State chief minister Neiphiu Rio, deputy CMs– TR Zeliang and Y Patton and other organisations including student bodies have strongly condemned the vandalism of Naga Club building at Kohima by unidentified miscreants.
In a tweet, Rio said that respect for private and public properties was fundamental in a civilized society. Rio appealed to all right-thinking citizens to maintain peace and harmony.
TR Zeliang: Terming as “unfortunate” the incident of vandalism, deputy CM TR Zeliang said that no one should take the law into their own hands. Reminding that there was a legal system in place, he said taking action based on one’s own personal judgement was wrong.
He appealed to all responsible to be accommodative in their approach while finding ways and means to solve problems because such violent acts of vandalism would turn things from bad to worse. He also called upon the law enforcing agencies to investigate and initiate action at the earliest.
Y Patton: Deputy chief minister Y Paton said he was disturbed by the act of vandalism. Patton said that fundamental respect for both public and private properties underscored any civilized society. “I strongly condemn this act of destruction that undermines our collective peace,” Patton said.
Imchen: Condemning the incident, advisor IPR and S&WC, Imkong L Imchen expressed hope that the culprits were booked at the earliest. Imchen said he was pained to see such acts taking place among the Nagas.
Narrating the history of the building where the NSF office was located, he recalled that when the Forest department had in 1983 vacated the building that belonged to Naga Club, it was agreed upon that NSF was the natural inheritor of the legacy of Naga Club. He said, after meeting then general secretary of Naga Club Vilavor Liegisie, NSF agreed to pay Rs 500 as rent and that was how the student body came to occupy the building.
APO: Angami Public Organization (APO) has expressed deep concern over the vandalism of NSF office, which it said was also a heritage building.
In a statement, APO president Razouvotuo Chatsu described the act as “wrong and unjustifiable” and asserted that such acts were alien to the cultures and traditions of ancestors.
APO stated that the iconic Naga Club building, which was a purposeful office of the NSF, was associated with Naga people’s history. APO said that the building was preserved and used valiantly by patriotic Naga youths to uphold the Naga struggle, adding that to destroy such a monument was a great loss for all the Nagas.
“It is understood that the grand Naga Club Building has been embroiled in conflict,” APO said and expressed belief that pursuing amicable and lasting solutions to conflicts could only stem from mutual respect and dialogue.
Further, APO said that Naga Club was Naga History, adding “we cannot put a price on what our pioneers achieved and passed down to us.”
APO has, therefore, appealed to all Nagas to show understanding of the positions taken in the conflict. APO also appealed all to desist from aggravating situations but show the compassion in helping resolve the issue, which it said would also help all sides in evolving a solution that will serve the larger cause of the Nagas.
NESO: North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), which represents eight student bodies of North East region—NSF, Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF), All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU) and All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU)— has condemned the vandalization of NSF office.
In a communiqué, NESO chairman Samuel B Jyrwa stated that NSF office had been functioning for so many decades that it no longer remained only a building, but a part and parcel of the history of Naga people.
The organisation recalled that it was in this office that many deliberations and crucial decisions were made for the wellbeing, uplift and protection of Naga people.
Noting that the NSF in its journey of more than 75 years had faced and overcome so many trials and challenges, of which the latest episode was just another challenge, the NESO said it was very confident that the federation would be able to overcome this one too. The organisation also expressed its solidarity with the NSF and announced full support to the federation.
NH: Naga Hoho expressed shock over the incident and appealed to the responsible authority to immediately act against such perpetrators and award befitting punishment.
NH through its president HK Zhimomi stated that NSF office holds the Naga political history, sentiments and emotions of every Naga. The hoho, therefore, stated that the attack was “a murder to the future Naga generation.”
KPC: Kohima Press Club (KPC) through its president Alice Yhoshü and general secretary Atono Tsükrü Kense expressed deep concern over incident, which “indirectly” affected the temporary working office of the KPC that was housed within the Naga Club building.
