Kedoungulo Mero
In the wake of the recent brutal murder of Khoney Chang various mass-based Naga NGOs have condemned the act in strongest term possible. Regardless of tribes and organizations all have expressed deep anguish at what it called the uncivilized and barbaric killing of our own Naga brother. These organizations also appealed that the whole of Naga society should come together and make a strong stand to eradicate the menace of killings in our society.
While appreciating the role of various Naga NGOs in condemning this crime against our own fellow brother recently one thing that draws my attention is the continued factional violence and killings in different parts of Nagaland, many of which incidents failed to draw condemnations from some mass-based Naga NGOs who claimed to work for Peace and unity of our land.
The fratricidal killings continued to be unabated. It has become a routine affair of our society and perhaps because of the frequency of these incidents our society is getting immune to these fratricidal killings. We often heard of voices of condemnations from the factions against the rival factions in the event of violence and killings. We also heard of condemnations from those individuals or organizations that faced the brunt of factional violence and killings.
However, going by the present trend, the voice of the innocent public remains unheard or suppressed when some mass-based organizations chose to remain silent or do not seem to bother even in giving press statement against the continued factional violence and killings.
Any organization worth its salt fully knows that any forms of violence or killings deserve to be condemned. Because there cannot be any justification for any kinds of killings. Accordingly , in the past , our Naga civil societies used to seize the first opportunity to outrightly condemn all sorts of killings regardless of who the perpetrators might be. The Nagas outrightly condemn those responsible in committing all kinds of killings. According to Naga Customary laws, murders and killings have no place in the society and the murderers are to be expelled from the community otherwise bad omen will fall upon their families and their village.
But today, it is very unfortunate that because of reasons best known to them, certain mass-based organizations seems to have reservations even to issue press statement condemning the prevailing fratricidal killings. They preferred to refrain from condemning the very acts of violence perpetrated on their own brothers. They often chose not to condemn the barbaric actions of eliminating fellow Nagas.
With all due respect to all these legitimate and honoured public organizations namely Naga Hoho, NPMHR, NSF and NMA I am obliged to point out these organizations have in one way or the other failed to impress the public that they too condemn these factional killings which are happening on daily basis.
This silence and reservations on the part of these mass-based Naga NGOs certainly create confusion in the minds of the public whether the continued factional violence and killings have certain justifications in the eyes of certain organizations and therefore need no public condemnations.
While these organizations are quick enough to condemn the murder of Khoney Chang, a peon in PHED at Kohima, the same organizations chose not to condemn the brutal killing of Kehuduyi, a VFA of Veterinary Department at Phek. They have failed to condemn the barbaric act of those responsible in the death of the innocent public.
While the public in some districts continue to suffer because of the continued factional violence and killings just for a mere supremacy on the rival faction, what Naga Hoho has to say ?
While hundreds of students suffered heavy emotional and psychological damages and hundreds of student’s career at stake because of the forced occupation of factional groups in the institutions what the NSF has to say?
While many of our children are orphaned and several more are widowed by the fratricidal killings what the NMA has to say?
While our own Naga brothers continue to indulge in all sorts of human rights violations by pursuing the alien policy of eliminations, intimidations and forced taxations which are but a sheer violations of one’s right to live and posses one’s hard earned wages what the NPMHR has to say?
When was it that these mass-based organizations came out openly to condemn the actions of those responsible in bringing about violence and killings. When was it that these organizations appeal to the concerned authorities to stop this factional fight for supremacy.
What are these organizations doing when the public is facing the brunt of cease-fire violations by those who are party to the Cease Fire ground rules. When was it that these organizations appeal to the concerned parties to abide by cease fire ground rules in the greater interest of the public. These organizations have miserably failed in all these fronts.
If this is the impression of our valued mass-based Naga NGOs on the public, a time will come that the public will begin to lose confidence in the leadership of these organizations.
We cannot hold Government of India wholly responsible for the continuing cases of killings of civilians and clashes among the Naga armed cadres. We need to admit that the Nagas are equally responsible for this menace of killings.
The public expects that these mass-based Naga NGOs speak out the truth without any fear or favour. These organizations representing the apex body of the Naga public should never be bias but stand by the Truth. What is right is right even if nobody does it. What is wrong is wrong even if everybody does it. Those in leadership need to take up this challenge and stand by the truth of this principle. The leaderships of these NGOs who are mandated by the Naga public to represent them cannot afford remain silent or stand by the perpetrators of violence and bloodshed in any manner.
Forgive me, if I am too negative on the role played by these mass-based Naga NGOs. I fully acknowledge the valued contributions of these NGOs towards Naga Peace and Unity over the years. Particularly I acknowledge the leadership of the Naga Hoho under whose initiative the Naga Peace and Reconciliation Process came into being. Under the able leadership of the Naga Hoho and these mass-based Naga NGOs the public hopes that something concrete will come out only if the Naga people as a Nation commit ourselves to tell the truth, own the truth and heal our wounds so that we can move on together at peace with ourselves.
