Morung Express News
Tuli (Mokokchung) | March 20
Merangkong village youths under the aegis of “Merangkong aser Tuli Lanur Telongjem (MTLT)” numbering in hundreds undertook a silent procession censuring four of its citizens for going against its ‘Merangkong Medemsanger Putu Menden’ (Merangkong Village Council) at Tuli town here today.
The MTLT, which comprises of “Merangkong village youths and Merangkong youths of Tuli town,” strongly condemned the action of four of its citizens for taking the Merangkong Medemsanger Putu Menden (MMPM) to the court.
A leaflet written in Ao language highlighting about today’s silent procession – which the MTLT said were distributed to each Merangkong household the previous day – elaborated about the run-up of the whole incident.
The leaflet declared that since from 2013, the Merangkong citizens felt the need for an MLA from the village, elected him and is still in office as the people’s representative from the area.
However, the leaflet alleged that, before “the expiry of the term,” due to distribution of “political money” by some unknown persons, the MMPM, in order not to create unwanted situations in the society, made a declaration that “any unknown person creating confusion among the people in Merangkong jurisdiction would be appropriately dealt with by the Putu.”
“However, four Merangkong youths filed a petition against the Merangkong Medemsanger Putu in Court, which is totally wrong,” the MTLT leaflet declared. “Besides, there is enough space in the ‘Putu Court’ to discuss such case as per Naga customary laws, but giving the case to High Court is totally an act to demolish our customs and traditions, and therefore this silent procession has been organized,” the MTLT declared.
In this regard, the MTLT categorically declared that this silent procession is being organized by Merangkong & Tuli (Merangkong) Lanur (MTLT) and this procession is “not against any political party” or aimed at demanding anything from government, or against any group; but solely as a mark of solidarity and “protest against the indignation shown to the Putu Menden.”
“Our customs and traditions have enough room for discussing cases, but four good citizens taking the Merangkong Medemsanger Putu to Court is wrong and condemns it in the strongest terms. Why because, if the youths today are indifferent to issue, then fear that our customs and traditions will be lost to our future generation. Therefore, this silent procession is being organized,” the MTLT declared through its leaflet.
Meanwhile, pamphlets with the words ‘We the Merangkong Tuli youths will seek out the wrong doers till the end”, “Those who cannot live under traditional laws, go away from village”, etc were pasted along the National Highway 2.” The procession started from Longli Lenden Ward and culminated at Tuliyong Ward, traversing some nearly five kilometers by foot. The youths held placards, a banner with the pictures of the four Merangkong youths that took the Putu Menden to court and also individual portraits of the four youths. There was no submission of memoranda or any untoward incident during the whole silent procession. The Merangkong Students’ Union (MKT) and Merangkong Watsu Telen also joined in the procession.
