Family of Late Imkongmeren snubs invitation to ‘dedication ceremony’ of a park in memory of the first vice president of NNC
Dimapur, Aug. 19 (EMN): Even as the Naga Hoho is set to organise a ‘dedication ceremony’ of Imkongmeren Memorial Park at Longkhum village in Mokokchung district on August 24, the family members of the first vice president of Naga National Council (NNC) will not attend the event, despite an invitation from the apex organisation.
In a statement issued on Monday, the family expressed gratitude to the Naga Hoho “for initiating to help create” the Imkongmeren Memorial Park in 2014.
“The project began in earnest in 2015, however not long after it began the work stopped. For more than three years, the work was neglected with no information on how and when it was to be completed. Therefore, the family of Late Imkongmeren took upon themselves to complete the work and the Imkongmeren Memorial Park was dedicated by Rev. T Aka Jamir, pastor of Longkhum Village Baptist Church on May 29, 2019,” it stated.
The family asserted that its decision to skip the ‘dedication ceremony’ on August 24 “in no manner takes away the gratitude towards the Naga Hoho for initially starting the project.”
It stated that the Naga Hoho, as an organisation, was started to bring and keep Nagas together. “Consequently the first democratic consultative process for the formation of the Naga Hoho took place in Mokokchung in 1996 which was hosted by Ao Senden and chaired by the Chakhesang People’s Organisation.
“The following year through due democratic consultative process the Naga Hoho was created in Zunheboto with Mr. M Vero as its first president. It is sad that over the years the Naga Hoho has lost its credibility and has arrived to where it is today. With the present turmoil within the Hoho, the family of Late Imkongmeren feels that the restoration of the legitimate mandate of the Hoho is the need of the hour and prays for God’s wisdom and direction towards achieving that end,” the statement read.
