Kohima, August 10 (MExN): Along with the rest of the world, Kohima Law College celebrated the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9 with all teaching faculty and students actively participating and deliberating on this year’s theme: “Indigenous Peoples to Education”.
The Day aims to raise public awareness of the achievements and contributions of indigenous people to the improvement of world issues and also focuses on the promotion and protection of the indigenous rights, such as the right to preserve their land and cultural heritage.
The right of the indigenous people to education is protected by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which in Article 14 states: “Indigenous peoples have the right to establish and control their educational systems and institutions providing education in their own languages, in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods of teaching and learning.”
According to a press release, Asst. Professor Tongpok Pongener spoke on the significance of the day and Asst. Professor Limawati Jamir spoke on the Year theme. The Closing remarked was done the Principal Visevonuo P. Pienyu.
In Nagaland’s context As indigenous people of the land, Article 371A of the Constitution of India provides a special provision giving the Naga people rights to protect their own way of life, its land and resources.
The press release from Kezhokhoto Savi, Associate Professor, Kohima Law College, stated that the Certificate of Indigenous Inhabitants as a document provides and protects the rights of the indigenous inhabitants of the Nagas in Nagaland.
In this, the release stated, “It is very important to take serious measures not to issue the said certificate to others” and called on village councils, town wards/colony leaders and other issuing authorities to take all precaution so as not to issue the said certificate to others.
The release discouraged the practice of adoption amongst the indigenous people of Nagas in Nagaland “especially adopting a non-indigenous person or child”.
“The various Naga Tribal Councils in Nagaland raised strong voices against the notified Rongmeis as an indigenous tribe of Nagaland is simply the demand to protect the rights of indigenous people as indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland,” Savi’s release maintained.
It argued that the decision of the State Government had taken away the rights of the indigenous people and amounts to “exploitation and oppression of the indigenous inhabitants”.
“The Naga people should never allow any mechanism to exploit the rights of the indigenous inhabitants of the land,” it insisted.
Solidarity
The teaching faculty and students of Kohima Law College extended their solidarity to Irom Chanu Sharmila as she ended her 16-year fast against the Armed Forces Special Power Act on August 9. The College extended best wishes and success to her in life as she begins to live a normal life and continues to fight against AFSPA.
