DIMAPUR, AUGUST 2 (MExN): Responding to the press note issued by the Zeliangrong Youth Organization (ZYO) dated July 31, 2011, the Western Sumi Youth Front (WSYF) has asserted that it was well aware that not only Zeliangrong people but other Naga people are also scattered outside Nagaland too such as in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The WSYF however reaffirmed that the entire populace of Beisumpuikam are refugees from Manipur pointing out that they had no right to come to Nagaland and create communal tensions among the Naga people. “As a proof to authenticate our claim we invite any party/group to verify the Transfer Certificate of the students from Beisumpuikam submitted to schools in and around Dhansiripar sub-division. Most of them are from schools in Manipur and Assam”, stated the press note from the WSYF issued by its President KK Zhimomi and General Secretary M Chishi.
Stating that the restraint from retaliating to the harassment meted out to the Sumis passing through Beisumpuikam should not be misconstrued as Sumis being scared, the press note pointed out that Sumis were never known to be scared of the Zeliangs and are not even now. “Therefore, rather than mocking the Sumis by saying whether or not we are scared of passing through Beisumpuikam, we want the ZYO to realize that only a handful of Sumis passes through Beisumpuikam but there are larger number of Zeliangs passing through Sumi villages everyday”, it stated while adding that “innocent Zeliang people should not be victimized for the folly of some refugees at Beisumpuikam” and that this should not be viewed as a threat but “we are trying to express the bare truth”.
Pointing out that the Sumis had a tradition of showing extreme hospitality to outsider inside their villages, the WSYF stated that the same tradition shall be applied to all the people. “The WSYF assures that not even a single person let alone a Zeliang be harassed within any Sumi village. The ZYO should rest assured that all the Zeliang people shall be escorted safely through every Sumi village. However it cautions the ZYO not to misinterpret our respect for other tribe as our meekness”.
Stating that the restraint from retaliating to the harassment meted out to the Sumis passing through Beisumpuikam should not be misconstrued as Sumis being scared, the press note pointed out that Sumis were never known to be scared of the Zeliangs and are not even now. “Therefore, rather than mocking the Sumis by saying whether or not we are scared of passing through Beisumpuikam, we want the ZYO to realize that only a handful of Sumis passes through Beisumpuikam but there are larger number of Zeliangs passing through Sumi villages everyday”, it stated while adding that “innocent Zeliang people should not be victimized for the folly of some refugees at Beisumpuikam” and that this should not be viewed as a threat but “we are trying to express the bare truth”.
Pointing out that the Sumis had a tradition of showing extreme hospitality to outsider inside their villages, the WSYF stated that the same tradition shall be applied to all the people. “The WSYF assures that not even a single person let alone a Zeliang be harassed within any Sumi village. The ZYO should rest assured that all the Zeliang people shall be escorted safely through every Sumi village. However it cautions the ZYO not to misinterpret our respect for other tribe as our meekness”.
