Mokokchung, 5 September (MTNews): The Naga Hoho, in a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Nagaland on 4 September highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the Naga people due to the arbitrary division of their land between India and Myanmar without their consent. This division, it said, has resulted in the separation of families, clans, tribes, communities, and the Naga nation, leading to decades of resistance against forceful occupations.
According to the Naga Hoho, the Naga people in Myanmar currently inhabit approximately 390 Naga villages, with an estimated population of half a million. They comprise seven major Naga tribes and several minor ones, and their struggles have been exacerbated by the oppressive military regimes in Myanmar.
The Naga Hoho also pointed out that Nagas in Myanmar face significant socio-economic hardships, characterized by limited access to education and healthcare. Out of 390 Naga villages, only 266 are officially recognized by the Myanmar government, resulting in the absence of schools in 124 villages. The Hoho also noted that healthcare facilities are inadequate, with only two doctors and a few nurses serving the region.
Therefore, the Naga Hoho emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian assistance, education support, healthcare services, capacity building, and empowerment for the displaced Naga people from Myanmar. They called upon the Nagaland state government to recognize them as “People of Concern” and establish a border area humanitarian support team to ensure their well-being.
The Naga Hoho asserted that the present crisis is not solely a humanitarian or international issue but a matter of Naga unity and solidarity. They urged the government of Nagaland to promptly provide assistance and create a safe haven for the Naga people displaced from Myanmar.