Assam-Ao Naga strengthen ties

Tzuremmen, February 26 (MExN): The Ao Naga community and Assam today agreed in principle to carry forward the age old friendly relations at an Assam-Ao Naga Peace and Confidence Building Meet here on February 25 organized by the apex Ao community organization Ao Senden. The meet was attended by four elected members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (including a parliamentary secretary) and prominent members of NGOs from both Assam and Nagaland side.
The programme which was held at Tzuremmen, located at the border belt between Assam and Nagaland witnessed healthy exchange of ideas between the two communities of Assam and the Ao Nagas. However, the elected representatives from the three Assam Assembly Constituencies of Jorhat, Amguri and Mariani could not attend the meet ostensibly because of the forthcoming general election in Assam. But their absence was strongly regretted by the Border Peace Coordination Committee (Assam – Nagaland) chairman BP Bora who expressed that the elected members of Assam constituencies should have attended the meet like the Nagaland legislators and share their views and opinions. Parliamentary Secretary Er. Saku said that the absence of the Assam legislators was unfortunate not for the meet because they could have talked and discussed ways to carry forward the peace building between the two communities. Nagaland legislators – S.I Jamir, C. Apok Jamir, Sentichuba and Parliamentary Secretary Er. Saku were present in today’s meet.
Around four hundred people from both Assam and Nagaland attended the meet. After three hours of speeches from concerned citizens of Assam and Nagaland, the meet eventually decided on a six point resolution which was agreed to by all the participants in ‘principle’. The meet resolved to respect the age-old relationship and peaceful co-existence between the Assamese and the Nagas, and to have mutual respect for each other. The meeting resolved in ‘principle’ to address ‘any untoward incidents’ at the border areas in a traditional manner based on customary laws and based on mutual interest and respect. Besides, the meet resolved to have more of such programmes between the two communities and to have cultural exchange programmes from time to time. Decision to have seminars, discussions and conferences in Assam and Nagaland was also agreed in ‘principle’.
Today’s programme witnessed goodwill messages from different intellectuals and public leaders. The Ao Senden, President, Lendinoktang in his keynote address said that the Ao-Ahom relationship is not a new thing since history shows about the good relationship shared between the Aos and the Assam people. He said that peace at the border areas will come not through prayers only, but by knowing our history and working towards a revival of the past history will bring about peace between the two communities. He said that such Confidence Building meet will ultimately will ensure lasting peace between the two people. Saying that the border areas at the moment is peaceful, Lendinoktang further asserted that the people should take the opportunity to show to the world that the Assam and Ao people are one people, and that there will definitely be peace in the border. Talking about the traditional Ao peace building process ‘Aksu’ Lendinoktang said that the Ao people cannot gift a pig to the Assamese people since it is unknown whether the Assamese delegates and invitees like pork or not. Therefore, instead of a pig, the Ao Senden gifted shawls to the special invitees and delegates of the meet.
The president of the Border Peace Coordination Committee (Assam –Nagaland, BP Bora highlighted the participants about a brief history of the committee. Talking about peace making process in the border areas, Bora emphasized on the setting up of a ‘Culture and Sports’ school which should be opened in Assam by Nagaland and vice versa. He also regretted the absence of the three legislators from Assam constituencies – Jorhat, Mariani and Amguri. Disclosing that the BPCC (A-N) has proposed to have seminars and have given proposals to the Assam and Nagaland governments. Bora however expressed doubts that the proposals of the BPCC (A-N) might have gone into the waste paper bins in the offices. He further said that the border magistrate offices should be located in the border areas so that any issues regarding the border can be easily tackled.
Dr. Kirin Phukan the director of Institute of Thai Studies and Research said that the Assam and Nagaland people shared a lot of historical relationship. He said that revival of these historical relationships like inter-marriages should be encouraged to bring in peace between the people of the two communities. Saying that peace should not be politicized, Dr. Pukhon however lamented that peace has been politicized and therefore urged the civil societies, government agencies and the public to work for peace in the society without any reservation.
NPCC president and Congress MLA S. I Sungit asserted that if the present generation cannot ensure peace at the moment then the future generation will blame us. He said that some self interested groups are trying to sabotage peace in the area; he however said that the people should not succumb to such designs. “It is the responsibility and bounden duty of today’s citizens to ensure peace in the area,” said Sungit while emphasizing that one can change their friends or wives not their nieghbours. Congress MLA Sentichuba sent out one message – without peace we all are losers. Dr. Hazarika of Thai Ahom Royal Society was quite vocal when he said that it is not the time to discuss between intellectuals but a time to distribute information among the grass root level people of the society.zCongress MLA C.  Apok urged the people of the area to form a forum and show the unity and solidarity of the people living on both sides of the border, which he said would make the government understand about the needs and aspirations of the people living in the border areas. The meet ended with the ‘goodwill fest’.