Will-not and the for: Tribal apexes decide state-wide strike

No ‘bandh’ to be allowed in Angami areas—APO

Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Jan. 31 (EMN): The Angami Public Organization (APO) has declared that the state-wide strike called by the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organizations (CCNTHCO) demanding deferment of polls to Nagaland’s 13th legislature shall not include Kohima. Or, more specifically, in what it called the “Angami inhabited areas.”
The APO issued a strong statement on Wed. declaring that no “bandh” would be allowed within the “Angami-inhabited areas” on Feb. 1.
“The Angami Public Organization and all its frontal organizations reiterate our natural support established on Jan. 25 2018 which was duly published in the local dailies on the ongoing dialogue between the GOI (givernment of India) and the different Naga political groups,” the statement read.
Further, the community group announced a decision it took ‘not to persuade nor dissuade any individual from filing nomination and shall not be boycotting the forthcoming general elections.’“And as such, no bandh shall be allowed within the Angami-inhabited areas on Feb. 1 and for which, the public are directed not to participate in the bandh. This clarion call is made for and in the larger interest of the Nagas in its quest for peoplehood and nationhood which we are aware, cannot be taken lightly,” the organisation stated.
The APO issued the statement through its president Dr. Kepelhousie Terhüja and General Secretary Neisakholie Ziephru.

‘Prayer day’ for the Chakhesang
On its part though, the Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) has informed that Feb. 1 shall rather be observed as ‘prayer day for Naga political solution.’ The organization has appealed to the Chakhesang people to observe said program.
A press release from the CPO’s press secretary, Wekhrope Marhu, stated that the decision was taken during a general meeting in Pfütsero town in Phek district on Jan. 31.
“CPO appeals all the citizens to remain at home and pray for Naga political solution,” the press release stated.

ENPO and Lotha not to; Ao Senden and Sumi Hoho to

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Jan. 31: A decision similar to the APO’s are being reported from other frontline Naga tribal apexes particularly the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), and the Lotha Hoho while the Ao Senden and the Sumi Hoho are reported to be ready to impose said strike.

ENPO
The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) convened an emergency meeting on Wed. Jan. 31 at the IMC hall in Dimapur and has decided to ‘suspend’ the strike in the ENPO jurisdiction on Feb. 1. This was informed by the ENPO’s media cell.
The organisation asserted that the decision did not indicate that the organisation was not in support of a ‘solution.’ Rather, the decision was determined in good faith not to create ‘unnecessary inconvenience’ to the public of the eastern districts.

Lotha Hoho
Although the Lotha Hoho could not be reached to confirm their stand on the proposed state-wide bandh, a circulation showing a list of the districts’ response to the “bandh” called by CCNTHCO which went viral on Wed. evening maintained that there would be no bandh in Wokha district.
Our correspondent also informed Wed. night about reports in Wokha suggesting that the strike would not be imposed in the district as well. Independent confirmation from the community’s stakeholders could not be had at the time this news report was being filed.

Ao Senden and Sumi Hoho
The Ao Senden and the Sumi Hoho, on the other hand, are reportedly adhering to the call of the CCNTHCO and would be imposing the “bandh” in their respective jurisdiction from 6 am to 6 pm.
A leader of the Ao Senden, requesting anonymity, maintained that a collective decision about the state assembly elections would be taken after discussions.
A leader from the Sumi Hoho also spoke to the Eastern Mirror on Wed. The source requested anonymity. The community leader assured that the organisation was not against any political party or even the elections. Rather it was out of ‘concern’ that ‘with election taking place which would delay the peace talks for another five years.’
“We will request the central leaders to defer the election for another three-four months so that Naga solution is given priority. Nagaland election is quite abnormal as candidates spend huge amount of money on election and similarly Nagas’ are overtaxed,” the Sumi Hoho source said.
That the organisation was not against any political party as was being presumed, was iterated by the source.

‘What other better option?’ asks adamant CCNTHCO
As the confusion about which area or what organisation was in or not in favour of the strike continued into Wed. the CCNTHCO issued a statement appealing to all in concern “to prove one’s worth in action.”
According to the organisation, the decision to call for a strike was taken during a meeting of all the apex tribal ‘hohos’ and mass-based organizations.
“Should there be any section within Naga community which negates the popular opinion and refuses to co-operate with the unanimous decision,” the statement read, ‘the CCNTHCO has no power to rope in such section with any better modus operandi. What CCNTHCO questions is if one is not for political negotiations and solutions, what better option that section has in store for the Nagas?’
Confusion is spreading that the “bandh” may not be observed uniformly, the note observed further. ‘Nevertheless, this bandh was a unanimous decision of all concerned and therefore the bandh will go ahead as resolved,’ the statement read.
“The very purpose of this bandh is in pursuance of the resolutions adopted collectively by tribal hohos, mass-based organizations and all political parties that Nagas prefer to have solution first rather than election now. This bandh is therefore placed as litmus test as to whether one upholds what one has promised or one backtracks. The CCNTHCO has just the option to appeal to all concerned to prove one’s worth in action.”
The “bandh” is from dawn to dusk, it reminded and that educational institutions would remain closed. Exemptions would be the army and the paramilitary, police; media people, medical services, and district administrations, the statement, from the organisation’s convenor Theja Therieh and Secretary Joel Naga, added.