DIMAPUR, JAN 31 (MExN): The Sumi Hoho has written to the NSCN (IM) Chairman Isak Chishi Swu demanding the dismissal of ‘Major General Markson, Deputy Commander-in-Chief’ Naga Army, NSCN (IM) from “the Naga national active service”. The Sumi Hoho in its representation to the NSCN (IM) Chairman signed by H.S Rotokha and Aheto V. Yepthomi, President and General Secretary respectively made the demand on behalf of the Sumi community in relation to the “assassination plot” on Huskha Yepthomi, former Sumi Hoho President as alleged by ‘Major’ Lhokishe that he was ordered to carry out the execution work by ‘Maj Gen’ Markson.
Giving a chronology of events, the Sumi Hoho informed the NSCN (IM) Chairman that the Sumi civil societies held a meeting on January 19, 2007 and resolved to demand the “dismissal of the officer from the active service of GPRN forever on his criminal ground at the earliest”. “A person of criminal mind should never be made a national leader against the wishes of its people”, the Sumi Hoho stated in its representation.
The Sumi Hoho explained that following a news report of the assassination plot, the Sumi Hoho had an emergency executive meeting on November 17, 2006 and passed a resolution asking the NSCN (IM), GPRN to give reasons behind the assassination order before November 25, 2006.
The Sumi Hoho pointed out that the response of Maj Gen Markson denying his order appearing on November 18, 2006 of a local daily “lacked authencity”. It was informed that again on November 25, 2006, the Sumi civil societies held another emergency meeting wherein the leaders were convinced that the case was purely between Maj Gen Markson and Maj Lhokishe as individuals. As such, it was resolved to investigate the case by hearing statements from both of them, the Sumi Hoho stated. Accordingly, Maj Lhokishe’s confessional statements were heard and recorded on November 27 2006.
Similarly, on November 29, 2006, the Sumi Hoho team went to Dimapur and met senior Sumi leaders of NSCN (IM) on November 30, 2006 to make an appointment for meeting with Maj Gen Markson to record and hear his statements. It was also stated that on the same day, the Sumi Hoho leaders met the Kilo Kilonser who also denied the assassination order. Later it was informed that Kihoyi Tatar was assigned to contact Maj Gen Markson to meet Sumi Hoho leaders. The representation however regretted that in the evening of November 30, 2006 the Tatar had informed Sumi Hoho leaders that Maj Gen Markson was out of station.
As such, Sumi Hoho leaders left Dimapur on December 1, 2006 for Zunheboto and asking the concerned Tatar and some other senior Sumi leaders to intimate them as and when Maj Gen Markson returns to the GHQ. “However nothing came forth neither from Ino Kihoyi Tatar nor from other senior leaders as expected of them”, the representation went on.
Under the given circumstances, Sumi civil societies held another meeting on December 12, 2006 wherein it was resolved to directly write to Maj Gen Markson for a meeting with the Sumi Hoho on or before January 5, 2007. “It was further resolved that in the event of his failure to meet us within the given date, it shall automatically mean his admission to the guilt on assassination plot conspiracy on Ino Huskha Yepthomi, former Sumi Hoho President”, the representation to the NSCN (IM) Chairman stated. Accordingly, a letter was dispatched on December 17 2006 and handed over to Visheto Additional Secretary (Finance) NSCN (IM) on December 18 2006 for onward submission. Pointing out that in spite of the good intention giving reasonable time, the Sumi community had been humiliated by not getting response either from Maj Gen Markson or the concerned authority, the representation stated that “his evading from our sincere and just approach and the total silence of the NSCN (IM) about it is beyond doubt an admission to the guilt in question”.
