The Watsü Mungdang, the apex body representing Ao Naga women, has strongly condemned a recent post by a Facebook page calling itself “The Patriotic Nagas,” which allegedly labelled Ao women as “promiscuous.” Watsü Mungdang expressed “dismay and indignation,” calling the remarks “most unfortunate and demeaning on all women, regardless of tribe or race.”
The organization criticized the “political maneuvers” behind the post, saying it “unfortunately dragged in the name of Ao women” in a manner that “insults the dignity” of the community. The Watsü Mungdang further questioned the integrity of those involved, stating, “It reveals the intellect and character of the so-called ‘patriotic Nagas.’”
Recalling past trauma endured by Ao Naga women, the Watsü Mungdang highlighted the suffering inflicted during “the turbulent times, when they were raped and murdered by the Indian army.” They asked if these “so-called patriots” had any awareness of “how many members of Ao Naga families were tortured and killed in front of their mothers and daughters by the Indian army because of our common goal.” They questioned if “any true Naga patriot would stoop so low as to call their own mothers and sisters promiscuous” or “hide behind brave-sounding pseudonyms like ‘Patriotic Naga’ to insult other Naga tribes.”
The organization denounced the “duplicity and cowardice” of the anonymous posters, calling them “double agents posing as patriots.” The post’s reliance on “some unnamed, unknown British bureaucrat’s observations” was described as a “feeble attempt” to disguise the underlying abuse of Ao women.
Identifying the “so-called ‘Patriotic Nagas’” as a divisive influence, Watsü Mungdang warned the Naga community to “be mindful and vigilant of such fraudsters posing as patriots.” In a firm statement, the Watsü Mungdang vowed to “leave no stone unturned, legal or otherwise, to uncover the true identity of this so-called ‘Patriotic Nagas’ and bring them to book,” adding that justice, “as per our Ao traditional customs, without compromise, will be served.”
Reflecting on the trials Ao women have faced, the organization affirmed that while “Ao Naga women have endured many horrendous trials over the past many decades,” they have done so “with self-respect and integrity.” However, they asserted, “to be accused of such turpitude by one who claims to be a Naga patriot is unforgivable.”
The Ao Senden, representing the entire Ao Naga community and affiliated civil organizations, has issued a strong condemnation of what it calls a “despicable attempt of character assassination” carried out by an anonymous individual in the Facebook page “The Patriotic Nagas.”
In a statement, Ao Senden expressed its indignation, describing the social media post as “not only an insult to the towering full blooded Ao Naga political veteran Dr SC Jamir, one of the architects of the State of Nagaland but to all the Ao Naga Community in general”.
The Ao Senden further condemned the post’s “sweeping venomous derogatory inference to immorality of Ao women in general” based on “wild unsubstantiated observation of some individual in the last century when we were still semi-primitive.” Such remarks, the statement read, are “totally uncalled for” and represent “an intolerable insult to not only Ao women but our whole community.”
The Ao Senden said they will leave no stone unturned till “this so-called naga is identified and takes this matter to a logical conclusion”.
In light of the situation, the Ao Senden has called on “all Ao citizens to stay alert in case of any exigency.”
The Ao Senden has on Tuesday, November 5, directed the administrators (admins) of the Facebook group ‘The Patriotic Nagas’ to produce the postmaster of the despicable post that attempted character assassination of Dr S C Jamir within 7 days from the day of publication of this directive in the office of the Ao Senden.
The Facebook page ‘The Patriotic Nagas’ is no longer accessible. Following a controversial post that sparked outrage within the Ao Naga community, the page became inaccessible as of the evening of November 5. Meanwhile, it was reported that the Dimapur Ao Youth Organization (DAYO) has filed an FIR against the administrators of ‘The Patriotic Nagas’ page.