Mokokchung, June 17 (MExN): In view of the crucial Assam-Nagaland border meeting scheduled to be held on June 21-22 at Chumukedima under a Supreme Court mediation committee, the Mokokchung district administration called an emergency consultation here today. The meeting, held at the customary court, included all apex civil societies, Dobashis, Gaon Buras, Village Council members of border villages and concerned individuals.
The purpose of the meeting was to gather people’s views and opinions with regard to the Assam-Nagaland border issue, informed Mokokchung DC Muroho Chotso, who convened the meeting. While the Times of India reported that the crucial meeting would be held at Jorhat on June 21, the Mokokchung DC informed that the meeting will be held on June 21 and 22 at Chumukedima.
Speaking to The Morung Express at his office chamber, the DC informed that there were different opinions from different quarters. One opinion voiced out by most of the participants held the view that the border between Assam and Nagaland should be based on traditional boundary which ‘existed before the 1925 survey’ by the British. The other opinion expressed by border villagers suggested that ‘the present status quo’ be maintained, since they were the ones bearing the brunt of the frequent border clashes. However, as it was just a consultative meeting, no resolutions or recommendations were made.
Saying that the consultative meeting was fruitful, the Deputy Commissioner informed that he would be apprising the Nagaland state government about the views and opinions tabled at today’s meeting.
‘We can only talk about interim peace’
Senior advocate and former MLA, Takuyaba, who is also the former legal Adviser of Ao Senden, asserted that the crucial Assam-Nagaland border talks under the mediation of the Supreme Court cannot solve the border issue. He stated that at best, the two state governments can only talk of an ‘interim peace’, since the Indo-Naga peace talks are underway.
Speaking to The Morung Express after the consultative meeting, the former MLA strongly asserted that unless there is a solution to the Naga political issue, the border issue would still exist.
“We can only talk about an interim peace and not border demarcation now. A permanent solution to the border issue will be achieved only when the Indo-Naga political issue comes to a logical conclusion,” said the former MLA and senior advocate.
Asserting that the Government of India will never favor the Nagas, Takuyaba said that the Naga people are at present “under custody” of the Indian Constitution and therefore the Nagas cannot speak about their rights. He added that only when there is a third neutral party as an observer, like the United Nations or other respectable International organizations, can the Nagas can speak about their rights freely and boldly. He maintained that the border issue is not an Ao issue but a Naga issue because every inch of land, whether in Mokokchung, Wokha, or Mon etc belongs to the Nagas and therefore affects the entire Naga people.
The appointment of a mediator committee by the Supreme Court to intervene in the Assam Nagaland border issue is significant since the Assam government has wanted a Supreme Court ruling to solve the issue, while the Nagaland government wants an out of the court solution to the issue.
A government official, who has been associated with the border peace initiative, strongly opined that the Supreme Court cannot solve the problem. “They (Supreme Court) cannot (solve the border issue), and they should not. The court ruling will be either in favor of Assam or Nagaland, and one party will be dissatisfied, the official said as a matter-of-fact; and added this could lead to resumption of violence between the two sides.
