Eastern Sumis rally to merge with Zunheboto district

DIMAPUR— Thousands of people participated in a peace rally organised by the Eastern Sumi Hoho (ESH) at Seyochung town in Kiphire, on Thursday, demanding the merger of “eastern Sumi territory” with Zunheboto district in the event of eastern districts getting autonomous council status.

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They also demanded that their population census and electoral role be included in Zunheboto district and not under Autonomous council.”

The participants marched to ADC office carrying placards that read: “Our say matters, no forced autonomy”, “We will live under Nagaland state administration”, “Our land, our decision”, “Our right to live is our choice”; “Our land and territory and population shall not exist under ENPO”, etc.

General Secretary of ESH, Bothuka Sumi, informed Eastern Mirror that the peaceful rally commenced from Seyochung local ground and culminated at the ADC office, Seyochung, where the protestors submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister of Nagaland through the additional deputy commissioner.

Bothuka informed that not only villagers from various Sumi villages in Kiphire district but also Sumi residents from the town area took part in the rally.

In the memorandum, Eastern Sumi Hoho, the apex civil organisation of Sumi tribe in eastern Nagaland, reaffirmed and reiterated the Eastern Sumi public resolution dated October 25, 2022, at Nikiye village, to continue to exist politically, economically and administratively with the present state of Nagaland in the event of any negotiated solution made between the government of India and ENPO.

The ESH appealed to the chief minister to exclude the eastern Sumi territory, population census and electoral roll from the purview of the demand, negotiation or settlement that may take place between the government of India and ENPO, and merge eastern Sumi areas with Zunheboto district.