No to oil deal without resolving Assam-Nagaland border dispute

Morung Express News 
Chümoukedima | June 27

Convenor of the Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs), N Kitovi Zhimomi, said that petroleum extraction in Nagaland cannot proceed until and unless the boundary dispute between Assam and Nagaland is resolved. His comment was in response to a media query about the June 11 ‘tripartite agreement’ arrived at between Assam, Nagaland and New Delhi for joint exploration and extraction of oil in the Disputed Area Belt between Assam and Nagaland. 

Speaking to reporters following a public rally organised by the Fed-Up Nagas at Agri Expo, 4th Mile, Chümoukedima, on June 27, Zhimomi questioned the authorisation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Union Government, Assam, and Nagaland. 

According to him, proceeding with extraction without establishing a clear boundary would be to Nagaland’s detriment. 

He maintained that in the Agreed Position, rights over land and resources are delegated to the Naga people, through a proposed “Nagaland Tatar Hoho” that would legislate on such issues. “This exploration and extraction will not be allowed to take place until and unless the inter-state boundary between Assam and Nagaland is clearly demarcated,” Zhimomi asserted.

On the NSCN (IM) abstaining from the Fed-Up Nagas rally, Zhimomi commented that the former deliberately absented after learning that veteran politician SC Jamir was also in the list of speakers. He held that despite Jamir withdrawing from the event at the last moment, the NSCN (IM) still did not attend. He cited an anecdotal incident dating to 1997 when a Naga delegation travelled to Atlanta, where the NSCN (IM) boycotted because Jamir was invited. He questioned why they lacked the courage to face Jamir face-to-face.

Zhimomi also dismissed allegations that he was the secret sponsor behind the youth-led Fed-Up Nagas movement, describing the relationship as a convergence of shared aspirations rather than patronage. “It is not a matter of being a sponsor; rather, we met at a crossroads,” he clarified.

Remarking on the rally turnout, particularly from the elderly and the youth, he said that it demonstrated collective willpower in the face of lost confidence.

According to him, focus must shift to identifying those delaying the implementation of the political agreements. “Now we have to find out... who is blocking? Who is playing a double standard game?” Zhimomi said, urging a “post-mortem” to hold the responsible parties accountable. He added that the WC-NNPGs has no reason to oppose the demands of the youth, stating they have every right to seek peace, progress, and a certain future.