DIMAPUR, JUNE 18 (MExN): The Concerned Citizens of Nagaland (CCN) on Saturday questioned the silence of apex bodies of Naga civil societies on the concern of NSCN (IM) censuring ACAUT Nagaland for their stand on extortion and unabated taxation and one government, one tax.
“The CCN is baffled at the silence of the Apex bodies which is deafening as truth, unity and justice for the land and the people should be their priority,” a press statement from the CCN read. It maintained that they (apex bodies of Naga civil societies) should have been the guardian to voice out for the people, which, it pointed out, are missing at this juncture.
Expressing astonishment on the part of NSCN (IM) for accusing ACAUT of ‘extreme provocation,’ the CCN termed this as an insult to the wisdom and sentiments of citizens. It reasoned that just as the Naga Political Groups (NPG) voices out the “silent whispers” of the Nagas to the Government of India, so does ACAUT voices out the “silent whispers” of the people against corruption and unabated taxation.
The CCN expressed that people’s voice in the form of ACAUT should not be considered as “nuisance” by any group that profess to represent the people. It pointed out that the ban on ACAUT movement is equivalent to banning the people to think reason and express themselves. “No democratic society silences its people from expressing themselves,” it reminded.
The CCN while stating it was dismayed by the NSCN (IM) claim that it is the sole authorised organization to collect tax, alleged that the silence of the other NPGs shows they are in agreement with the claim.
The CCN applauded the ACAUT Wokha Unit and Yikhum Village Council for “the brave exemplary action it has shown towards the other villages of Nagaland and appeals to all the villages of Nagaland to follow the same in respect of the People’s Voice.”
