Dimapur, Jan 14 (MExN): A rejoinder received here from “national workers” identified only as Tsulimthong, Yapmuli (Leacy), Alo (Rajupeyu), and Muremong (Khapur) of ‘YMC Region’ demands that certain “Tikhir national workers” and individuals apologize within 3 days of this publication or face action for certain allegations leveled against the aforesaid.
In a rejoinder against allegations on the Kiusam attack leveled by Kiusam Area GBs Association TTUK and TTC the four “national workers” stated that their ‘silence have been misunderstood as weaknesses’ to implicate them in the recent tribal clashes between Yimchunger and Tikhir at Shamator and Kiusam.
Stating that the recent incidents at Shamator town on December 28, 2006 and January 1, 2007, are stark instances of ‘arrogance and coward ness’ the rejoinder forwarded the following clarifications:
That on January 3 ‘in order to assist law enforcing agencies and to control the situation’, “we the national workers of YMC Region” convened a joint meeting of DBs and GBs at the residence of Thsikiulo, Head DB Pungro, and not at the residence of Shenlithong, Supervisor, as alleged by Kiusam GBs Association.
“During this meeting, we did not utter a word about tribalism or clanism, but we deliberated and decided to stop the misused of mobile phones and propagandas. We also appealed the publics not to connect Shamator incident with that of Pungro situation because the issues confronted in these two areas are quite different in nature” the rejoinder stated adding that peaceful negotiations to settle any dispute prevalent in the area be pursued.
For detailed clarification on the “misleading allegations”, Kiusam Area GBs Association, TTC, TTUK and other Tikhir organizations and concerned public are invited to enquire with Tikhir leaders like Yantsüthong DB, Rakho DB, Ahusi GB and Shuven GB of Pungro town, as they attended all the meetings held at Pungro.
On January 2 on being informed of ‘GPRN Central Goodwill Team Peace Team’ visit to the area to “assist the situation”, YMC Region held a meeting at Yapmuli’s (Leacy), residence (near Supervisor Shenlithong’s residence) to arranged accommodations for the team but no publics were invited to attend it or ‘no attack plan on any Tikhir villages was discussed as alleged’.
On January 3, YMC workers “were busy running after here and there to arrange for the central team visit” and on the 4th, the team led by Deputy Kilo-Kilonser Chollen Chang, with Tatar of Pochury Region Tsechu, Tatar Tusangchu, Tatar Lenthere, ‘CAO’ of YMC Region Thsanfu, and Leacy Yanthong, ‘Tikhir representative of UT-1’ arrived at Pungro and held meetings with all DBs, GBs, regional workers and public leaders to defuse the situation. On the 5th while discussing the situation, it was informed of the Kiusam town incident. On this news, the team summoned an “emergency meeting of our national workers” staying at Pungro, where Commandant of JC.BN also attended, the rejoinder stated. The meeting unanimously decided to maintain neutral and to co-operate with law enforcing agencies of the State Government in their efforts to normalize the situation. On the 6th, the central team left for Dimapur but the regional workers remained in Pungro town ‘and refrained from uttering any word on the tribal issue as advised’.
“But to our astonishment, our names are being implicated in every write-up of the irresponsible Tikhir organizational leaders in the local dailies. As of their frequent emotional allegations, their attitude towards our region is found out to be intentional” it stated. The GPRN central team is witness to the incident, it stated adding that before going to press the matter could have been enquired especially from Leacy Yanthong Tikhir, “who was also sent by the government as a representative of the team”.
It asserted that the allegations were pre-planned and motivated by some leaders and ‘Tikhir Area Centre Administered’ regional workers, namely Thangpong GB, Thongtsi GB and Kius DB of Kiusam town, SI Asang, SDO (Power) Kiphire, Kius (‘bro’ of Asang SDO), Khisang, TTC Advisor, Mrs. Khisang, Rakho DB, Pungro town, Shuven (‘bro’. of Rakho DB), Thongtsi, EO of TACA Region, Yamthong, Assistant Teacher/APO, Simphu Khapur, Kiusang Khapur of TACA Region etc.
