Naga Hoho reaffirms desire to live as "one people, one nation"

Says Nagas will face catastrophic effects if divided or split within a given tribe

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Naga Hoho, the apex body of the Nagas, has asked the Centre to come up with an early settlement to the protracted Naga political issue and reaffirmed to live as "one people and one nation".

Speaking at the 10th Naga Hoho general session at Wokha yesterday, Naga Hoho president Keviletuo Kiewhuo said, "Time has come for the tribe hohos and Naga Hoho to remain firm and once again put the historical and political rights of the Naga people in the right perspective."

He said that the political negotiation between the government of India and the NSCN for an honourable and acceptable settlement has been bouncing back and forth for the past 16 years without yielding any result.

"The long drawn exhausting political dialogue has produced dismay and given space to negative forces to prosper at the cost of our political rights," Kiewhuo said.

"Whatever price we may have to pay, we cannot remain silent to the distortion and undermining of the political rights," he said.

Stating that every Naga tribe must be strong and vigilant, he said "The Naga people will face catastrophic effects if we allow division or split within a given tribe."

Accepting that in a highly strategic political negotiation, full transparency may not be possible, he said however, "Certain indications must trickle down to the people for discourse and digestion for acceptability."

The session elected P Chuba Ozukum and Mutsikhoyo Yhobu to lead the new team of Naga Hoho as the president and general secretary for 2013-18.