The unprovoked firing incident at Diphupar L-Khel on September 28 has drawn strong condemnation from Diphupar Village Council (DVC), its frontal organisations, and the Working Committee of NNPG.
Meanwhile, GPRN/NSCN has refuted any involvement, terming the allegations a “mischievous scheme” aimed at tarnishing the image of its leaders and the WC, NNPGs.
Condemnations: Diphupar Village Council (DVC), Diphupar Naga Women’s Organisation (DNWO) and Diphupar Naga Youth Organisation (DNYO) and Working Committee of NNPG have strongly condemned the unprovoked firing incident carried out by some group of national workers at Diphupar L-Khel on the evening of September 28.
DVC chairman Ghuzui Shohe; DNWO chairperson Khriezovonuo and DNYO president T. Molungba Ao, said that at a time when the people of Nagaland were yearning for lasting peace and with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation making sincere efforts to bring all Naga political groups together, it was disheartening to witness certain groups attempting to settle internal scores in ways that threatened to derail the peace process.
They said such reckless and irresponsible actions not only disturbed public tranquility but also put innocent lives at risk. The council, along with its frontal organisations, sternly warned that it would not tolerate such acts in the future and cautioned that if such incidents were repeated, DVC would have no choice but to declare non-cooperation against the group responsible.
Further, the organisations appealed to all right-thinking citizens and organisations to stand united against such disruptive actions and to continue supporting the collective journey towards peace and reconciliation.
WC, NNPG: Working Committee of NNPG has strongly condemned the “dastardly act” of unprovoked firing on September 28 evening around 6:30 p.m. near the residence of its co-convener, Kiviho Zhimomi, alleging that it was carried out by cadres of GPRN/NSCN (Kitovi) led by one ‘maj. gen.’ Hinoto Yepthomi.
In a statement, WC said that similar physical and psychological threats continued even after the firing incident.
It said that while Nagas were striving to bring all political groups and stakeholders on common ground for an inclusive political solution, such reckless and outrageous conduct designed to sabotage the hard-earned peace and reconciliation process cannot be tolerated and must be condemned by every peace yearning citizen.
WC cautioned that any individual, group or leader resorting to violence, threats and intimidation to push one’s agenda must realize that the Naga people could no longer be subdued by such terror tactics.
Stating that abjuring violence and paving the way for peace, healing and unity was the only way forward to achieve the collective aspiration of the Nagas, WC appealed to all Naga political groups to exercise maximum restraint and resolve differences through dialogue and understanding.
GPRN/NSCN refutes: GPRN/NSCN has refuted allegations that its cadres were involved in the alleged unprovoked firing at the residence of Kiviho Zhimomi on September 28, terming the accusation as a “mischievous scheme” to tarnish the image of its ato kilonser N. Kitovi Zhimomi, and the WC, NNPGs in general.
In a press statement, MIP said that Kiviho was recruited ten years ago by N. Kitovi as an informer of GPRN/NSCN and had remained one until recently. It said many of his active cadres had joined GPRN/NSCN lately, including the group led by ‘maj. gen.’ Hinoto Yepthomi, and therefore the allegation that they fired inside his “unsecured house” does not arise.
Instead, MIP said, contrary to their disgraceful accusation, on September 28 one of Kiviho’s (absconding) cadres, who was asked to attend the FNR meeting at Zunheboto, was denied the journey. This infuriated some of his undisciplined cadres, leading them to fire indiscriminately within his complex before fleeing, MIP stated.
GPRN/NSCN said it could summon or arrest Kiviho “anytime if needed without wasting a single bullet,” and demanded that he withdraw his “immature and pathetic statement” to avoid provocation and “severe consequences.”
The statement also alleged that the “mastermind behind a habitual scammer” was engaged to carry out a character assassination attempt against WC, NNPG leader Hokato Vusshe, ato kilonser of NSCN (Khango-Vusshe), by fabricating charges of fake currency printing and inviting local media to “name and shame” fellow national workers. It said the individual currently in police custody would eventually expose the “real masterminds” behind the scheme.
GPRN/NSCN cautioned that when “counterfeit national workers” begin acting like police forces and assisting Indian security agencies in creating fake narratives, the Naga political issue was at stake.
MIP said Kitovi, convener of WC, NNPGs and head of the negotiation team which signed the Agreed Position on November 17, 2017, was not a publicity seeker.
It stated that his survival instinct, understanding of history, correct political decisions at crucial times and vast experience made him a proven leader.
His duty, MIP said, was to take the Indo-Naga political conflict to an acceptable, honourable, enduring and inclusive conclusion. It cautioned that undermining him with baseless statements would be self-defeating and urged those indulging in smear campaigns to immediately desist from such anti-Naga tirade.