DIMAPUR, MARCH 12 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) has told the Lotha Hoho that “till the finalization of the Indo-Naga peace negotiations, no land or its resources would be allowed to be taken out from the land of Nagas.”
This was stated during a consultative meeting between the representatives of Lotha organizations, Wokha and NSCN (IM) officials at the monitoring cell office, Dimapur on March 11, to “bridge the gap of miscommunication.”
A press statement from Lotha Hoho chairman, Mhao Humtsoe and general secretary Er Mhondamo Ovung said the NSCN (IM) officials also maintained that it is not against any initiative to safeguard the resources of the Nagas, even by way of filing PIL, which the Lotha Hoho had done.
The NSCN (IM) informed that the “manner of utilisation of the resources would be deliberated among the Naga owners, after a political settlement is finalised.”
The Lotha organisations meanwhile affirmed that the Lothas were only trying to safeguard the resources of the Nagas, like Petroleum and Natural Gas and therefore the filing of the PIL to sustain the basic rights of the Nagas, for ownership and transfer of land and its resources.
On February 2, 2016, the NSCN (IM) had written to the Lotha organisations that the NSCN (IM) had no hidden agenda against anyone or any Lotha intellectual and hence the press report in one of the Manipur based newspaper “might have aroused out of misinterpretation and confusion and must not be taken at its face value.”
The NSCN Kilo Ministry had therefore requested the Lotha organisations to bridge the confusion in the spirit of brotherhood. The Lotha organisations acknowledged the request of the NSCN (IM) and agreed to settle the issue within its fraternity.
The Lotha Hoho also clarified that the misconception about the existence of two names of the Lotha community- ‘Lotha’ and ‘Kyong’ is no longer an issue. It stated that the official nomenclature is ‘Lotha.’
Hence the Lotha organisations requested the NSCN (IM) to use the official nomenclature of the Lotha community as ‘Lotha’ in all communications and references.
