The Lotha Baptist Churches Association conducted a ‘Peace Rally’ on Tuesday in Wokha where 97 churches participated. The peace rally started off from Zero Point and ended at Police Point, Wokha after which some members of the LBCA submitted a memorandum to the deputy Commissioner Ajit Ranjan Kumar, IAS.
The peace rally, which was held amid heavy security personnel in view of the sensitivity of the matter, concluded peacefully without any causing any disruption or inconvenience to the public.
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Later after the demonstration, a press conference was held where the Executive Secretary LBCA, Rev Nyanchumo stated that apart from restoration of peace in the land of the Lothas, the other motive of the rally was to express resentment to the government regarding the LBCA’s long hardship and untold miseries which they have been expressing for the past few years. He further stated that the rally also conducted to redirect the people who have been “misled and confused” to bring about total transformation and restoration at the LBCA.
Jenibemo Kithan, Youth Secretary, LBCA clarified that the issue did not begin on 18th of March 2021 and that there were many reasons that led to the problem. Speaking specifically on some points, he mentioned that the one major issue was the infringement upon the autonomy of local church. He claimed that the major problem regarding the issue was a syndicate group within the leaders who led the church like dictators.
“In many discussions, they may have won the arguments but they have lost the heart of the people, lost the heart of the churches which has cause many churches to withdraw from them,” he added. Kithan stated that these factors had compelled them to take this stand to save the LBCA, that has 146 member churches.
The members further mentioned that individual churches, concerned people and civil society organisations have all appealed to the ten leaders of LBCA to take corrective measures in order to resolve the issue and reunite but alleged that the leaders rejected those requests and that was how the situation had worsened.
Therefore, through the 22 August 2023 peace rally, they hope and pray that they receive a positive response and come forward to establish peace in the land of the Lothas as well as in the hearts of LBCA, they said.
