Reiterating its call for unity among Nagas, the Naga Hoho (NH) on Wednesday urged all the tribe leaders from the Nagas of Nagaland to join the Naga Hoho and seek the Naga political problem based on the “contemporary political reality”.
In a press release, NH president Sulanthung Lotha stressed that Naga Hoho, over the years, had been “working persistently” for unity and reconciliation in line with “all compatible organisations” to facilitate the peace process for an early “Indo-Naga” political settlement.
He said that successive leadership had contributed in strengthening the peace process. However, Lotha said solution has been delayed due to various reasons best known to negotiating parties.
He said NH had frequently appealed for unity and reconciliation so as to strengthen the negotiation for an acceptable solution. NH president, however, said Naga people were “unfortunately” busy in framing diverse opinion with state-centric and regional interest. “We have no reason to blame others but ourselves,” he said.
NH president asserted Naga people must own responsibility for destroying the fabric of “Indo-Naga” political talks. He said Naga people, in the interest of the adversaries, have defeated themselves and become enemies of their own selves.
NH president admitted that tribes from Nagaland state have dissociated from Naga Hoho. “Yet then nobody can claim that there is no legality or existence of Naga Hoho because there is a representative from Nagaland state,” Lotha added.
Further, he said NH had been functioning with majority units and representatives from Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh. However, he maintained that there was still support from people of Nagaland.
He pointed out that every organisation has different objectives and directive principles. “For instance, Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) which claims to be the apex body of Nagaland state is the same as CNTC having only three tribes, (Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho and Sumi Hoho) affiliated to NTC,” Lotha said.
He said NH had never questioned the legitimacy of NTC and their activities at any point in time. Lotha, however, expressed dismay that own Naga brethren “laugh at each other with the sign of fulfilment” when the Indian agencies and media “castigate our own political groups and civil organisations.”
Lotha said NH would never indulge in petty issues and politicking against any Naga organisation, adding it expected others to reciprocate.
He recalled that formation of NH at Zunheboto session on March 11 & 12, 1998 was with an objective to uphold solidarity, rebuilt Naga family, facilitate settlement of Naga issue, protect Naga system and tradition and to promote social, culture, economic and political heritage.
He asserted said NH played an immense role in resolving conflict situations amongst different factions of Nagas. Lotha further said that NH played an important role to expedient peace process between Government of India and the NSCN.
“The Naga Hoho believed that all settlements should be inclusive and all the different Naga underground factions by playing the role of facilitator and adopted various measures to achieve the goal despite the fact that Naga Hoho was not a party of the peace talk,” he said.
He said NH worked hard to ensure all Nagas safety irrespective of their tribes, council or region brought into one Naga unity. “We believe the strength of the Naga Hoho is derived from the strength of the tribes Hoho,” Lotha added.
Therefore, he said the Naga Hoho tribes should play a meaningful role in strengthening the Naga Hoho particularly in their effort towards reconciliation without boundary.
In this regard, NH president urged all the tribe leaders from the Nagas of Nagaland to join the Naga Hoho and seek the Naga political problem based on the “contemporary political reality” and also work selflessly towards bringing about peace and unity among the Nagas irrespective of the Naga inhabited areas.
Stating that there was a season for everything and a time for every purpose, the hoho said it was time for all the Nagas to unite and put their heads together to work for the common goal.