Former All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) chief who reigned the longest tenure in the association talks to Newmai News Network on his political inning.
Newmai News Network: Mr. Kho John, just a month back you have resigned from the post of Tribunal General (ANSAM). You have also retired from the All Tribal Students Union,Manipur (ATSUM) incumbent as well. So what is your next move?
Kho John: I don’t have any specific reason for my resignation - I have been in the students activities for almost 15 to 18 years and I just feel that now our juniors can fill up our places and continue the service for the people. We seniors can always remain well wishers and extend out supports to them if need be.
NNN: What about politics? There has been a lot of news that you are also one of the intending candidates from 48/ Mao Assembly Constituency for the ensuing 9th Manipur Assembly election?
Kho John: Yes it is true. Since the Nagas, particularly in Manipur are in very crucial juncture with the ongoing peace process and the Naga integration issue at hand. I strongly feel that the Nagas from the ‘south’ have made a great blunder on relying on the usual politicians during all this 10 (ten) years of cease -fire period, and time is also running out. Unless the democratically elected representatives play pro-active roles in the present peace process things may not be in grim picture.
Therefore, if the Nagas understood the importance of the present situation, I wish to offer myself as a candidate representing the people of 48/ Mao Assembly constituency in the ensuing 9th Manipur Assembly election, not merely for the sake of becoming and an MLA but to fight for the cause.
NNN: So you have already taken the decision to be in the fray?
Kho John: Yes I have already expressed my conviction and intention to my fellow villagers and to my people and to all my civil society leaders for their moral and prayer supports.
NNN: There has been a lot of rumours that most Naga candidates are contesting as independent candidates. So what have you decided? On what party ticket?
Kho John: I will take the final decision in consultation with the Naga civil society leaders, particularly the advice of the United Naga Council (UNC) since this time the election is going to be on issue based.
NNN: What is your objective/ vision or what exactly is your manifesto as a candidate?
Kho John: The four points objectives of the United Naga Council (UNC) are important to uphold
1) For unification of all Naga Home land.
2) To mobilize the peoples’ fullest support to the on going Indo-Naga political dialogue for an honourable solution.
3) To provide leadership to society in nation building
4) To promote the common interest of all ethnic communities in the state.
Beside these points my main concern is despite the best efforts give by the social organizations and the general public in carrying forward the peace process There has been a total lack of initiatives and participation openly from the democratically elected representatives of Nagas which tend to give a negative signal to New Delhi and the International agencies, therefore to politically avoid all this disadvantages, the Naga people most elect a good team of Naga legislatures to boldly voice with the Naga people be it in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland to achieve our political aspiration. To mobilize such initiatives would be my main objectives besides UNC define objectives.
NNN: When you initiate such mobilization, will it not appear to the state as anti-state or anti- constitutional (once you become an elected legislature)?
Kho John: By now the whole world knows it and that the Naga people struggle is a political movement. More than half a century struggle of the Naga people is a well known fact. It has been also recognized as the longest struggling movement in the South East Asian Region. Therefore, it is in fact, a bounden duty of a democratically elected representatives to tell New-Delhi and to the world as an elected representatives.
NNN: Do you expect any reaction from the other communities as you are been known to them
Kho John: They (Meitei friends) may not be happy, but the Naga political situation is a reality. I have been mingling with most of the Meitei civil society leaders and to me they are well understood except for a handful of people. But of course-sometime, it all matters on how we approach. It is very essential that we talk frankly to each other for better understanding. After all this world is all about give and take.
