NTC terms joint statement by Naga Hoho & UNC "more of intimidation, arrogance than of matured opinion"
KOHIMA, AUGUST 25 (MExN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has decried the joint statement issued by the Naga Hoho and the United Naga Council cautioning the Nagas on Naga political issue.
In a joint press statement on August 23, the Naga Hoho and UNC had cautioned any Naga elected representative, political leader, political party, un-mandated or unauthorized Naga individual or group not to attend or participate in any assembly or meeting that would sabotage the ‘Indo-Naga’ peace process.
It also declared that anyone defying the Naga political principle and its position would be treated as anti national and their entry into Naga territory would be banned.
Questioning the two organizations over the issue, the NTC through its media cell on Saturday said “issuing such questionable warning to Naga people in general by no other than UNC, a mere unit of Naga Hoho, and Naga Hoho which has been under severe test itself presently is wrongly timed.” Pertaining to jurisdiction of UNC, the NTC asserted that it is the exclusive umbrella organization of the Nagas of Manipur and has no authority over the Nagas outside of Manipur State.
It also reminded that even though Naga Hoho is supposed to be the apex organization of all the Nagas irrespective of territorial barriers, yet, ENPO is outside the purview of Naga Hoho.
Besides, members of CNTC (Central Nagaland Tribes Council) comprising of major tribes had opted out from Naga Hoho and adding to that some of those tribal Hohos remaining under Naga Hoho seemed to have distanced from active participation under the present leadership for reasons better known to them, it said.
The NTC also questioned as to what the two organizations consider a parameter by which an act of an individual or an organization is to be known as ‘sabotage’ to peace process?
Secondly, it wanted to know as what it meant by ‘un-mandated or unauthorized’ relating to pursuance of Naga political issue. Which group or which individual do they believe to be the mandated and authorized and who is/are not?
Thirdly, the NTC stated that the UNC/Naga Hoho should have lucidly defined the ‘Naga political principle’ for clarity sake and by which an act of one is considered to be the ‘defiance’ of Naga political principle.
It further sought clarity on how would the two organizations adopt mechanism to banish a defaulter (anti-national) and then enforce banning him/her from ‘entry into Naga territory’?
While pointing out that the people of Nagaland had sufficiently faced bombardments of intimidations and threats to individuals and organizations particularly from NNPGs in the past, the NTC noted that the common concern at the moment is to work out a mechanism through which everyone is taken on board towards an inclusive solution.
However, the joint statement in question is found to be more of intimidation and arrogance than of matured opinion befitting the prevailing situation. It is unbecoming of UNC and Naga Hoho to take Nagas for granted, the NTC stated.
