EMN
Kohima, March 9
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Poumai community of Nagaland has expressed full solidarity and support behind the Poumai Naga Union (PNU) after the armed underground group NSCN (IM) reportedly issued a diktat against the PNU. The community is said to have declared a ‘non-cooperation movement against’ the underground organization.
The Poumai Hoho of Nagaland issued a press release on Monday assuring that the tribal organization would stand in ‘non-cooperation’ against the diktat until it was lifted by the NSCN (IM). The organization has made clear that the Poumi has every right to protect and defend their people and land.The press release was appended by the president of the Poumai Hoho of Nagaland SP Raile and Secretary Ch. Laveini. The organization has stated that the hoho extend full support to its parent organization the Poumai Naga union for declaring non-cooperation movement against the NSCN (I-M) ‘declared during its special general assembly in Koide village on March 6 till the ban is lifted upon PNU.’
The Poumai Hoho Nagaland expressed dismay and said it had seriously viewed the “ban order” issued by the convener of steering committee of the underground organization on February 18 to the Poumai Naga Union. The statement said that the group had alleged the union to be “anti-national and against the universal human rights principles.”
The Poumai Hoho of Nagaland stated that it was unfortunate on the part of the NSCN (I-M) to have issued such an “order” branding the Poumai people as anti-national. The community has not committed any blunder that tantamount to deserving to be termed “anti-national” by “interfering the family matter of Thiwa village without any proper enquiry into actual reason behind on the issue and took such a pre-mature decision.”
The hoho has made clear to the armed group that a person or organization may be declared “anti-national only if the action was pre-judicial to the interest of his own nation.” However, the hoho stated, the “order” was issued based on the version fed by the western Tangkhul people in connivance with some vested inhabitants of Thiwa village without any consultation on Poumai people, the hoho stated.
The hoho also reminded the underground organization and the Naga people that Thiwa village was one of the Poumai ancestors’ villages proved ‘historically, socially, politically, traditionally and culturally.’ The Poumai has every right to protect and safeguard its people and land, the hoho reminded.
