KOHIMA, MARCH 20 (MExN): The Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) today informed that it is lifting the restriction imposed on Mao Community within its jurisdiction with effect from March 21, following the advice given by its parent body, the Angami Public Organisation (APO).
During an APO extra-ordinary meeting on March 17, with its executive members, presidents of all frontal organisations, advisory board members and intellectuals, Angami Public Organisation (APO) resolved to take over the contentious SAPO matter at hand.
The SAPO reminded that the restrictions on the Mao Community, within its jurisdiction, were imposed to “protest the unfair occupation of Manipur Government's Armed Forces and imposing CrPC 144 within the heart of Kezoltsa which is currently in dispute, with the deliberate intention to construct roads and carry out other development activities.”
The restriction on Maos was imposed from midnight of December 15 till March 20. “The interference of Manipur Government, conniving with Mao Council, was reacted in distaste as traditional lands straddle towards each other's arbitrarily drawn political boundaries,” a press release from the SAPO said.
It meanwhile stated that the SAPO “never objected to Manipur Government holding its Cherry Blossom Festival, establishment of a Manipur Government School or other Manipur Government funded projects and developments carried out at Okhro Ikhro which traditionally belongs to Maos, though technically is in Nagaland.”
It further appreciated the Government of Nagaland’s “magnanimity,” which the SAPO sais is “evident from awarding 16 Nagaland Government jobs to Mao traditional landowners at TB Hospital Khuzama, Nagaland, respecting traditional landowners, and other privileges extended to the community on the basis of brotherhood, inspite of Article 371(A) strictures.”
“It looks forward to resolving the existing land dispute traditionally,” the SAPO said, while also informing that its functionaries met with the Chief Minister of Nagaland, and thanked him for his concern in the issue. The SAPO meanwhile reiterated that “redrawing political boundary of Nagaland or Manipur is not in its agenda.”
