‘Enough is enough’

Naga groups told to stop factional violence; asked to desist the path of self-destruction

Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 28

Hundreds of people rallied today in protest against the indiscriminate firing on a Naga Students’ Federation official on June 25 in Kohima. The event was held at the Old MLA Hostel Junction and was organized by NSF, who denounced the act and condemned factional clashes.

Strongly condemning the life attempt on Kesosul Christopher Ltu, NSF Assistant General Secretary, the NSF president Tongpang Ozukum said the rally was a sign of showing resentment. He questioned the safety of the common people when even a social worker like an NSF official was targeted. 

The president declared that the NSF will fight back against any element disturbing the innocent people, and called upon all Nagas to jointly fight for justice and for a better tomorrow. Urging the public to stand united, he said “We will stand firm and stand for Nagas.” He pointed out that despite continuous appeal by civil societies to stop gunfight in populated areas, the president lamented that clashes among cadres continued.

Former NSF general secretary K. Inaka Assumi reminded the cadres of the factions that political struggle is not for area domination or taxation and asked them to stop divisions and groupisms. He said that if they really want to work for the public, they should strive for a violence free and peaceful society. He said no solution would be resolved with violence, adding that targeting and harming innocents is a crime. 

Expressing solidarity, Angami Public Organization president Keneingunyu Sekhose said “Enough is enough.” He called upon the people to rise up and work together for peaceful co-existence. Naga Mothers’ Association vice president Sarah Nuh also strongly voiced “No more tear, shed no blood anymore.” The NMA representative stated that any kind of violence is not acceptable. 

She called upon all factions to desist the path of self destruction and said, “If these factional killings continue, the entire Naga society will perish.” She said that Naga people do not want freedom by losing their husbands, sons, brothers and relatives in the hand of Naga freedom fighters.

Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights representative Kenneth condemned the “senseless, materialistic and inhumane action of some cadres of national workers, who have lost humanity to kill any human without hesitation.” He appealed to all groups to shun inter-factional clashes.

Eastern Naga Students’ Federation president Likhumse Sangtam said that due to inter-factional clash among the national workers, the Naga political rights and identity is in peril. He added that Nagas have not given their mandate to the national workers to kill their brothers. 

Also strongly condemning the incident, the Angami Youth Organization president Medo Yhokha said that it will stand to protect the citizens of Kohima and called upon the youth and the citizens to stand up and get ready for any eventuality. Yhokha called upon the NSF and other civil societies to take the inter-factional clash as ‘national emergency’ and deal with it immediately. 

Placards displayed at the rally read: “Don’t try to divide the Nagas anymore,” “Stop killing innocent people,” “Stop harassing people,” “Are you here to protect us or kill us,” “Voice of the people mightier than guns and bombs,” and “Enough is enough.”