The Sumi Hoho president has clarified that whatever resolution adopted in the recent past was a result of people’s will and that the Sumi Hoho was just a platform of the bigger public voice. Speaking to The Morung Express Chief of Bureau, Yepthomi said that the “resolve” that Sumis will contribute only to one group of “national workers” was the result of series of public rallies “unanimously” adopted on November 27-December 11, 2007 and reaffirmed through a public rally organized by Sumi Hoho on January 15, 2008 at Zunheboto. Yepthomi said the last few months, the Sumi public has been “contributing” only one tax of 25% thereby easing the burden of the common people. “Whoever unite among the Nagas, they can take one tax”, affirmed the Sumi Hoho president.
But in a startling disclosure, Yepthomi also bemoaned how so-called “tax” collections by the Naga underground groups have become a matter of life and death and informed how the then Sumi Hoho president Huska Yepthomi was virtually “pulled down” by the combined force of the two NSCNs following the decision to divide the tax of 25 % (under Sumi area) between the two groups. This obviously did not go done well with the NSCNs. Yepthomi termed this as “remarkable” and a rare feat when the two rival groups united to force out the then president of the Sumi Hoho. The two groups went back to their earlier “tax” plan of approximately 25% apiece.
Perils of factional politics
Pointing to the perils of division and killings among the Nagas, the Sumi Hoho president called for an “end to factions” saying that the Naga public does not support such politics or parallel the so-stated “governments”.
Recalling of a horrific real life story made public during a recent testimony, Mr Yepthomi narrated how a father and son from Tsutoho village under Satoi Range served under two factions and unfortunately the son was killed during one of the factional clash. “We Nagas professed Nagaland for Christ but taking the name of Christ fratricidal killing started unabated and because of factionalism, Naga undergrounds were fighting among themselves killing each other”, Mr Yepthomi laments while adding that “no patriot will kill his own brothers”.
Synergize peace efforts
Mr Yepthomi who has had wide experience with the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) under its peace committee also suggested that the present peace efforts should be synergized for better outcome. “At present, there are too many players with their own approaches. The peace efforts of the GBs & DBs, NBCC, FNR, Naga Hoho etc. should come together”, he says while making the suggestion that one core peace committee should be formed.
Isak suggests review
Chairman of the NSCN (IM) Isak Chishi Swu has suggested that any obstacles that may pose detrimental to the Naga unification process through the activities and resolutions of the Sumis must be reviewed in order to remove any kind of confusion or doubt among Nagas. Disclosing this during an interaction with The Morung Express Chief of Bureau, Sumi Hoho president Hokishe Yepthomi informed that the NSCN (IM) chairman had written to him giving this suggestion/s to pave way for ‘ultimate Naga unification’. The suggestions, which was dispatched to the Sumi Hoho was written on January 23, 2008 and asked that the participation of Sumis in the Naga unification move must be under the principle of reconciliation. It may be mentioned that the suggestions from chairman Swu came after the Sumi Hoho had organized a peace and unification rally on January 15, 2008 at Zunheboto where about 10,000 representatives from different villages and towns participated.
