Former Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD) president, Tiala Sapuh has alleged that one of the Hoho’s president brought “bad name” with ‘isms’ and “divisions” within the Hoho.
Condemning such “unethical leadership”, Sapuh claimed her statement was made so that such “undemocratic attitude” was not repeated by anyone in the future and to bring “justice” to all the women. “Tribalism, divisions was created among the women groups which never happen in the past” claimed Sapuh.
On June 23, 2012, Sapuh said the former president and her team completed its tenure; however she claimed that “some members” felt that the then president failed to be “transparent and accountable” during her leadership.
Sapuh added that the “inefficient quality” of functioning was “rightly and clearly” published by the then general secretary in the newspapers on November 16, 2012.
To support her allegations, Sapuh claimed that one March 16, 2012 the former president submitted the names of eight women candidates, all belonging to “majority” Naga tribe, for DMC elections.
She claimed that more than 14 applicants from different tribes submitted their application to NWHD for screening; however without the knowledge of the house and screening, the former president chose only four major tribes and “deliberately left out the rest”.
Sapuh also alleged the former president of not maintaining transparency when fresh application for the year 2009-10 was sought by the directorate of women development to assist the department in implementation of different projects.
Stating that the former president’s tenure was to be over by June 23, 2012, Sapuh said that on July 10, 2012 the then president called an emergency meeting to discuss some important agendas during which the president citied that a resolution was passed by JACWR on May 1, 2012 requesting all tribe women organizations to let tenure of the then office bearers continue till the 33% women reservation issue was solved.
On discussing the resolution minutely by the Hoho members, Sapuh said NWHD advisor apprised the members that the Hoho’s office would function according to the “situation and condition of the organization” and that such resolution passed by JACWR had no “binding effect” on the functioning of the Hoho. Finally, Sapuh said the house agreed to follow the five-year tenure of the Hoho.
Terming “dragging” the issue of “NWHD’s questionable leadership” to Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) through “few members” of the council as “too childish”, Sapuh said that NCD in an appeal addressed to NWHD president and secretary and a copy sent to all the respective tribe unit appealed to “lead the team until 31st Jan 2013, to facilitate a smooth transition under congenial atmosphere.”
In this connection, Sapuh said the NCD convened a meeting on November 23, 2012 at the council’s unity hall, attended by women due to their “thirst for justice” and hoping that the same would be delivered; however she claimed that the meeting turned out to be “hostile” for women.
During the meeting, Sapuh claimed that “some” male members “threatened” the women who stood for “right and justice” and accused NCD for failing to control the “barbaric action” and “hostile attitude” of its members, especially the vice president and of one the councillors.
Sapuh claimed that the councillor “insulted the South Nagas” and deprived their right to speak by his “barbaric attitude” by asking them to “shut up”. She further claimed that the councillor even threatened to “beat up” her up and also a fellow NCD councillor.
Asserting that civil society leaders should not mixe up the affairs of the society with political affairs for “political interest”, Sapuh reminded that civil society organizations were formed to serve for the cause of social welfare and not for political affair or politics.
“Respecting women’s right is respecting human right….a decent society must protest not only on sexual violence’ but against all kinds of atrocities and violence against women” added Sapuh.
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