Dimapur, December 30 (MExN): Frontal civil organizations of the Sumi Naga community today put up a united front for immediately withdraw the caution issued against the vice president of the Sumi Hoho saying that no “govt” or “faction” is above the people. The organizations issued separate statements today reacting sharply to the NSCN-Khaplang issuing caution to Sumi leader Kitoho S Rotokha recently.
The organizations strongly reminded that in a democracy, no government or ‘faction’ is above the people. Civil society leaders are very much mandated by the public to speak for the civil masses and it is time that the underground factions stop harassing and targeting the people or their civil leaders, said the statements from the Western Sumi Youth Front (WSYF), Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) and Western Sumi Kukami Hoho (WSKH), received here today.
The WSYF has flayed the warning served against Kitoho Rotokha by the NSCN (K) calling it “unwarranted” and has asked the group to withdraw the statement immediately without any condition. In a statement from its leadership, the WSYF has asked the warring factions “to stop harassing and targeting the people particularly the office bearers of tribal hohos for playing the mediator’s role between the factions.”
The civil leaders are bound to approach any faction in the interest of the people, the WSYF reminded, and such activity should not be considered as being in favor of any particular underground faction. “No government or faction is above the people as per democracy norms. Serving the nation is serving the people, therefore, serving caution notices and warning against the people is contrary to their own ideology.”
The WSYF also asked the “NSCN (K)” to recollect humanitarian deeds done in its favor by Rotokha himself during the release of one Hemail Sumi, an NSCN (K) cadre, from the custody of the GPRN/NSCN at Khehoi Camp on October 8. “During that goodwill mission Mr. Kitoho Rotokha had represented the Sumi Hoho and not the NSCN (K). However, he was accused of representing the NSCN (K) by the GPRN/NSCN (Khehoi camp). NGO leaders are mercilessly sandwiched between the hatred of the factions, which is very unbecoming and unfortunate,” the youth organization stated in anger.
The youth organization has stated that if the NSCN (K) feels that Rotokha has “gone against it anywhere anytime” as alleged, proof and evidences must be presented to the people to judge. Asking the NSCN (K) to exercise restrain from taking hasty steps, the WSYF has demanded that the NSCN (K) withdraw the warning immediately without any condition “so that goodwill would prevail between the Sumis and the NSCN (K).”
“The WSYF assures that the Sumi Hoho and all its subordinate units shall not slumber until peace and unity prevails among the different Naga factions no matter the cost,” the organization said.
The Western Sumi Kukami Hoho has also condemned the notice served against the Sumi Hoho vice president by the NSCN (K). President of the WSKH Apeto Assumi stated in a note today that Kitoho Rotokha represents the whole Sumi tribe and is working for the general interest of the Sumis and not for his personal interest or for any group or faction. “Any group or faction should not personally target an individual just because he/she represents the society,” the ‘hoho’ said.
“Any faction or group targeting an office bearer of people’s organizations should be condemned by one and all right thinking citizens as it is ultimately questioning the integrity of the society and any group cannot ask a member of an apex body to resign,” the note added.
Further, the Western Sumi Hoho has also reminded that civil leaders are mandated to speak on behalf of the people and what they speak reflects the general conscience of the people. A statement from the ‘hoho’ took strong note that in the aftermath of the factional clash at Zunheboto, the vice-president of the Sumi Hoho has been singled out and targeted. “Civil society leaders are mandated to speak on behalf of the people and whatever said or uttered in this regard reflects the general conscience of the populace,” the ‘hoho’ said. The ‘hoho’ has asked the NSCN (K) to reconsider its “cautionary approach.”
The WSH also denounced the factional killings taking place in the state. “A general consciousness is emerging which considers the society as a single organism and realizes that a society in war with itself is doomed, as violence begets violence and nothing good is achieved for the society,” the note reminded.
The organizations strongly reminded that in a democracy, no government or ‘faction’ is above the people. Civil society leaders are very much mandated by the public to speak for the civil masses and it is time that the underground factions stop harassing and targeting the people or their civil leaders, said the statements from the Western Sumi Youth Front (WSYF), Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) and Western Sumi Kukami Hoho (WSKH), received here today.
The WSYF has flayed the warning served against Kitoho Rotokha by the NSCN (K) calling it “unwarranted” and has asked the group to withdraw the statement immediately without any condition. In a statement from its leadership, the WSYF has asked the warring factions “to stop harassing and targeting the people particularly the office bearers of tribal hohos for playing the mediator’s role between the factions.”
The civil leaders are bound to approach any faction in the interest of the people, the WSYF reminded, and such activity should not be considered as being in favor of any particular underground faction. “No government or faction is above the people as per democracy norms. Serving the nation is serving the people, therefore, serving caution notices and warning against the people is contrary to their own ideology.”
The WSYF also asked the “NSCN (K)” to recollect humanitarian deeds done in its favor by Rotokha himself during the release of one Hemail Sumi, an NSCN (K) cadre, from the custody of the GPRN/NSCN at Khehoi Camp on October 8. “During that goodwill mission Mr. Kitoho Rotokha had represented the Sumi Hoho and not the NSCN (K). However, he was accused of representing the NSCN (K) by the GPRN/NSCN (Khehoi camp). NGO leaders are mercilessly sandwiched between the hatred of the factions, which is very unbecoming and unfortunate,” the youth organization stated in anger.
The youth organization has stated that if the NSCN (K) feels that Rotokha has “gone against it anywhere anytime” as alleged, proof and evidences must be presented to the people to judge. Asking the NSCN (K) to exercise restrain from taking hasty steps, the WSYF has demanded that the NSCN (K) withdraw the warning immediately without any condition “so that goodwill would prevail between the Sumis and the NSCN (K).”
“The WSYF assures that the Sumi Hoho and all its subordinate units shall not slumber until peace and unity prevails among the different Naga factions no matter the cost,” the organization said.
The Western Sumi Kukami Hoho has also condemned the notice served against the Sumi Hoho vice president by the NSCN (K). President of the WSKH Apeto Assumi stated in a note today that Kitoho Rotokha represents the whole Sumi tribe and is working for the general interest of the Sumis and not for his personal interest or for any group or faction. “Any group or faction should not personally target an individual just because he/she represents the society,” the ‘hoho’ said.
“Any faction or group targeting an office bearer of people’s organizations should be condemned by one and all right thinking citizens as it is ultimately questioning the integrity of the society and any group cannot ask a member of an apex body to resign,” the note added.
Further, the Western Sumi Hoho has also reminded that civil leaders are mandated to speak on behalf of the people and what they speak reflects the general conscience of the people. A statement from the ‘hoho’ took strong note that in the aftermath of the factional clash at Zunheboto, the vice-president of the Sumi Hoho has been singled out and targeted. “Civil society leaders are mandated to speak on behalf of the people and whatever said or uttered in this regard reflects the general conscience of the populace,” the ‘hoho’ said. The ‘hoho’ has asked the NSCN (K) to reconsider its “cautionary approach.”
The WSH also denounced the factional killings taking place in the state. “A general consciousness is emerging which considers the society as a single organism and realizes that a society in war with itself is doomed, as violence begets violence and nothing good is achieved for the society,” the note reminded.
