DIMAPUR, AUGUST 29 (MExN): The Angami Public Organization (APO) the apex tribal organization of the Angami Nagas has taken the resolute stand to end what it termed as the “madness of violence and gun culture”. The APO in a press note issued by President Mhiesizokho Zinyu, Secretary (Administration) Ruokuoheu Miachieo and Finance Secretary Kho-O Pfukha appealed to all Naga political groups to exercise restraints so as to provide opportunities for dialogue and restore peace in the land.
“We have a great theme and a great goal: freedom and liberty. We must free Nagaland from the tyranny of violence, hate and tribe prejudice which weakens our strength and rob us of our freedom”, the APO stated adding that the hope and aspiration is for a free Nagaland where all men walk with their heads held high in dignity and brotherhood.
The APO stated that it will fight in its own capacity for freedom from hate and bitterness, freedom from violence and killing, freedom from fear and threat and freedom from hunger.
“Our revolutionary goal is big enough to include every Naga. What is important for us is not the name of our tribe or the dialect we speak, but the goal we all pursue together though all men may not have the same capacity or ability”, the APO stated.
The APO further stated that during the last six decades of armed struggle, the Angami community had “borne the brunt of fury of Naga nationalism”. “Many Angami leaders, young and old, fell victims to the gun culture as martyrs”. The APO pointed out that many people were vocal about why the Angamis should make an issue of a life attempt on a student leader only now when so much tragedy had befallen on the Angami people in the past and when many Angami leaders had been mercilessly killed. The APO however stated that “enough is enough and that this madness of violence and gun culture should no longer continue to take over the Naga conscience”.
The APO also observed that there is no dearth of high caliber of leadership among the Nagas in every political group but to set things right and to restore the “greatness of Naga brotherhood, it is equally vital that the leaders listen to their own conscience and also the voice of the people”. “Conscience has been defined as the small still voice of God in man. But it is a tragedy that we often use our pride and our brains to kill our conscience, thus stooping to the level of moral and spiritual dwarfs”, the APO observed while adding that it was for this reason that the “voice of the people is often thrashed to the ground”.
Meanwhile, while appreciating the earlier apology tendered by the Ato Kilonser of NSCN (K), Kitovi to the Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio and his family in connection with the threat hurled to the entire Rio generation by a senior NSCN (K) Kilonser Kughalu Mulatonu, the APO was of the opinion that the matter had ended there and goodwill restored. However, the APO termed as unfortunate that Mr Mulatonu had again dragged the name of the Chief Minister into the picture in relation to the recent incident on August 16 in which an errant cadre made an attempt on the life the former ASU President. “This occurred when other Kilonsers were seeking a solution to the unfortunate episode”, the APO stated and pointing out that dragging the name of the CM into every controversy just because he is an Angami was unbecoming of a leader. “Drawing an equation of events to justify the crime perpetrated by an errant cadre and thereby venting the grudges against a democratically elected leader of the State is irrelevant and uncalled for”, the APO stated adding that to hate someone on the ground of his race or continually harboring malice towards a tribe is not a healthy trend. “Indeed, it is sheer madness to go on quarrelling on tribal lines”.
The APO has nevertheless appreciated the maturity, wisdom and humility exercised by the official representatives of the NSCN (K) in resolving the differences and working out a solution in the case of the bid on the life of the ASU leader by an errant cadre on August 16, 2007. “The outcome of the dialogue bears evidence that the Nagas have a way to try and to resolve the perplexed issues, though either side might have been wronged”, the APO stated.
