• Says Nagaland-Myanmar border fencing not progressive idea
• Stresses on early solution to Naga political problem
• Highlights major tourism and road projects
Morung Express News
Mon | September 30
The second day of the Konyak Lao-ong Festival was celebrated on September 29 at Local Ground, Mon with TR Zeliang, Chief Minister as the chief guest and Khotai Konyak, President, Konyak Union (Myanmar) as the guest of honour.
Nagaland-Myanmar border fencing
According to a press note issued by Media Cell, Chief Minister’s Office, the Chief Minister asserted that the proposed border fencing along the Nagaland-Myanmar border by Government of India is not a “progressive idea.”
Addressing the gathering he said that instead of fencing and making the border area a den of insurgents, the border area should be develop with proper connectivity so that people across the border can live in peace and prosperity. He also added that since there is no border dispute and people from both Myanmar and Nagaland side share the same cultures and traditions and has been commuting since time immemorial, construction of fencing along the border will alienate the people and will create unnecessary impediment. As such the logical idea will be to develop the border area instead of fencing. The developmental activities in the border area will discourage insurgency, the Chief Minister stated.
Naga political issue
The CM said, “there is a need for early solution to the over six decades old Naga political problem, the CM earnestly appealed to all to extend fullest support to the peace process and continue to pray for early settlement.
Stating that 70 years of political struggle is long enough and the Nagas have encountered untold suffering because of the long drawn Indo-Naga political imbroglio and the Naga political has become an obstacle to progress of the Nagas, Chief Minister made a fervent appealed to all Naga to extend fullest support to the peace process and lend continuous prayer for early settlement.
“I am happy to see all Naga Political Groups coming together with one approach and one vision towards political dialogue for permanent settlement,” the CM stated, while extending his appreciation to the recent talks between the working group of NPGs and Interlocutor RN Ravi at Delhi.
Promoting Tourism
Chief Minister specifically highlighted the major tourism and road projects currently under implementation (see table) and urged upon the gathering to cooperate for completion of the development projects within a stipulated time.
In order to boost tourism, the chief Minister said that the state government has started developing tourist circuit in the state under Swadesh Dharshan in phase manner. First phase covers-Peren, Kohima and Wokha districts, Second Phase covers-Mokokchung, Tuensang and Mon districts while in the third phase Zunheboto, Longleng and Kiphire districts will taken up, the Chief Minister said. Under the scheme the centre has already accorded about Rs 250 Crores, the chief Minister added.
Addressing the gathering the CM said that, “Mon district has much to showcase on the tourism front, under cultural tourism, it has attracted eminent scholars. With the international borderline dissecting the very house of the Angh, people say that the Longwa Angh eats in Myanmar where his kitchen lies and sleeps in India where his room is. This is indeed a rarity of sorts.”
Road Connectivity
On road connectivity, the CM said that the government has taken up the issue with the central government and that the world has now recognized Nagaland to be the strategic location for road connectivity to the South East Asian Countries.
“If there is no problem from landowners the road connectivity will change the face of Nagaland within two to three years of time. Besides these, we are trying to bring in foreign investments for building roads between Myanmar and Nagaland,” the CM stated in his speech. He also disclosed that the construction of Mon-Namtola road will begin shortly, he urged upon the Konyak civil societies to check and over see the road construction within the district and see that the funds are judiciously utilized.
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