DIMAPUR, MARCH 17 (MExN): Several executive members of the Naga Hoho have issued a press communiqué distancing themselves from a statement made by the organization’s president, which called for concluding the Naga peace talks.
The disputed statement, titled “It’s time to wrap up Naga Peace Talk”, was released by the Naga Hoho President on February 25. According to the communiqué issued by the vice president, general secretary, speaker, and other executives, the statement contained “opinions and assertions on contentious Naga Political Issues, some of which are tantamount to imposition upon the negotiating parties.”
The executives clarified that while a Naga Hoho executive meeting had agreed on the need for a “unified approach to the Naga Political Issue paving way for a common draft that incorporates both the signed agreements for a final settlement,” there was no discussion regarding “competencies or the need to issue a public statement on them at this juncture.”
Further, they asserted that the statement was issued “without any prior information or notice with any of the core members of the executives.” They also noted that this was not the first instance of “such unilateral public statements.”
The executives stated that the president had been advised—both informally and formally—to retract the statement as a personal opinion rather than an official stance of the Naga Hoho. However, “he has failed to do so,” they said.
As a result, the signatories declared that they were “compelled to disown the Press Statement ‘It’s time to wrap up Naga Peace Talk’ as a personal opinion of the President and not the collective position of the Naga Hoho.”
The executives further affirmed that they would remain “subservient to and abide by the decision handed out by the Naga Hoho Federal Assembly to be convened shortly” and would not engage in any public debate through the press or social media regarding the issue.
The communiqué was signed by Vice President David Boyes, General Secretary Atoho K Kiho, Speaker Pauheu Newme, along with Information and Publicity Secretary SP Raili, Finance Secretary Vikugha Phucho, and Joint Secretary Komral Longphi.
