On the recent events of ‘excommunication’ and ‘ban on the Sumi Hoho’, its president Hokishe Yepthomi said that the NSCN (IM) had “misinterpreted the action taken by the Sumi Hoho”. Explaining that almost all Sumi cadres from Hebron had come out on November 22, 2007 “declaring unification”, he clarified that the Sumi Hoho was invited only on November 27 as “witness” to the declaration of unity. The Sumi Hoho president also clarified that the so-called “excommunication order” to all Sumi cadres applied only to those who were signatories at the November 27 meeting which was chaired by the Sumi Hoho.
More importantly, the Sumi Hoho clarified that the resolution on the “excommunication order” was adopted not by the Sumi Hoho but by the undergrounds present in that meeting. “The Sumi Hoho was only a witness. Therefore the UGs should compromise and revoke it by themselves”, Yepthomi said of the “excommunication order” served on the Sumi UG cadres. The Sumi Hoho president suggested that kilo kilonser Azheto Chophy (Khehoi camp) and Q. Tuccu, senior leader at Hebron Camp should resolve the matter by themselves, pointing out that both Azheto and Q. Tuccu were signatory to the November 27 meeting.
Even otherwise, the Sumi Hoho president informed that the “excommunication order” has not been enforced till date and no action has been taken against any of those who have failed to abide by the “unity agreement”. “Q. Tuccu went back to IM while Azheto went back to Khaplang. Therefore the question of excommunication does not arise. They should revoke it by themselves”, Yepthomi said while admitting that the ‘excommunication’ has become a “dead-letter” as “we cannot take any action” either against Azheto or Q. Tuccu and their respective colleagues. The Sumi Hoho president however regretted that the Government of India did not recognize the Naga unification group citing the official recognition given to only the two groups - the NSCN (IM) and the NSCN (K).
