Mokokchung, 22nd September 2026 (Nokinketer News): The Ao Lanur Telongjem (ALT) has condemned what it described as “politically motivated personal attacks” against former Nagaland chief minister and former Governor of Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa, Dr S.C. Jamir, by leaders of the NSCN (IM) and Naga People’s Front (NPF).
In a statement, the ALT took exception to recent remarks attributed to NSCN (IM) leaders V.S. Atem, described as the group’s “Deputy Ato Kilonser”, and R.H. Raising, a member of its “Collective Leadership”, questioning the former chief minister’s role and standing in the Naga political discourse.
The organisation particularly objected to Mr Atem’s reported assertion that the veteran leader was neither authorised nor mandated to represent the Naga people in the ongoing political negotiations, and Mr Raising’s reported description of him as “not an advocate of the Naga people”.
The ALT said disagreement over the Naga political issue was legitimate, but argued that no individual or organisation had an exclusive right to determine who could speak on the matter.
“The Naga issue belongs to no single individual or faction. Every Naga has an inherent stake and equal right to speak on our collective political future,” it said, asserting that a leader with decades of public service had the right to express his views on the issue.
Questioning the assertion of any exclusive mandate, the organisation referred to key milestones in the Naga political movement, including the 1929 memorandum to the Simon Commission, the 1951 Naga plebiscite and the Naga People’s Convention held at Ungma in 1958.
The ALT also highlighted the former chief minister’s political legacy, saying his contribution to Nagaland and the Naga political discourse could not be “erased from history”. It referred to four alleged assassination attempts against him and said such historical circumstances should not be overlooked in contemporary political discourse.
The organisation demanded that Mr Atem and Mr Raising retract what it termed “malicious statements” at the earliest.
The ALT also criticised comments attributed to NPF secretary general and MLA Achumbemo Kikon, who reportedly referred to the veteran leader as “an old man in a hurry”.
Describing him as a senior statesman and political patriarch, the organisation said his decades of public service had given him extensive experience in statecraft and the Naga political issue. It urged Mr Kikon to exercise restraint in his public statements, particularly when commenting on veteran political leaders.
The ALT said the remarks had “deeply hurt” the sentiments of Ao youth and cautioned against rhetoric that could contribute to further divisions among the Naga people.
It maintained that the Naga political issue required an “early, honourable and inclusive settlement” and reiterated its support for a resolution based on the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position.
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