Dimapur, Jan. 19: Ao Senden, the apex Ao tribal body, has excommunicated 18 persons from the community for a period of 30 years for going against the wishes of the community, particularly in relation to the ensuing Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) elections.
An Ao Senden statement on Thursday said 8 persons from Tuli (5 male and 3 female) and 10 persons from Dimapur (8 male and 2 female) were banished for not heeding to its appeals.
Meanwhile, Ao Senden has expressed gratitude to all the members of the six Ao ranges, landowners of Mokokchung town, All Ward Union of Mokokchung Town, Ao Kaketshir Mungdang, Lanur Telongjem, students' union of the landowner villages and especially all the leaders and individuals from the six Ao ranges, who understanding the need to protect the rich traditional customs and rights participated, provided financial assistance and shared their wisdom during the agitation against the conduct of ULB elections January 3, 2017 till January 9, 2017.
Ao Senden, along with other Naga tribes, have reaffirmed its opposition to conducting the municipal and town council elections in the present format as it infringes on the Naga traditional and customary practices. The Ao Senden is grateful to all those Aos, who earlier had the interest to contest in the ULB elections, but agreed not to contest by withdrawing their candidature by heeding to its call.
It said those, who have not adhered to this clarion call and are determined to contest in the forthcoming elections against the decision of the Aos as communicated earlier in January 12, 2017, are ex-communicated from the Ao society for the next 30 years. It further stated that those persons will not have any rights as an Ao in any of the Ao and Naga organisations adding they will neither be allowed to identify nor be given any rights as an Ao in any government or private institutions.
AYO warns harbouring candidates
Reaffirming its earlier resolution, Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) today warned that any family or house-owner harbouring those ex-communicated members would be held accountable.
A joint press release issued by AYO president Neinguvotuo Krose and the vice president Peter Rutsa said any family or house owner in the Angami areas detected harbouring these negative characters under their roof currently or gets reported to have being doing so even at a later date will be held accountable and viewed seriously.
Meanwhile, AYO thanked all concerned for paying heed of its directives and adhering to it.
AYO, with all sincerity, prayed that the current imbroglio is resolved collectively by our Naga elders, our legal luminaries, our intellectuals, legislators and the government at the earliest keeping in mind the interest of our future generation and not just the present.
AYO, however, stated that it will do all within its capability to uphold and protect the current APO resolution which was passed in the interest of Angamis in particular and Nagas in general till such time a consensus and honourable decision is arrived at.
AYO thanked all its community members both old and the young for the exemplary courage and readiness to serve under APO/AYO. It thanked them for upholding their respective duties and obligations. It further thanked all those who prayed to God for peace to prevail and those who encouraged AYO to be steadfast.
