Dimapur, Oct 26 (MExN): Taking strong exception at factional violence, Phek village, Phek-Basa village and Lozaphuhu village have, in a joint decision, decided not to allow any underground faction or groups to set up camps or conduct ‘operations’ in Therizutsa reserve forest, Phek. The reserved forest is located between the three villages. In the event the sentiments of the people are discarded, this would not be tolerated, the villages warned.
Village councils of the three villages took the decision following a spurt in factional fighting between the warring underground groups. Cadres from the Federal Government of Nagaland first occupied the reserved forest followed by the NSCN-IM leading to intense factional clashes and loss of human lives, damage to properties and destruction of the forest, the three village council in a release stated. More than that, the lives of villagers have been affected negatively and are causing mental trauma, it added.
“In the aftermath of spurt of factional violence and disturbance of regional peace and tranquility in the current year, the Phek Village Council, Phek Basa Village and Lozaphuhu Village Council, have made a common decision to declare that no faction, be it NNC/FGN, NSCN-IM or NSCN-K, will henceforth be allowed to make camp nor conduct any such armed operations within or in the vicinity of Therizutsa Reserved Forest. Hence all factions are informed to take heed of the sentiments of the people. In the event whichever faction (s) were to disregard the above resolution, the people of the three villages will not tolerate such forcible occupation and will provide no cooperation” the joint declaration from the councils’ chairmen Shenutso of Phek Village, Chichopa of Phek Basa and Suvehu of Lozaphuhu stated.
