Dimapur, September 02 2010: Konyak Union (KU) has said that it was "totally against the so called" Naga script and has banned the use of the script in Konyak soil.

KU joint secretary, Hosea Konyak in a statement said the authenticity of the Naga script and the organisation that represented it was itself questionable.

It asked whether the organisation has the consent and confidence and representation from all the Naga tribes in the development of the script or not.

KU opined that the Nagas being distinct tribes with each tribe having its own language and customary practices, developing the script should have representation from all tribes as well as the approval and support of the government.

It reminded that the Konyaks since 1951, had adopted a resolution that the Konyaks will be one socially.

The Konyaks had banned the use of the script a long time back, it added.

KU said that the issue cropped up few years back when one Yahoi Konyak, a "self-styled missionary" introduced the script to her followers.

A per the documents available, the script was given to Yahoi as requested by her for her practice by the Development Committee on Naga Script, Tamenlong under the chairmanship of Pamai, the KU said.

However, it said, Yahoi claimed that the script was given to her directly by god and initially misguided the Konyak people to gain popularity and out of personal motives.

KU said the script was popularised by Phemei Konyak, a close aide of Yahoi in certain villages where their followers were present.

With a view to gain popularity and trust from the innocent, gullible and ignorant people, they introduced the Naga script to the people and also imparted as a subject in their school proclaiming that Nagas can achieve their long cherished dream of an independent Nagaland only when they produce a separate Naga script.

KU alleged that Yahoi misled a large section of innocent Konyak people by propagating false teachings that was against the doctrines and principles of Christianity.

It said that the practices and rituals that the group follows were totally against Christian teachings.

KU said some of the practices were that the followers should not eat pork saying it was a sin, observing fasting for 40 days to 90 days, the teachers/leaders were mandatory to keep their hair long etc.

The KU said although these took pride in saying that they believed in God and the Bible, their way of worship was not only anti-Christain but also became a social evil.

"They do not belong to any of the Christian denominations but rather it is a religious cult," KU added.

Witnessing such "wrong practices," the KU said that the Konyak Baptist Churches Association was trying hard to bring them back to the Baptist family and reminding them not to be led astray.

KU said the constant notices and invitations given to Yahoi to clarify, discuss and come into mutual terms to refrain from such practices have been in vain and unaccepted.

KU claimed that such practices and their way of worship have severely affected the normal life of an individual.

It said many villages have been divided into those two groups - Yahoi's followers on one side and the Baptist members on the other.

KU said such division has led to many developmental implications to the concerned villages as no concrete decisions or solutions could be agreed upon owing to suspicions on any developmental programmes for developmental activities.

The recent step that was taken by in the Konyak Union, in which their place of worship and centres were destroyed at Mon Town on August 18, 2010, was the direct result of the long awaited response from these followers not to indulge and worship in such manners," the KU statement added.

KU regretted that the request and concern shown by it was neglected.

Furhter, the KU said it had entrusted all its respective units to take up necessary actions "to stop their immoral and unreligious practices and to come forward reasonably and rejoin firmly with the Baptist churches." Observing that such practice would further divide the Konyaks in the near future, the KU said it was the time to act and take this important decision.

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