KOHIMA, APRIL 19 (MExN): The Kigwema Youth Orgaization (KYO) has issued a rejoinder to the Jotsoma Youth Organization (JYO) with regard to the latter’s claims on Mt Japfü range.
A press release from the KYO said that Kigwema villagers “believe in, and desire peaceful coexistence with all the neighbouring villages.” “We have no intention to distort any historical fact but take pride on being well-grounded as one of the oldest villages traditionally, wherein many villages directly or indirectly took migration route through our village including the present day Jotsoma village,” it stated.
The KYO stated that “since time immemorial, there is traditional practice as laid down by our ancestors to call the men-folk to go to forest land and inspect our traditional boundaries.” To visit and inspect one's own forest land and boundaries do not require any permission from any person(s) or village or whatsoever, it added. The KYO termed it “very unbecoming of Jotsoma Youth Organization to accuse Kigwema villagers with unwarranted allegations and false information when the SDPO Kohima himself is a witness to it.”
Further, it stated that Kigwema villagers have “kept our forest intact unlike the Jotsoma village who have encroached the forest land of Kigwema by constructing roads and felling trees causing devastation to the protected forest.” It expressed surprise that upon availing the permission to build Mithun Fences at Mt Japfü Range from Kigwema villagers, “now they are claiming to be the owners of the land, which is absurd and preposterous.”
It asserted that Kigwema villagers “can visit, observe and inspect their own boundaries whether in individuals, group(s) or the village as a whole, and no one can restrict our traditional rights under our customary practices.”
The KYO stated that “false and malicious allegations and implications cannot change historical facts which were laid and passed down to us by our ancestors through customs and traditions.” “As neighbours, it is desirous to respect one another's age-old traditions and customs,” it appealed.
