Nagaland: SC Jamir laments lack of honesty in Naga society

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Oct. 8 (EMN): Former Chief Minister of Nagaland, SC Jamir, on Saturday, said Nagas were once known to be God-fearing people with characters steeped in the virtue of truthfulness, but there appears to be an acute shortage of honesty in Naga society today.

He stated this while addressing the Kohima Ongpangkong Telongjem (KOT) golden jubilee celebration held on the theme ‘Ochi Puküm’ (zealous to truth) at Moluki in Kohima.

Jamir asserted that people have seen how Nagas are not truthful through their actions because they are ‘denying what was written and agreed upon’.

He questioned whether the elected members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) were true to the oath of allegiance taken in the name of God, while also questioning the commitment of the members to the cause of the Nagas.

The veteran leader opined that Nagas are still talking about the past and nothing else in the present day. Jamir pointed out that the people talk about the Simon Commission which, he said, has done things relevant to its time and generation and it is in the historical record; while they also talk about the Plebiscite of 1951,which was in tandem with the times but ‘that is not the conversation that the people are having today’.

In this regard, irrespective of its historical significance, ‘we must ponder whether we’ll get anywhere or not by sticking to the stipulations of the Simon Commission’, he stated.

While asserting that the Framework Agreement (FA) was signed on August 3, 2015, between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM), in the presence of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister among others, he added that negotiations were conducted ‘not just to discuss but to take action’. He said ‘negotiations were going on for more than twenty years; written it, read it, revised it front and back before it (FA) was signed’.

‘My contention to the ongoing Indo-Naga political talk is that if the Framework Agreement was signed in the spirit of truthfulness and understanding, then why the government is yet to manifest’, Jamir said.

Pointing out that so many things were left unsaid the day when one of the most important documents was signed, he stated that it is ‘unbecoming to dictate terms of an agreement after two years had lapsed’.

“I’d state that is not the promise of truth but they are teasing us”, he said.

Furthermore, Jamir also called on the civil society, churches and society at large to make preparations to accommodate members of the faction after dissolution, asserting that the journey will only be possible if the people proceed with love and forgiveness.

He also called upon the church, family as a unit and individuals to take concrete steps towards clean election by renewing the promise to stay true and clean, in order to exhibit truthfulness as Christians.

CEO of Investment Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Alemtemshi Jamir reminisced about the formation of KOT on August 2, 1972 as result of the political unrest in the state, sensing the need for a united front to cope with the political upheaval.

He also stressed on the need to develop strategies to adapt to change in order to evolve as people in the globalised world amidst scientific advancement.

Alemtemshi further called for efforts from the people to not be dependent on the government, and yet be rational to review the implications of Article 371 A in the present context; he also stressed on the need to work towards empowerment of women in Naga society.

Earlier, the presidential address was delivered by Jongpongtoshi, president of KOT, where he hailed the pioneers and paid tribute to the past leaders. He also added that the occasion is a time to retrospect and introspect in order to make the Jubilee celebration more meaningful.

Greetings were delivered by Lipokmeren Jamir, president of Ongpangkong Mundang (OM); Chubalepzuk Jamir, president of Kohima Ao Telongjem (KAT) and Tiasola, president of Kohima Ongpangkongtsür Telongjem.

To mark the occasion, a souvenir was also released, and the two oldest citizens of KOT, both male and female in Kohima, were also felicitated to signify the jubilee.