Naga Hoho (NH) office bearers have disowned the press statement issued by NH president titled “It’s time to wrap up Naga Peace Talk”, published on February 26, 2025.
In a press release, NH vice president David Boyes, general secretary Atoho K Kiho, speaker Pauheu Newme, I&P secretary SP Raili, finance secretary Vikugha Phucho and joint secretary Komral Longphi said that NH president’s statement contained opinions and assertions on contentious Naga political issues, some of which, they maintained were “tantamount to imposition upon the negotiating parties.”
The signatories said that NH executive meeting agreed on the need for a unified approach to the Naga political issue paving way for a common draft that incorporated both the signed agreements for a final settlement. However, they said that there was “no discussion on competencies or the need to issue a public statement on them at this juncture.”
Further, NH office bearers said that the NH president’s statement was issued without any prior information or notice with any of the core members of the executives. They termed as “unfortunate” that it was not first instance of “such unilateral public statements.”
The signatories said that NH president was informally as well as formally advised “to retract the press statement under scrutiny as a personal opinion and not a collective Naga Hoho statement”, but he has failed to do so.
Therefore, the executives of the NH said they have been compelled to disown the press statement “It’s time to wrap up Naga Peace Talk” as a personal opinion of the president and not the collective position of the Naga Hoho.
Meanwhile, they said that for all matters regarding “this unsavory affair,” the executives would be “subservient to and abide by the decision” handed out by NH Federal Assembly to be convened shortly, adding they would “not be engaging in any public debate through press or social media.”