
Dimapur, May 26 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) today appealed for dialogue between the Zeme and Dimasa communities engaged in hostilities in Assam’s volatile North Cachar Hills district. The NSF issued a statement today appealing for goodwill and to justify rights on the basis of understanding.
“Any contentious issues between the two communities can he resolved and settled through dialogue. Mutual respect and honor for each other’s genuine rights can be the basis for bringing about good understanding and peace among the people” said the NSF’s statement. That the Dimasa Kachari and the Naga communities have been living as good neighbors since time immemorial, the federation has appealed for good sense to prevail between the two.
The NSF further expressed shock at what it termed the inhuman acts of the militant DHD (J) group. The atrocities committed against the Zeme Nagas of NC Hills, Assam is condemned. “The killing of innocent public, burning down houses and harassment meted out to the non-Kachari communities are against humanity and totally uncalled for” the NSF said.
The organization said the operations of the DHD (J) against non-Kachari communities have exacted many precious lives and left many more displaced. ‘The displaced families have been taking shelter in the neighboring states of Manipur and Nagaland with untold miseries,’ the NSF said.
The federation criticized the authorities in concern for ‘deciding’ to “remain a deaf ear with total silence”. “…in the guise of protecting the civilians, the Assam Police and paramilitary forces have started operations, causing undue harassment to the people in our own land in connivance with the outfit” the federation lamented.
On the claim of the DHD to establish a ‘Dima Raji’ (‘kingdom of the Dimasa’) within the Nagas’ ancestral land, the NSF said the claim cannot be justified. The NSF explained: “History has proved beyond doubt that the tribal particularly the Nagas were divided into various political areas without prior consent of the people by British and India.
Thus, a section of Nagas inhabits the North Cachar Hills of Assam since time immemorial. The vicious policy of divide end rule has brought about hatred and poisoned the minds of our good neighbors”.
“Our hospitality has been interpreted as our weakness and our friendliness has been likened as submission. But we will never allow our people to be disgraced or abused for what we have. We have survived .our cultural identity, our national identity though the lands that generate life for us” the NSF asserted. It has assured to continue to respect and protect the Nagas’ land “which gives life and ensure the continuity of our people”.