Responding to the dismay expressed by GPRN/NSCN Religious Affair Kilonser Kewungkhum over banner containing his picture, the three apex bodies of Sangtam community — United Sangtam Likhum Pumji(USLP), Aketa Sangtam Thsingmujanglaru (AST) and United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) — have clarified that since the men in uniform did not bear any of the Naga Political Group’s “collar tab and arm badge” the picture was displayed.
Kewunkhum had clarified that the said picture was taken in 2013 at Himpio with Konyak and Tuensang Naga armies when he was then education minister of NSCN (K) with sole purpose to publish a book titled ‘Oracle: basing on Naga People and the land of Naga and the Rights’.
In a press release, USSC general secretary Achumba Thonger said the Sangtam bodies while protesting government’s failure to fulfil the charters of demand have regretted for the actions that might have hurt the sentiments of any NPGs and any individual concerned during the protest on March 11. Meanwhile, they also appealed to all the NPGs to cooperate with their charters of demand submitted to the state government and lend support to “ban Tribal Armies” in the interest of peaceful coexistence.