Kohima, May 17: In what can be termed as another step towards ?Naga unity?, the apex tribal body of two districts in Nagaland ? the Tuensang-Mon Public Organisation (TMPO) ? has decided to reunite with the Naga Hoho, the umbrella organisation of all Naga tribal bodies and public organisations.
The TMPO formed a committee to prepare the groundwork for the reunion at its recently held meeting at Noklak in Tuensang district. It has also reportedly given an assurance to the Hoho about rejoining it. But both the Hoho and the TMPO are non-committal in public about the development.
A senior Hoho functionary in Dimapur told The Telegraph, ?We are going all out to bring them back. But right now we cannot commit anything as there are many vested interest groups working against the unity moves.?
?Some public leaders like former chief minister S.C. Jamir are responsible for dividing the people and are against the unity moves,? alleged Horangse Sangtam, president of the Naga Council, a constituent of the Hoho.
The TMPO had refused to send representatives to Ukhrul in Manipur to attend a Naga Hoho convention in 2000 and since then it has been abstaining from all Hoho meetings and functions. Ukhrul is an NSCN (I-M) bastion.
Following the TMPO?s decision, the student bodies of the districts, too, pulled out of the apex Naga students? body ? the Naga Students? Federation (NSF). Efforts are now on by the NSF to bring back the student bodies of the district under its fold. Though the apex tribal body of the twin districts of Tuensang and Mon ? strongholds of the NSCN (K) ? has never officially cited any reason for its decision to abstain, many attribute this to the bitter rivalry between the two NSCN factions. The NSCN (K), in the past, has accused the Hoho of being partisan and toeing the NSCN (I-M) line.
If the TMPO rejoins, then the ?partisan? tag would be lifted from the Hoho. It would thereby give a boost to the Hoho-led efforts to unite the warring Naga militant outfits, political observers in the state said.
The Noklak development came close on the heels of the NSCN (I-M) recent seven-point formula for unity and reconciliation among ?all sections of Naga society.? The Khaplang faction of the NSCN had also submitted a similar proposal to the Naga Hoho earlier.
The development is also being viewed as a shot in the arm for the new Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government?s unity moves. The government has formed a consultative committee for unity and reconciliation. In fact, the latest move by the TMPO got a fillip after chief minister Neiphiu Rio recently addressed a public rally at Noklak.
The state government has already earned appreciation from the apex tribal body for its unity moves. ?This government is sincerely working towards uniting the Nagas, unlike the previous government which was a stranger to us,? Naga Hoho president M. Vero told The Telegraph.