Lotha Public Organisation (LPO) has rejected outright the authorisation granted by Lotha frontal organisations to Lotha Hoho (LH) to represent the tribe in all consultations, decision making and signing of any document related to Naga political settlement.
Reacting to a statement issued in this regard by LH chairman Mhondamo Ovung and jt. secretary Amos Odyuo, LPO alleged that the current hoho was an “unmandated, unapproved and unrecognized self-styled organisation” and did not have consensus from Lotha tribe.
LPO chairman Sulanthung Humtsoe and vice-president Phyobemo Odyuo in a release further alleged that the two hoho leaders were only representing their own personal and individual interest, and not the interest of the Lotha people.
They asserted that the current LH had no moral authority or devoir rights to decide or pass any resolution relating to Naga political movement as the Lothas had their own Naga national workers to represent on behalf of their community.
They said the meeting of all Lotha organisations on Naga political issue held at Wokha and convened by an “unmandated organisation” on September 23 was a mockery as it did not reach any consensus and did not the confidence of all “sensible and right thinking” Lothas.
LPO recalled that then LH under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Nyanbemo Ngullie had during a general meeting on April 19 and 20, 2002 passed a resolution that Lotha tribe would welcome early settlement of the Indo- Naga political issue, provided the settlement was honourable and acceptable to the Nagas.
“As resolved by the then LH chairman of Lotha Hoho declared the resolution in Bangkok in the 3rd Naga people’s consultative meeting”, LPO stated.
Asserting that the Lothas uphold the resolution till today and treat it as ultimate, the organisation said the resolution was also submitted by then LH leaders on behalf of Lotha people to NSCN (I-M) at Hebron on January 21, 2005. Hence, LPO reasoned that it disapproved the new resolution at the behest of current LH leaders to represent Lothas in Naga political solution.
LPO further asserted that it would not allow any disgruntled element and people with vested interests to mislead the Lotha people and cautioned that if any individual or group on Lotha soil defy or derail the current political negotiations, he or she would be held fully responsible for any untoward incident thereafter.
LPO urged the “right thinking and sensible” Lothas not to remain mute spectators and watch the dying of the community’s future generations under this “unmandated and unapproved” LH team leading the community to a dark world at this deciding times of Nagas.
It called upon the Lotha people to raise their voice and think for the upcoming generations to live a peaceful and prosperous life in the future.