On the request of NSCN (I-M) to “bridge the confusion” arising out of a news report in Imphal-based daily, the Lotha organisations have acknowledged the request and agreed to settle the issue within its fraternity.
In a press release, Lotha Hoho chairman Mhao Humtsoe and general secretary Er. Mhondamo Ovung said this was agreed when representatives of Lotha organisations, Wokha and the NSCN (I-M) officials led by the Kilonser MIP and the Kilonser Kilo Incharge met at the Monitoring Cell office, Dimapur on March 11, 2016, for consultations and bridging the gap of miscommunication.
At the meeting, the release said NSCN (I-M) officials highlighted that the organisation would never betray the Naga cause and that till the Finalisation of the Naga Peace Negotiation, no land or its resources would be allowed to be taken out from the land of Nagas.
Further, the NSCN (I-M) officials assured that the organisation was never against any Naga, adding that Nagas wherever they may be were one family.
They also said that NSCN (I-M) was not against any initiative to safeguard the resources of the Nagas even by way of filing PIL, like what the Lotha Hoho had done.
NSCN (I-M) officials reportedly asserted that the manner of utilisation of the resources would be deliberated among the Naga owners, after a political settlement was finalised.
On the part of the Lotha organisations, they affirmed that the Lothas were only trying to safeguard the resources of the Nagas, like Petroleum and Natural Gas. Hence, they said filing of the PIL by Lotha Hoho was to sustain the basic rights of the Nagas, for ownership and transfer of land and its resources.
Therefore, the representatives of the two entities agreed that both NSCN (I-M) and the Lotha Hoho were having the same ideology — to safeguard the natural wealth of the Nagas.
Meanwhile, the Lotha representatives also clarified that the misconception about the existence of two names of the Lotha community; “Lotha” and “Kyong” was no longer an issue. They said the official nomenclature was “Lotha” as the erstwhile nomenclature of “Kyong” was “coined by some vested whims” and even the state cabinet never entertained the proposal to change “Lotha” to “Kyong”.
Hence, the Lotha organisations requested the NSCN (I-M) to use the official nomenclature of the Lotha community as “Lotha” henceforth in all communications and references and not otherwise.