Dimapur, October 21 (MExN): Strongly lamenting their recent eviction from the Intangki Reserved Forest by the NSCN (IM), the Inavi village today hit out at the state government and also questioned the NSCN (IM) regarding the recent eviction of the Inavi villagers from the Reserved Forest. A press statement issued by the, Tribal Community Convenor, Inavi Village, Tsunthruba Yimchunger and Head GB, Hevito, demanded the government to treat the Inavi villagers on the same line with that of the Beisampuikam village. The release declared that the ‘so called’ Beisampuikam village was first established in Lilen Kuki area. However, in 1985, the Lilen Kuki village initiated a court case against Beisampuikam, in which the ‘court’ directed the Beisampuikam villagers to vacated the Lilen village area; the release added that in 1992, the same group of ‘Beisampuikam encroachers’ shifted to the Intangki reserved forest and established the present village.
Besides, the release said that certain mandatory provisions like proper verification and obtaining no objection certificates from the neighbouring villages, proper demarcation of the boundaries, which are necessary for a village to be recognized by the government has not been fulfilled while recognizing Beisampuikam village.
“The dubious question here is, how the Govt of Nagaland has given to the so called Beisampuikam village without following all these mandatory provisions? Where is the surveyed map and NOC (no objection certificates) especially from the Forest Dept that they are supposed to obtain? Overlooking all these, amongst other requisite formalities necessary for the recognition of a village, the Govt of Nagaland for reasons best known to them has recognized the so called Beisampuikam village,” the release asserted. Standing on those ‘facts’, the release demanded that the other Naga settlers be treated on the same line since the Nagas are entitled to enjoy the same status as to rights and benefits as that of Beisampuikam village.
Supporting the view that Inavi village does not come under the purview of encroachment, the release asserted that the Inavi Village is located within the ‘inhabited Intangki addition area which the Beisampuikam village is falsely claiming’. “It is outside of Intanki Reserved Forest and bounded by the Intanki river,” the release said.
The release also cited that the Inavi village does not come under the purview of the Gilgal meeting where the NSCN passed a resolution on April 2, 1996 that no villages would be permitted to be established after 1996. “Beisampuikam Zeliangrong village was established in 1992 and the other Naga settled at Inavi village was established on 23rd August 1995,” the release said and added that the resolution of the 1996 Gilgal meeting does not affect the establishment of the Inavi village in any manner.
However, the release lamented that the Naga settlers, excluding the Zeliangrongs, have been evicted for twenty three times both by the state government and the NSCN (IM). “The seed of division and partiality among Naga brothers by shielding one and evicting the other, when both stand on the same status enjoying the same universal birthright and human rights is despicable,” the release lamented and called for stopping of such form of biasness.
Anyhow, the release also strongly questioned the NSCN (IM) what their objective was behind the resolution of the Gilgal meet, 1996. “Is there a hidden agenda to target only some Naga tribes? Time and again, their action has revealed their intention and it has greatly hurt the sentiments of the victimized Naga tribes,” the release stated in this regard.
Nonetheless, the release affirmed that the evicted settlers bear no ill will against any particular tribe, individual or organization whatsoever; however, it put the blame on the state government over the whole issue. “It is the Govt of Nagaland that is solely to be blamed for their negligence and biased attitude of not properly verifying the documentary and historical facts of the disputed site. Where the disputed issue is concerned, the state Govt is always caught napping unawares,” the release affirmed and added that the evicted settlers have been patiently trying to undo and mend the communal discord and disharmony ‘created by the Zeliangrong tribe’.
The release proclaimed that it is a known fact to all Nagas and the state government, that the ‘Intanki reserved forest additional area’ in Nagaland does not belong to any particular tribe but to the whole Nagas in general. However, the release decried, that contrary to this fact, one particular village called as ‘Beisuumpuikam of Zeliangrong by distorting facts claim itself to be the sole owner of the entire stretch of Inatnki Reserved addition area through processions and rallies, one at Hebron and the other at Nagaland Legislative Assembly hall, Kohima respectively, demanding eviction of the other tribes settled at the reserved addition area’, as a result of which the NSCN (IM), bowing to pressure, evicted the other Naga settlers, razing everything to the ground.
“What the Zeliangrongs have done was in very bad taste and the bitter facts are hard to digest,” the release stated, “The Zeliangrongs, being aware of their misdoings are now hiding behind the NAP jawans fearing retribution. The presence of NAP jawans only proves the guilt they are feeling.” The release affirmed that the Zeliangrongs, after ‘sowing the seeds of division’ are further alienating themselves by taking the protection of the NAP jawans instead of accepting and rectifying their misdeeds.
Making a mention of the burning down of the Zeliang Zangdi village by the NSCN (IM), the release pointed out that the Zeliangrongs strongly demanded resignation of the NSCN (IM) Kilo Kilonser, Home Secretary and the Convenor of Steering Committee. In this regard, the release stated, “The Zeliangrongs seems to have such short memory span that they seem to have forgotten the 23 (twenty three) eviction drives carried out against the other tribes, because of their blatant lies and instigations. We could also have demanded resignations and withdrawals.”
Further, the release rubbished the Zeliangrongs’ claim that the entire stretch of ‘Intanki reserved forest additional land’ belongs to them and that the Sumis and other Naga tribes do not have an inch of land. “One wonders how such farfetched foreign utterances can be made by any true fellow NAGA,” the release wondered in this regard.
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