Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu addresses the meeting of Central Office Bearers of NPF on May 24. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 24
The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has urged upon the Government of India, NSCN (IM) and NNPGs to expedite the political dialogue and bring to a logical conclusion. This was resolved at the meeting of Central Office Bearers (COB) of NPF along with its special invitees in Kohima on May 24.
NPF President, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu said that in spite of many changes taking place as fast speed, one thing that remains unchanged throughout with the Nagas is the seven decade old Naga political problem. Other things may keep on changing but the Naga political problem can never change untill and unless the matter is solved with political approach and human approach, he said.
“To tackle with this problem, the past history is indispensable. Without having the knowledge of the past history, it will be a futile attempt for a young politician to solve this problem in his own perception, however highly qualified he may be, however smart and intelligent he may be. Because solution to this problem does not require new political philosophy but the political approach based on its history,” Dr Liezietsu said.
We still hold that political philosophy under the banner of NPF, passed on to us by our leaders, the only honorable way to solve the Naga problem. We are there and we will continue to be there till our goal is achieved, he said.
He said that when the NPF Party say that NPF is the only regional party representing the identity of the Naga people, those politicians (without naming any particular) become allergic to such expression. “But it is too dangerous if any politician making attempt to change the mindset of the young generation by suppressing the truth. Posterity will never forgive such act,” he said.
Dr Liezietsu said that the present government may be trying to divert the mind of the young generation to forget the Naga political problem, adding “They may divert the mind of the few people with their easy money, but for that matter, the Naga political problem will remain the same without any change till solution is arrived at which is honorable, acceptable and inclusive.”
Stating that solution to this problem does not require any new political philosophy, he said “What is required is trust and nothing more. It will be wrong to blame Govt of India at this juncture, but we have to blame ourselves in delaying the solutions.” It depends on the leaders, he said.
Stating that today, Nagas have too many organizations and leaders, he said “All those leaders have been preaching about unity and understanding among the Nagas but on the contrary, it is those leaders who have been creating divisions and factions among the Nagas.
“By doing that, Naga leaders themselves have been reducing the Naga politics into tribal politics and village politics,” he said adding that to talk about Naga unity is a far cry while leaders themselves are responsible for creating divisions and factions.
“Let everything keeps on changing as per the prevailing contemporary realities in its own course but since the Naga political problem remains the same without solution for the last more than seven decades, let no politician ever try to misinterpret the problem because the problem remains a reality for the Nagas even today as of old,” he said.
‘We should not think about the past’
MLA Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu and Leader NPF Legislature Party said, “We should not think about the past because we do not live in the past,” adding that the past glory is only for the records. “What we need to do is to live a meaningful today to determine the destiny of our tomorrow,” he said. Let us not recollect the bitter past and destroy a perfect future ahead of us, he added.
He strongly believed that “together we can do many things rather than waste our time criticizing one another and blaming one another of the bad performance in the recently concluded general election.”
We need to adopt our politics and strategies in a befitting manner in the changing times, he said. “If we look at the present Naga society, we find enormous frustration coupled with corruption and the inability to handle problems,” he said and stressed on the need to address the root causes and solve those problems.
To those who are preparing to divide NPF, Azo, as leader of the NPF Legislature Party, pledged to protect and safeguard the interest of the party in all circumstances.
‘NPF is a principle based party’
MLA Achumbemo Kikon, who is also NPF Secretary General said that NPF is a principle based party adding “We stand firm, we believe our party ideology and principle that this party formed, existed and is existing on the basis of believing that a solution that is honorable, inclusive and acceptable to the Naga political issue should arrived at and that has to be on the basis of “By faith, not arms.” (Motto of NPF).
This party is a party that is respected by young and old, adding that NPF is a party that reflects the identity of the Naga people. A time will not be very far from where people from various walks of life will be part of this party and we will continue to strengthen this party, he added.
The meeting was chaired by NPF Working President, Pusazo Luruo while welcome address was delivered by NPF General Secretary Toniho Sheqi. Vote of thanks was proposed by NPF vice president Khongjah Konyak. Earlier, the House decided to propose the General Convention which is due in November 2024 to October 21, 2023 at Kohima. It endorsed the Party President to constitute Election Board for Central as convention. It resolved the Working Committee as Finance Committee for the propose General Convention. The House also decided to invite 2000 Active Members for the General Convention drawn from all the Division and State Unit.
