Won’t tolerate further split among Naga Political Groups, says 14 Tribal Hohos of Nagaland

Dimapur, Oct. 22 (EMN): The 14 Tribal Hohos of Nagaland have said that they won’t tolerate any further split among the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) and new groups won’t be allowed to function in their respective jurisdictions.

The statement came close on the heels of reports that the NSCN/GPRN-Reformation (NSCN-R) could be heading for a split following differences among its leaders.

The 14 tribes stated that further split or differences must not take place among the factions at a time when unity is the ‘call of the day’ for early settlement of Naga political issue.

‘All the factions (NPGs) should willingly come to the negotiating table, taking advantage present development wherein all political parties of Nagaland government had come together to pave way for early solution, which is the desire of all the Naga civil societies,’ it stated.

While appreciating ‘the agreement signed between the NPGs’, the 14 Tribal Hohos stated that Nagas have struggled for more than seven decades, during which thousands of people had died, many imprisoned and several villages burnt down to ashes “but still Nagas did not lose hope, hoping against hope of the beginning of a new dawn in the history of Nagaland”.

“Nagas, who are scattered to many states, have come to realise the need for peaceful settlement,” it said.

‘After many years of attempt, finally the initiative taken by the NSCN (IM) and thereafter, the seven NNPGs for holding peace talk with the government of India has seen progress for the early settlement of the Naga issue. As such, the Naga Tribal Hohos, all civil societies and the government of Nagaland have appealed to all the factions to come in one accord to the negotiating table for a peaceful settlement,’ it added.

The tribal hohos went on to say that former interlocutor RN Ravi had said that “integration and independence” weren’t possible but the final agreement will cover the Nagas in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

‘There may he many differences in opinions amongst the negotiating parties but those things should not sabotage the negotiation with the government of India for early solution,’ it stated.

The 14 tribes went on to say that the future of Naga youths and the younger generation is bleak if a peaceful settlement isn’t implemented at the earliest.

It may be mentioned that a press release stated to be from the MIP of NSCN (R) and issued earlier this week, hinted at a possible new development in the group. It informed that several leaders had ‘declared their loyalty and allegiance to their collective leader, vice president Akato Chophi’, and supported the call for “Re-Reformation”.

It went on to inform that it would soon make a “declaration for endorsement” of some important and impending issues.

Meanwhile, another statement signed by the president of NSCN (R) Y Wangtin Naga and General Secretary P Tikhak assured to resolve all the differences soon, saying that it’s not a time to create new factions but to collectively find a political solution to the Naga issue.