Acknowledges division, asserts its role
Dimapur, May 14 (MExN): The Naga Hoho has reiterated its call for unity and reconciliation among the Nagas, stating the need to unite and put their heads together to work for the common goal.
In a statement, it highlighted that the Naga Hoho has been working persistently for unity and reconciliation in line with all compatible organisations and facilitating the peace process for an early Indo-Naga political settlement over the years.
Successive leadership had contributed to strengthening the peace process; however, the solution has been delayed thus far due to various reasons best known to the negotiating parties, it noted.
The Naga Hoho also expressed regret that the Naga people are busy "framing diverse opinions" with state-centric and regional interests, coupled with unity and political solutions, though it has been persistently appealing for unity and reconciliation to strengthen negotiations for an acceptable solution.
Accordingly, it contended that the Naga people themselves have destroyed the fabric of Indo-Naga political talks, thus serving the ‘interests’ of adversaries.
It also acknowledged that tribes from Nagaland state have been dissociated from the Naga Hoho for different reasons at different times, but asserted that nobody can claim there is “no legality or existence of the Naga Hoho because there is no representative from Nagaland state.”
As a result, the Naga Hoho has been functioning with the majority units and representatives from Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh, but there is still support from the people of Nagaland, it asserted.
It further stated that every organisation functions with its own objectives and guiding principles. In this context, it noted that the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC), which identifies itself as the apex body of Nagaland, is the same as the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC), with an affiliation comprising only three tribes.
However, the Naga Hoho highlighted that it never questioned the legitimacy or activities of the NTC, as both bodies have distinct perspectives and approaches toward addressing the Indo-Naga political issue.
Accordingly, while underscoring that it is not in its interest to highlight internal differences publicly, the Naga Hoho expressed disheartenment over what it termed as “own Naga brethren laughing at each other with a sense of fulfilment when Indian agencies and reporters castigate our own political groups and civil organisations.”
“The Naga Hoho shall never be one to indulge in petty issues and politicking against any Naga organisation, and we expect others to reciprocate in the same manner,” it added.
In this backdrop, the Naga Hoho also clarified its role and activities in the interest of the Naga people, pointing out that it was formed by the Naga people on the foundation of tribal Hohos, with the objective to uphold “solidarity, rebuild the Naga family to facilitate the settlement of the Naga issue, protect the Naga system and tradition, and promote social, cultural, economic, and political heritage” during its session on March 11 and 12, 1998, at Zunheboto.
Since then, the Naga Hoho has played an immense role in resolving conflict situations among different Naga political groups and expedited the peace process between the Government of India and the NSCN, it maintained.
The Naga Hoho believed that any settlement should be inclusive of all NPGs and played the role of a facilitator, undertaking various efforts to support the process, though it was not a direct party to the peace talks, it added.
As a facilitator, all the credit goes to the Naga Hoho leaders for the reconciliation process among the Naga people, despite the unexplainable tragedies of Naga-on-Naga violence that could have derailed peace talks with the GoI, it maintained.
The Naga Hoho burned the midnight oil to ensure the safety of all Nagas, irrespective of their tribes, councils, or regions, bringing them into one Naga unity, it added.
Thus, contending that the strength of the Naga Hoho is derived from the strength of the tribal Hohos, it stated that the Naga Hoho tribes should play a “meaningful role in strengthening the Naga Hoho, particularly in their effort toward reconciliation without boundaries."
In this connection, the Naga Hoho, the apex body of civil organisations, has urged “all the tribe leaders from the Nagas of Nagaland to join the Naga Hoho and seek the Naga political problem based on the ‘contemporary realities’” and work selflessly toward bringing about peace and unity among the Nagas, irrespective of location.
“It is time for all the Nagas to unite and put our heads together to work for the common goal,” it added.
The Naga Hoho viewed that the reconciliation process among the NPGs has “not only to put a halt to fratricidal killings and unwarranted situations but also to resolve the Indo-Naga political problem with ceaseless joint efforts.”
