Naga Hoho (NH) Wednesday appreciated the resolution adopted by Joint Legislators Forum (JLF) under the leadership of chief minister Neiphiu Rio for their willingness to step aside from the present position/status in the event of “Indo-Naga” political settlement.

In a consultative meeting held at Kohima, NH also appealed to the Naga MLAs in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to follow the footsteps of Nagaland Legislators in case of any “agreement/settlement” in Naga inhabited areas.

While unanimously adopting two key resolutions, NH lauded the Government of India and the principal negotiators for working with “utmost care and sincerity” towards bringing a settlement to “Indo-Naga” political issue at the earliest possible time.

In a statement, Naga Hoho president Keviletuo Kiewhuo and general secretary P.Chuba Ozukum said that the hoho reaffirmed the earlier resolution to support the ongoing peace process and that the Naga political issue to be solved by 2012. The hoho reiterated its stand for “reconciliation” among different groups.

During Wednesday’s consultative meeting, NH once again appealed to the political groups to shun all forms of “kidnapping and killings” in Naga areas in the interest of common people.

Naga Hoho further appealed to all groups to avoid “random collection of taxes” keeping in mind that the reconciliation process should not be considered “a license to impose taxation” upon citizens.
On CSC draft modalities.

In another resolution, NH lauded the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) on Petroleum and Natural Gas (PNG) for bringing out draft modalities for exploration of oil and natural resources.
The consultative meeting deliberated various proposals which could be included in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at later stage.

However, most of the tribe hohos present could not come with concrete decisions/opinions during the meeting.

It was decided that they should submit the same in written to NH before July 31 for further rectification and submission to CSC for necessary action, said the statement.

It may be mentioned that the draft modalities for the extraction of oil and natural gas and other natural resources was presented at the consultative meeting of CSC on PNG with tribal hohos and civil societies on July 13 at Kohima.

The meeting almost unanimously opted for the pure revenue sharing system out of the three proposed options.

However, since the tribal hohos were not authorized to give their final verdict, the meeting authorized the gathering hohos to go back to their respective communities and get the verdict and suggestions and submit the same by July 31.