KPC stated that any act of vandalism was unwarranted and that of cowardice, and had no place in a civilized society. The club has urged the responsible authorities to conduct a swift investigation into the incident and take action as per the law of the land.
ASU: Angami Students’ Union (ASU) expressed anguish and concern over the act of vandalism and appealed to the law enforcing agencies to immediately arrest the perpetrators and “initiate the most befitting action” as per the law of the land.
ASU through its president Bisevi Nakhro and vice president Kevilelhou Zumu stated that such vandalism was alien to the Naga people. The union stated that the audacity of some miscreants to mastermind “this heinous act” in Angami homeland was a direct confrontation with the ASU.
ASU stated that it would not tolerate “this cowardly barbarism” and warned those perpetrators to immediately surrender themselves or bear the brunt of the union, sating the union would “go all out” in delivering justice to the NSF and ANCSU. ASU has informed its units to be prepared for any call.
AKM: Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) said it was “greatly disturbed” by incident and urged the responsible authority to take necessary action at the earliest.
AKM through its president Lanutoshi Aier and general secretary Satemmongba described the perpetrators as “not common miscreants, but anti Naga national elements.”
AKM also affirmed unwavering support to the NSF in particular and the Naga people in general in their collective endeavour to “build and rebuild not only the physical building but most importantly the Naga nation at this challenging moment.”
RSU: Rengma Students’ Union (RSU) expressed shock over the act of vandalism and demanded the competent authority immediately bring the perpetrators to book and accord exemplary justice as deemed by the law.
RSU through its president Ajo Tsela condemned the act by “some few wayward individual(s)” to dismantle the “very heritage and tarnish the undying legacy” of Naga pioneers who had sown the “seeds of Naga-ness”, adding that their memory continued to be fondly revered and visibly envisaged in the form of the Naga Club building.
Further, RSU stated that “such barbaric actions” committed against the NSF was an open confrontation against every Naga student, youth and the Naga people.
The union affirmed that it would extend support and cooperation to the office of NSF in “whatever measures and courses of action that may be initiated.”
DNSU: Expressing dismay and grief over the act of vandalism, the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) through its president Moayanger Jamir and general secretary Sedelo T Vadeo stated that “this act of extreme crime” was committed by “anti-Naga miscreants” who were a threat to the entire Naga Nation.
DNSU has, therefore, appealed to the responsible authorities to immediately take the necessary actions and bring those involved in public domain.
Further, the union appealed to all the Nagas to condemn “such Anti-Naga illicit activities” that were a threat to the unity and integrity of Nagas.
DNSU affirmed that it “completely” endorsed the NSF in solving the issue, adding that the union would render its “unwavering support toward executing justice.”
AYO: Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) through its president Kesosul Christopher Ltu and general secretary Neidilhoutuo Sechu strongly condemned the vandalism and cautioned that the organisation would not tolerate any action that was detrimental to the progress of the Naga society.
AYO expressed dismay that the Naga Club Building, which stands as a history to the Naga aspirations, was destroyed by unknown miscreants. AYO stated that the incident was not just an attack on the building, but on the essence, fabric and legacy of the Nagas as the building today was a testimony of the Naga journey thus far.
Further, AYO vehemently denounced the act of the perpetrators and appealed the law enforcing agencies to be prompt in arresting the culprits and punish them befittingly.
It also affirmed support to NSF, ANCSU and the KPC at this hour and assured to support them in their demand for stringent action against the perpetrators.
TUD: Tenyimi Union Dimapur (TUD) expressed shock at the act vandalism by anti-social elements. TUD stated that the highhandedness and atrocious act committed by any individual or group cannot be tolerated when Nagas were striving for peaceful coexistence.
TUD through its media team maintained that NSF since its inception had been a beacon of hope and voice of the Nagas within its boundaries and beyond for citizens both young and old alike.
TUD stated that any misunderstanding and dissension could be amicably settled without resorting to such despicable actions.
The union has called for arresting the culprits and those masterminds without any fear or favour.
TUD further appealed to all responsible citizens to condemn such act.
