Mokokchung, Feb 4: Hundreds of people from various walks of life paid their tributes to slain youths Khriesavizo Metha and Bendangnungsang Longkumer during a service organized by the JCC (Ao Senden) at the Police Point in Mokokokchung town on Saturday.
Addressing the event, the Ao Senden’s Acting President C Angang Jamir said that the sacrifice of the two youths will be ‘written in the annals of Naga history as martyrs.’ He expressed deep pain and sorrow with the bereaved families of the two demised youths.
Jamir asserted that the movement started by people and every step taken by the Ao Senden was to safeguard the rights of the people. He appealed to the people not be discouraged or to lose hope ‘over some remarks made by some few leaders who are trying to make this issue lighter.’
The demand of the people is ‘still alive therefore lets us unite and resolve to protect and safeguard the rights passed down by our forefather until it is fulfilled,’ the Senden leader said. Also, he called upon the people to ‘prepare to face any challenge’ when the Ao Senden sounds the clarion.Also, the Ongpangkong Kaketshir Mungdang’s President R Sunep Pongen said that the battle had just begun as a youth and as a student. Asserting that the government had ‘shown how low they can go by killing innocent people,’ he wondered that the government could answer in ‘such arrogant manner when people raise their voice.’
“When people voice out that we do not want this government and in return respond by killing, then will the people’s will be satisfied,” he wondered. “If we cannot unite at this juncture then how we can reach our goals, how can we fight for our rights.”
Pongen mourned with the bereaved families. ‘Till now, our demands have not been fulfilled; the government has not given a positive response as desired by the people,’ he said.
He opined that if things ‘go beyond the people’s wishes or voice,’ Nagaland will remain in unrest and this will not end silently.
It is the need of the hour for the Ao and the Naga people to unite and shoulder responsibility that the blood spilled by the two youths would not go in vain, he said. “They have sacrificed their life but till now we have not given a single drop of blood nor achieved anything as they did for us. We will not lose our solidarity even though they are buried; their bodies are still fresh in our hearts. Their blood is demanding the rights they deserved; therefore let us not waste their sacrifice in vain,” he said.
Presidents from Mokokochung Town Lika (Mokokchung Town Landowners) and All Ward Union Mokokchung Town also spoke at the event.
Meanwhile, the bandh in the Ao territory was temporarily lifted for the last rites for Khriesavizo Metha and Bendangnungsang.
