DIMAPUR, JAN 9 (MExN): A day after Yimchunger and Tikhir tribal council leaders signed an undertaking to cease hostilities, President of the Tikhir Tribal Council, Khiapong, has questioned whether the Government Ban on the YAA conference is for real. Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner TN Mannen had on January 5 imposed a ban on conferences or associations without Government approval throughout Nagaland with special emphasis on the areas of Shamator, Pungro and Tobu. “However, under the protection of the Administration, State Security Forces, the YAA have started to construct their Conference hall at Shamator Town from 8th Jan’ 07 and no action has been initiated against them,” Khiapong alleged.
“The TTC would like to question whether the Government ban is for real or only on the paper to fool the Tikhirs or is one tribe (Yimchungers) above the Government.”
The TTC President said if the Government still does not take action, then “the administrative set up and security forces of the State will have become a mockery and therefore should be abolished, as this will be a precedent where the Government will cease to be a force.”
Warning of ‘escalation of violence and bloodshed’, Khiapong said the Tikhir public will take any measure to stop the Conference and that any eventuality “will be solely borne by the Government.”
Khiapong further alleged that in the Kiusam episode also, the state security forces were “mute spectators to the Yimchunger armed mob where they were halted at Zanger village, and made to obey the diktats of the Yimchunger armed mob (attackers of Pokphur village and Kiusam town) by allowing them to proceed to Kiusam only the next day.”
Till now the state security forces have failed even to disburse or apprehend the attackers of Pokphur and Kiusam Town who are camping and still targeting Tikhir villages freely, it was said.
“The TTC further re-iterates its earlier demands to be fulfilled immediately or also recall back all security forces in Tikhir and Yimchungers areas to enable us confront each other free of Security Forces intervention who are all out for the Yimchungers.”
Responding to this, Commissioner TN Mannen said the allegation was unfounded. He said he had received word through a telephonic conversation with an ENPO leader only this evening that the YAA conference would not be conducted. For any conference to take place, the DC’s permission has to be obtained and advised that ‘petty issues’ should not be blown out of proportion so as to prevent violence and bloodshed. He also denied an earlier allegation that he had ordered the attack on Shamator Village. The Commissioner said such allegations create only “misunderstanding and wrong impressions.” Further, Mannen put across his point that people should not be swayed by emotions but should apply reasoning and logic during such situations. The Tikhir-Yimchunger issue should be viewed in a dispassionate but objective manner, he said.
