Kohima Village Council protest against factional clashes in and around Kohima, submits Open Letter to both NSCN factions
Source: North East Press Service

Kohima, December 20: The Angamis of Kohima Village have today strongly come out against the factional clashes in and around the State capital here that led to not only killing their cadres but also injuring and killing civilians.

Reading out an open letter addressed to NSCN (IM) leaders, Mr Isak Chishi Swu and Mr Th Muivah and NSCN (K) leader, Mr SS Khaplang during a protest rally held here today at Kohima Local Ground, Kohima Village Council (KVC) Secretary Mr Medoselhou Keretsu said they had organized the protest rally to serve as a �wake up call� to the leaders of the NSCN factions of the sufferings that the general publics were bring made to undergo on account of the �totally irresponsible behavior� of their cadres operating in and around Kohima town.

Kohima Village Council (KVC) Secretary Mr Medoselhou Keretsu addressing the rally in Kohima Local Ground

The open letter also brought out list of the innocent victims of the Kohima Village since July 6, 1999 till the recent one due to the factional gunfights.

It said the most recent victim of Kohima Village was the killing of Mrs Selhounuo Khezhie in an indiscriminate shooting on November 25, 2004 wherein an NSCN (K) cadre was also gunned down by their rivals.

It also highlighted that Mrs Neilakunou Khezhie had received injuries in a factional fights on July 6, 1999, Mrs Phoukhrienieu Soukhrie suffered injuries when a cadre lobbed a grenade into a crowd on December 7, 1999 and Mrs Banuo Whuorie was shot in her leg when she was caught in another factional clash on March 20, 2001.Angered with the series of factional clashes in and around Kohima Town turning it into a �killing field,� the Kohima Village Council squarely questioned the leaders of the NSCN factions: �How many more innocent lives must be lost before you realize the futility and folly of advocating blood shedding to achieve one�s goal?� Lamenting the manner in which both NSCN factions hurling blames each other in the aftermath of the unfortunate killing of Mrs Selhounuo trivializing the �murder� as an �insult to our collective intelligence and honor,� the KVC also demanded the killers (of Mrs Selhounuo) made a confessional statement and apologize for the crime committed.

Warning publicly that if whichever faction from now onwards �continues to indulge in these senseless killings� in spite of appeals from masses would be branded as being �anti-Naga and anti-peace,� the KVC made a fervent appeal to all to stop immediately such �policy of killing.� Besides all factions should formally declare an official denunciation and abandonment of the use of �bloodshed and violence� while dealing with fellow Nagas irrespective of their political inclination and affiliation for the �larger interest of the Naga people,� it stated.

Thousands of Angamis in their traditional attires attended the rally and various Angami leaders also spoke on the occasion.

Later talking to NEPS, the KVC Secretary Mr Medoselhou Keretsu said the �Open Letter� would be formally handed over to the concerned Kohima Region Chairmen of both NSCN factions to take up the matter with their respective Heads.

Asked why they had delayed in organizing such protest, the Secretary explained they had to consult all the four Khels of the Village before taking such final decision.

Besides the decision of the clan to which the victim belonged was necessary and also the Angami, by tradition, had to observe five-day ritual when their people died.

�Therefore, before coming to such stage, we have to have complete all these things,� he pointed out.