I am constrained to issue this statement with a view to set the record straight and in regards to the press release issued by Ao Senden ex-communicating me from Ao community. While I am fully prepared to accept the decision of Ao Senden to ex-communicate me, I feel that it is incumbent upon me to express my views on the sequence of events that led to such an eventuality.
Ao Senden claims that this drastic step was taken because of defiance on my part to resign from the post of President of Naga Hoho. According to Ao Senden, this directive in turn was issued because of non withdrawal of a letter written by Naga Hoho to the Government of Nagaland recommending recognition of Rongmei community as indigenous Naga tribe. Naga Hoho on its part has time and again responded that it never recommended granting of indigenous Naga tribe to Rongmei community. Rather, the Naga Hoho through a letter written to the state government opined that Rongmei community be granted indigenous inhabitant status as in the case of Kukis, Kacharis and Garos. In the meantime, I learnt that Ao Senden representatives had expressed their desire to withdraw from Naga Hoho at a meeting of CNTC. It is quiet ironic to know that an important decision such as withdrawal from Naga Hoho had to be taken not in any platform of Ao Senden but only in a meeting of CNTC. Nevertheless, on hearing this, I met the Presidential Executive Council of Ao Senden in their office on 31st July 2016 at Mokokchung where after presenting to them my position, expressed my willingness to step down from Naga Hoho before Ao Senden officially dissociated itself from Naga Hoho if at all that is the expressed decision of Ao Senden. The Presidential council dissuaded me from resigning from the post of President of Naga Hoho saying that it was never the intention nor the decision of Ao Senden to ask me to step down from Naga Hoho Presidentship. Subsequently, Ao Senden withdrew from Naga Hoho with the plea that till the Naga Hoho letter is withdrawn, it will remain dissociated from Naga Hoho. Later, I was given seven days notice on 16.11.2016 to step down from the post of President of Naga Hoho. Accordingly, I offered to step down before the expiry of seven days notice from the Presidentship of Naga Hoho on moral ground during its Presidential council meeting on 21.11.2016 which the Naga Hoho rejected due to obvious reasons and asked me to continue as President.
Since CNTC and its constituent Tribe Hohos including Ao Senden remained firm on insisting on the withdrawal of Naga Hoho’s letter to the state government, it did so Vide letter No.NH/Corr-04/2013-18, Dated-23-11-16. Inspite of all these conciliatory overtures on the part of Naga Hoho and my individual self for the sake of unity and fraternity among the Naga family, Ao Senden rather than re-joining Naga Hoho decided to ex-communicate me through a proclamation in the print media. I assumed that this action was taken against me for fulfilling the demands of Ao Senden and other CNTC constituent units.
I also strongly feel that the actions meted out to me by Ao Senden, the apex body of the Ao community is uncalled for and that it amounts to witch hunting of sorts. This view on mine can be substantiated by the following facts:
1. All the communications with regard to Rongmei status were made in the year 2008 during which time I was not the President of Naga Hoho. Subsequent decisions taken by Naga Hoho were made collectively and not by me alone in my personal capacity.
2. When I approached Ao Senden Presidential Council offering to step down from the position of President of Naga Hoho, I was advised not to do so. I was informed that Ao Senden will simply withdraw from Naga Hoho till withdrawal of the contentious letter written by Naga Hoho to the state government.
3. When I was served seven days notice by Ao Senden to quit Naga Hoho and its Presidentship, I immediately offered to resign from Naga Hoho but it was rejected by the Presidential council of the Naga Hoho during its meeting on 21-11-2016. I was under obligation to follow laid down norms and procedures of an Organization in which I am the President.
4. I was never given opportunity to present my case by Ao Senden. Notices and orders were simply issued intimating their decisions either through letters or through the media.
5. The decision to join NTC and CNTC were taken by the General Assembly (Lenla Mungdang) of Ao community, whereas, dissociation from Naga Hoho was taken at CNTC meeting at Dimapur by a handful of representatives of Ao Senden without the knowledge of Office Bearers or the Presidential council of Ao Senden.
6. The interim Ao Senden under the Acting President and General Secretary taking such serious steps by signing in the Expulsion/ Ex-communication order is very controversial in nature if we are to follow the decorum of any Civil societies/ apex organizations.
Having stated the above, I am prepared to accept the decision of the Interim Ao Senden to ex-communicate me from Ao citizenship if it is acceptable to the entire Ao community and permitted under the Ao customary laws and practices. I may however mention here that it is imperative for all right thinking Ao citizens to study whether ex-communication of an Ao citizen by Ao Senden without the knowledge and approval of the village to which the individual belong is mandated by the time tested and well established customary laws and practices of Aos. I feel that if opinions are not shared in public domain by concerned Ao citizens, then a new precedence will be set, the consequences of which will have to be borne by the future generations for a long time to come.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the entire citizenry of my native village, Yimjenkimong in general and the Putu Menden in particular for not only protecting my citizenship but also for extending fullest cooperation and standing by me and my family during this difficult times. Most importantly, I also express my sincere thanks particularly to those citizens of Ao community and the Nagas in general who have been sensitive to my position and have patiently stood by me offering all kinds of assistance and support.
May Almighty God bless Naga people
P.Chuba Ozukum
Kohima
chubaozukum@gmail.com
