Imkong L Imchen, Advisor for Information & Public Relations, Soil & Water Conservation. (Morung Photo)
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Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 30
In view of the recent shutter down protest made by the business community of Nagaland Imkong L Imchen, State Advisor for Information & Public Relations, Soil & Water Conservation, stated that the multiple taxation carried out by Naga Political Groups (NPGs) is purely a case of ‘extortion’ and nothing else. While taxation is a legal term, he said extortion is a criminal offence and should be dealt according to the prescribed criminal laws.
The Advisor was speaking at the 15th graduation ceremony of Faith Theological College, Dimapur held at Faith Gospel church, Dimapur on April 30. He went to state that though the shutter down had been called off only yesterday, the message put across was clear, “That the Naga people can no longer tolerate the illegal extortionist activities.”
He also questioned why the NPGs are carrying out extortion if they are fighting for political liberty. These are the critical questions which one should ponder on, Imchen viewed. While we proudly declare ourselves, ‘Nagaland for Christ,’ he said the people do not hold on to the same principles in life. “Maybe the land is for Christ but in practical terms our people are not for Christ,” he claimed. Imchen held the notion that the people deserve to have liberty and not live under the fear of gun culture.
Prior to the present scenario, Imchen shared that the Naga political issue in its initial stages was well-planned, with clear-cut agendas. However, as time went on the Nagas became divided and, “so we started killing and hunting each other,” he stated. We lost the agenda and tribalism became the main driving wedge that divided us, he added.
Today ENPO is saying that we are a different people and the so called advanced tribes of Nagaland think their tribe is paramount and supreme than others, he observed. Moreover, the NPGs have splintered into so many groups, which he said is not to be laughed at but a sick reality.
On other aspects, the Advisor reiterated his view that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) should be scrapped in its entirety. “To me it means nothing, it should be totally scrapped and the Nagaland-Myanmar border fenced,” he commented.
Due to all these issues, he opined that the State is governed by the laws of the jungle and not by civilized laws.
Cease-fire monitoring cell, a toothless entity
Imchen was also of the view that the cease fire monitoring cell is not a properly arranged office. He said that as the members of the cell consist of retired government officers, it does not have the required powers to affectively do its duties. Though it is an important institution, it does not have any teeth, he said.
