history that the Nagas, the peoples in the Northeast, the Kashmiris and the Punjabi Sikhs are not satisfied with the Indian state, and desire that the basic human right to self-determination be implemented. India, a country which claims to be the "World's Largest Democracy" has flat out refused that right to the people. Instead, the Indian government resorted to ruthless oppression and is brutal to all those who act on truth justice and freedom. Unlawful arrest, torture, rape and execution are common in Punjab, Kashmir, and the Naga Homeland. The Indian government applies these same methods to all those in Jammu, Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Phradesh and others who exercise their righteous demand for justice and their right to self determination.

Due to recognition of India as a democratic nation, all those who defy are seen as causing problems that are domestic in nature. The international community has largely ignored the plight of all those peoples who continue to suffer under an often brutal subjugation. The truth of the matter is that the situation is not domestic, but is a struggle of indigenous people distinct from India who would otherwise be independent except for the interference and decisions of the post-colonial British Empire that are mistakenly viewed as domestic. Even though it is based on false premise this mistaken view is encouraged by the Government of India and has become ingrained into the international perception.

Who then can the peoples who seek self determination turn to for support?

Because both the blood of the peoples has been spilled and the minds corrupted for too long, the subjugated indigenous peoples of India must turn to each other. These peoples can no longer stand alone and hope to rely on the international community to come to their rescue. They must join together in solidarity supporting the basic human right of self-determination to make their voice heard.

The Naga International Support Center supports the formation of an alliance among the indigenous peoples of India that stands for their right to self determination. NISC encourages these peoples to come together using intellect and creativity to find solutions to problems they share. They all face one common adversary, and a common oppressor - The Indian government. They all share a common goal - Justice and Liberation.

NISC pledges solidarity to and encourages solidarity among the Nagas and the freedom seeking peoples of the northeast, the Kashmiris, and the Sikhs, these the oppressed peoples in India. NISC promotes the concept of forming a joint and common working relationship to design ways and means to peacefully achieve self determination. On the issues of human rights, cultural preservation, economic stability and integrated development, NISC will stand strong with this purposeful alliance among indigenous peoples in India.