Dimapur, June 17 (MExN): In its effort to mollify the state of affairs in Kiphire district’s Seyochung village, the Western Sumi Students’ Union today ‘sincerely’ appealed to the Sangtam Hoho and students’ union to “intervene immediately to pacify the situation and compromise in good Christian spirit and to uphold the age-old brotherhood and coexistence, living peacefully as Nagas irrespective of the tribe they belong to.”
The union also questioned the sincerity of the district administration and government in solving the problem. “It should be noted that if there is any law and order problem and (if) communal tension arises, the concerned authority and the government will be solely responsible and accountable to it.”
A press release issued by the student body, however, made it clear that “the existence of only 26 Sumi houses in Seyochung village does not change their bloodline of not being a Sumi.”
“Sumi might be a minority in that village but might be a majority elsewhere and if every Naga tribe tries to dominate the minorities we can expect nothing more than chaos and lawlessness.”
Sangtam students clarify
Seyochung Village Students Union asks the KDSH and KDSSU to “clarify things rightly and accurately in the interest of the society in general.” Reacting to the Sumi bodies flaying SVSU’s order as carried in the local media, the union through its president Chopiba Z Thonger stated that since the SVSU was dragged into the controversy by the apex bodies of the Sumis under Kiphire “things might not be ugly if they can consulted the concerned village students’ union because all information received might not be true, it might be derogatory statements for some neighbors.”
The SVSU maintained that “when it is too hasty and rushy to go to press release things might not be too informative but it will create noise in a communication.” The union added that the Sumis and the Sangtams under Seyochung village were under SVSU.
The SVSU further explained that in regard to wearing traditional shawls, shawls of the Sumis and the Sangtams both were allowed since the inception of the union. “The resolution to wear traditional shawl was resolved under the presidentship of Mr Mughato Sumi. The readers are advised to transcend Sangtams’ shawl. It includes our Sumi shawl as well” it explained adding that till today student sessions, the Sumi members “used to pray and exhorted Sumi language and they used to wear their shawl.”
In this regard both sides have to consult the other before making a stand public. “Today let us build one another instead of tearing our society” the SVSU appealed.
Sumi bodies ask for relief; challenge DC
The government has been urged to provide immediate relief materials and security to the Sumis of Seyochung Village. The Kiphire District Sumi Students’ Union and the Kiphire District Sumi Hoho today cautioned the administration that if death occurs out of starvation, or sickness due to absence of basic needs, “then the course of reaction elsewhere is imminent as the situation is still the same.”
Referring to the clarification issued to a section of the press by DC Kiphire, “it is also ridiculous to shift the blame on his predecessor’s order dated 18th January.
We therefore caution is it mandatory to uphold the earlier order even if it is gross injustice?” the Sumi bodies questioned.
“However a new twist can take place on loopholes of the previous order (which directed both the communities to live in peace and harmony). Basing on this, the Seyochung Village Council served ‘quit notice’ to Sumis. We challenge the DC Kiphire to reply (to) which past do you mean in your judgment? Is it pre 1968 or post 1968?”
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