On statement issued by Naga Hoho and Naga Mothers Association

Dimapur, 13th August 2019

PRESS STATEMENT

In view of the joint statement issued by the Naga Hoho and the Naga Mothers Association in assumed statements of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Mr. Neiphiu Rio that appeared in the local dailies on 12.08.2018, the NDPP is constrained to issue this press statement in order to dispel the doubts and aspersions raised by the two organisations.

1) The meeting of the Joint Legislators Forum (JLF) on the 7th of August 2019 convened by the Hon’ble Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Mr. Vikho Yhoshu was a closed-door meeting of all the 60 Hon’ble Members of the NLA wherein many important matters were discussed. The Hon’ble Chief Minister and the Members present deliberated on various issues pertaining to the state and its people which was not to be taken to the public domain but was for the consumption of those present in the meeting.

The result of the deliberations resulted in the adoption of resolutions which was made public through the local media. It is therefore unfortunate that the details of the discussions have been revealed to the public thus disregarding the trust and confidence reposed by the members present at the meeting on one another.

It is also worrying that if such precedence is created then in the future the members may hesitate to speak freely with the doubt that such would be leaked out beyond the confines of the room. Therefore, it is necessary that the trust and confidence reposed on the members attending a closed-door meeting should not be abused.

2) In the meeting, the Hon’ble Chief Minister had highlighted many issues that were pertinent to the present situation in Nagaland vis-à-vis the Naga Political Issue and the ongoing negotiations for a final settlement and the role that the government and the people need to play in order to facilitate for an early solution.

On this note, the Hon’ble Chief Minister had brought to the attention of the members that there was an urgent need to bring about unity especially amongst the apex bodies representing the people like the Naga Hoho and the NMA.

It is a fact that at present some tribal hohos and organisations have already disassociated from the NMA and the NH due to various reasons and therefore it is the call of the Hon’ble chief Minister and the PDA government that past differences be put aside by all tribes and that the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and that they come together under the spirit of unity and oneness.

3) However, the statement of the NH and the NMA seems to have missed the context in which the Hon’ble Chief Minister had made mention of the two organisations and rightly so too since neither the NH nor the NMA were present in the meeting where this issue was deliberated.

It is most unfortunate that the two organisations have come in condemnation of the Hon’ble Chief Minister solely basing their statement on hearsay and on the words of the people who have conveyed this to them. It was perhaps with ill intention that the person or persons who have misled the two organisations into believing that the Hon’ble Chief Minister has no regard for them (NH & NMA).

It would perhaps have been more prudent if the members of the two organisations met with the Hon’ble Chief Minister and discussed their concerns instead of bringing out a statement basing on facts that had not appeared in the public domain and without ascertaining in what context those statements were made by the Hon’ble Chief Minister.

4) It has always been the intention of the Hon’ble Chief Minister to bring about oneness and unity amongst all Nagas and has been his clarion call that all Naga organisations should come under one banner. It is his belief that we can overcome all challenges and hurdles towards our quest for genuine peace through an honourable political solution and that we strengthen the peace process through our unity.

It is also the call of the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the PDA government that in the greater interest of the Nagas and the future generations, an olive branch should be extended by these two apex bodies to the other tribal organisations in order to bring them back into their fold and rebuild the NH & the NMA to the stature it once held in the society.

We believe that the respected leaders of the two organisations, all of who are meant to carry the mandate of their respective tribal hohos, will take this statement and the reiteration of our appeal for unity in a positive manner.

5) It will in fact harbor well for Naga society that in future, apex organisations that represent the people should take up a more responsible and mature approach and meet across the table instead of issuing statements based on hearsay and assumptions. However, it is the appeal of the NDPP to all apex tribal organisation and their leaders including the NH and the NMA, who represent each and every one of us to take up our appeal for unity in the right spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood in the greater interest of the society.

The NDPP led PDA is always for unity and we are ready to extend all co-operation towards the unity of our people under our slogan “Development for all! Together with all!”

KUKNALIM!

(Issued by NDPP Media & Communication Committee)