Dimapur, December 14 (MExN): Strongly endorsing the ‘unification’ of Naga underground factions, the Naga Hoho today declared strong support to the unification move which was initiated by the Western Sumi Hoho and a group of Naga underground leaders from both the factions on November 23 at Niuland in Dimapur.
The Naga Hoho president, I Bendangmayang, speaking at a rally organized by the Hoho at the City Tower Junction here today, said that the Naga people have been crying for unity for a long time. He said that the Nagas are one and that the Naga Hoho is working for achieving that end. He asserted that the hoho, since from 2001, has been advocating that the policy of ‘forgive and forget’ and reconciliation needs to be adopted by the Naga underground factions.
Bendangmayang said that some people might view that the Naga Hoho is against the Naga people and that it is not working for the interest of the Naga people. However, he rebuffed that opinion and said that the Naga Hoho has never committed any acts against the interest of the Naga people. In this context, the Naga Hoho president maintained that the Naga people should appreciate the unification of Naga underground factions initiated by the Western Sumi Hoho. He asserted that the people should not criticize the “unification” move since real peace cannot come in the land unless there is unity.
Naga Hoho speaker, HK Zhimomi expressed strong hope that the coming together of the two NSCN factions would be the beginning of Naga unity. Former Sumi Hoho president and present advisor, Vitokhe declared that the present “unification” move is initiated by like-minded underground leaders and not by the Sumis, as thought by the people. He said that the ‘unification’ process happened at Sumi area and that the Western Sumi Hoho is just the felicitators.
Vitokhe declared that this present ‘unification’ of Naga underground faction is a God given opportunity and the people should accept it even if it is ‘back-door or front door’ since ‘unification is only one’ and this is the last opportunity, he said.
Other prominent NGO’s like Naga Mothers Association (NMA), NPMHR, Eastern Nagaland People Union Dimapur (ENPUD), The Joint Forum of GBs and DBs, the Naga Council Dimapur spoke at the rally and they fully endorsed the unification of the Naga underground factions and pledged strong support to the unification move.
Today’s rally is surely expected to boost the morale the initiators of the ‘unification’ of Naga underground factions since a barrage of mixed response has been aired out from various quarters with some fully supporting the unification move, while some expression apprehension and the NSCN (IM) totally rejecting it.
NSCN (IM) Deputy Kilonser, V Horam, who was at the rally, commented that the initiative of the Naga Hoho was very good and he said that it was a good encouragement to see people coming out to express their desire for Naga unity. He said that since the all people are for peace and unification, there would be no problem to bring about Naga unity.
On being asked directly how far the recent unification move has affected the NSCN (IM), Horam confessed that the recent initiative surely would leave a bad precedent on the faction since the cadres have refused to ‘subject’ themselves to the ‘Government’. However, Horam termed the apparent crisis in the NSCN (IM) as an internal matter which will be resolved very soon.
He said that the NSCN (IM) has not declared its leaders and cadres who have joined the ‘unification team’ as deserters and that they are still holding their respective posts in the organization. Nonetheless, Horam said that the NSCN (IM) leadership has been handling the situation very carefully showing a lot of restrain and maturity in order not to aggravate the situation.
