‘Only trust’ required for solving Naga issue, not new political philosophy, says NPF president

KOHIMA: President of Naga People’s Front (NPF) Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu on Wednesday said solution to the Naga issue requires ‘trust’ and not a new political philosophy.

He was addressing the first Central Office Bearers (COB) meeting for this year at Central Office Headquarters in Kohima.

Dr. Liezietsu maintained that despite some people trying to divert the mind of the young generation to forget the Naga political problem, it will remain the same until a solution is arrived at which is “honourable, acceptable and inclusive.”

“Solution to this problem does not require any new political philosophy. What is required is ‘trust’ and nothing more,” he said.

Asserting that it will be wrong to blame the Government of India at this juncture, he said ‘we have to blame ourselves in delaying the solution’, adding that it depends on the leaders  —  ‘may be underground, state government, civil society or tribal leaders etc’.

Dr. Liezietsu pointed out that despite all the changes taking place, one thing that has remained unchanged with the Nagas is ‘the seven decades old Naga political problem.’

‘Other things may keep on changing but the Naga political problem can never change until and unless the matter is solved with political and human approach.

‘To tackle this problem, the past history is indispensable. Without having the knowledge of the past history, it will be a futile attempt for a young politician to solve this problem in his own perception, however highly qualified he may be, however smart and intelligent he may be, because solution to this problem does not require new political philosophy but the political approach based on its history,’ he shared.

He went on to state that the NPF still holds that political philosophy, under the banner of NPF, passed on by elders, and is the “only honourable way” to solve the Naga problem.

‘We are there and we will continue to be there till our goal is achieved,’ he said.

‘Let everything keep on changing as per the prevailing contemporary realities but since the Naga political problem remains the same without solution for the last more than seven decades, let no politician ever try to misinterpret the problem because the problem remains a reality for the Nagas,’ he said.

Opining that Nagas have too many organisations and leaders, he said all these leaders have been preaching about unity and understanding among the Nagas, but on the contrary, they have been creating divisions and factions among the Nagas.

“By doing that, Naga leaders themselves have been reducing the Naga politics into tribal politics and village politics,” he said.

The president said 2022 was a year full of trials and temptations for the members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NPF MLAs) while many of them left the party at the eleventh hour of the 14th General Elections in Nagaland.

He stated that those MLAs left the party at such an odd time, not that they have any differences with their earlier commitment to the party policies and principles, particularly towards solution of the Naga political problem. He opined that the main reason for them to leave the party was the question of money, ‘where and how to get resources to finance their elections that was coming in 2023.’

He said the party will not blame them nor blame anybody either, adding that no amount of justification can cover the act of defection in politics.

“Rather, I will advise them to retrospect and to come back home if there can be realisation; because that will be for their better future,” he added.

Pointing out that in the General Elections in February this year, six national political parties from other states participated in Nagaland elections, but ‘they did not mention even a single word about the Naga political problem during their campaign’.

“Why hesitate to talk the hard truth?” he asked.

‘When we say that NPF is the only regional party representing the identity of the Naga people, those politicians become allergic to such expression. But it is too dangerous for any politician to attempt to change the mindset of the young generation by suppressing the truth. Posterity will never forgive such an act,’ he said.

NPF General Convention

Meanwhile, the president said the NPF could not hold its General Convention for two consecutive terms due to the pandemic followed by the 14th General Elections in Nagaland.

He informed that the matter was taken up by the working committee in its meeting on April 26 and it resolved to reschedule the General Convention of the party by one year, ie., from 2024 to 2023, which means cutting short the present tenure of office bearers by December 31, 2023.

Meanwhile, NPF Legislature Party Leader, Kuzholuzo Nienu, in his speech, asked the party workers not to recollect the bitter past and destroy a perfect future ahead, while he also urged them to put their trust and faith in God almighty.

He remarked that owing to changing political dynamics, there is a need to adopt its policies and strategies in a befitting manner in the changing times.

Nienu observed that the present Naga society has enormous frustrations coupled with corruption and the inability to handle problems. He stressed on the need to address the root causes and solve the problems by reforming and by learning the right lesson from the past and recent failures.

Further, he pledged to protect and safeguard the interest of the party in all circumstances and asserted that the party will not entertain any arrangement which is detrimental to the interests of the NPF party.

MLA and NPF party secretary general Achumbemo Kikon, in his speech, said the party has and will withstand all forces and it exists to safeguard the indigenous people,  while reiterating the ideologies of the party.

Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Toshiho Sheqi, General Secretary; the programme was chaired by Pusazo Luruo, Working President; and vote of thanks was proposed by Khongjah Konyak, Vice president.

On the occasion, the following resolutions were also adopted:

• The House put on record the effort put in by all the COB, division office bearers and area units in the February 2023 Assembly Election in Nagaland. The house also acknowledged the logistic support rendered by the NPF Manipur state unit during the Assembly Election in Nagaland.
• The House while congratulating Kuzholuzo Nienu and Achumbemo Kikon for their victory in the 2023 Assembly Election, appreciated all the NPF official candidates who fought till the last despite all odds.
• The House decided to propose the General Convention, which is due in November 2024, to October 21, 2023 in Kohima.
• The House endorsed the party president to constitute the election board for Central as convention.
• It resolved to endorse the Working Committee as Finance Committee for the proposed General Convention.
• The House decided to invite 2000 active members for the General Convention drawn from all the division and state units.
• The House urged upon the GOI and the NSCN (IM) and WC-NNPG to expedite the political dialogue and bring it to a logical conclusion.