Our Reporter
Dimapur, Oct. 12 (EMN): The Naga society is on the verge of collapsing because of tribalism, lamented Nagaland legislator Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu, saying that everyone is for one’s own tribe today.
He was speaking at the 1st Brotherhood Sports Meet of Western Sumi Sports Association (WSSA), Chakhroma Youth Organisation and Western Chakhesang Youth Organisation, at DDSC Stadium in Dimapur on Tuesday.
Hosted by WSSA, the theme of the sports meet was “Eradicating ism among the rizes through sports”.
Nienu asserted that ‘it is high time we rise above tribalism and live together as Nagas and work for the greater interest of the Nagas’. He urged the Nagas to come together and create a peaceful atmosphere.
‘Nagas from Manipur, Myanmar, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are all our brothers, so our main objective should be to try to bring the Nagas together under one umbrella,’ he stated.
He reminded the three tribes that they should come together not to dominate over other tribes but they to set an example and create unity among all the Naga tribes.
He said that various factions of Naga political groups are losing respect today, unlike some years ago “because of their disunity and individual interest and particular factional interest”.
Describing the “Brotherhood Sports Meet” as a historic day, he said that it is a new beginning for the three brothers and also for the rest of the Nagas.
Zhaleo Rio, Advisor of Sericulture, Excise and Minority Affairs, urged the people to stand together and support each other in the right way to uplift the state as a whole.
He opined that Nagas tend to support their own tribes irrespective of wrong doings. Citing many inflammatory and fake posts on social media that can disturb unity, he appealed to the youth and also the leaders to speak the truth and condemn the wrong doings among their own tribes.
He urged the youths not to write any inflammatory post or comments on social media platforms without verifications but asked them to correct the elders and the governments as well.
While requesting tribal apex bodies to strengthen brotherhood, he said ‘we have to take pledge to show good example to others and act as peacemakers and create oneness’.
He claimed that even public officers and bureaucrats prefer to appoint (recruit) people from their own tribes in their departments.
G Kaito Aye, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperation, stated that ‘we call ourselves Nagas but we are not coming together. The Naga issue is still unsolved because of all of us and our ego and we have poisoned ourselves from the beginning’.
He advised the gathering to ‘go beyond our own tribes and we have to bring everyone together. And practically if we put effort and play our role, we can help Nagas and I am confident that the brotherhood will create more atmospheres for better Nagas. With this trend of tribalism, we will vanish,’ he warned.
Western Sumi Hoho President Shikaho Zhimo also appealed to the members to take a strong resolution to take brotherhood forward daily and not just during functions and gatherings.
It was informed that football for men and volleyball for women will be played during the two-day Brotherhood Sports Meet. A total of six teams -- two each from each tribe -- will be participating in the event. Out of the two teams from each tribe, one is veteran and the other selected, it added.