YTC serves ‘Charter of Demands’ to Nagaland State Govt
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 18
The Yimchungrü Tribal Council (YTC) has submitted a ‘Charter of Demands’ to the Nagaland State Government subsequent to the expiry of the 7-day deadline for the fulfilment of the earlier ultimatum served to the State Government on February 9. The Charter, addressed to the Nagaland Chief Secretary, was handed over to the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, following a rally by the Western Yimchunger Hoho (WYH) on February 18.
WYH president, PKF Tochu, today told the media that as endorsed by the YTC, the WYH carried out a silent procession in Dimapur from the DC court junction to the DC office today as the first phase of its agitation. The procession culminated with the submission of the Charter and a public meeting thereafter at Showuba village. Tochu informed that as requested by the Dimapur district administration, the number of people taking part in the procession to the DC office was limited to a hundred.
According to Tochu, the peaceful procession was also symbolic of the Yimchungrü people expressing resentment against the February 6 killing of a couple in Shamator sub-division and the violence that followed in Kiphire and Shamator, consequently displacing over a thousand people. While expressing hope that the State Government would take notice and initiate the necessary proceedings in all fairness, Tochu held that the Yimchungrüs are being made the scapegoat and being blamed for the February 6 killing. “Without any evidence against us, we’re being blamed.”
President of the Yimchunger Students Conference (YSC), who also attended the meeting, echoed similar views. While condemning the killing and the violent fallout, he said, “We are being harassed. We are being accused merely based on suspicion.”
The ‘Charter of Demands’, while asserting that the demands made in the “principal ultimatum stands unchanged” called for immediate rehabilitation of displaced Yimchungrüs from Kiphire town, “special consideration” for students affected and transferring of Yimchungrü government employees posted in and around Kiphire town and Sangtam villages.
It demanded the termination of NAP (IR) personnel responsible for the firing at Shamator on February 9, covering the medical expenses of the firing victims and “Indemnity in equal quantum” for the properties destroyed at Kiphire town from February 7-10.
It further demanded that the role of Nagaland State Government officials at Kiphire be brought under the “strict scanner of Inquiry Commission….” As regard the MoU inked during the upgrading of Kiphire to district status, the YTC demanded that it be implemented “in letter and spirit as per the Cabinet approval.”
The YTC also sought clarification as regards the State Government’s response to the USLP ultimatum. According to the YTC, the Government “responded swiftly to the ultimatum… instead of questioning its credibility.”
R. Yimchunger, WYH executive member maintained that the USLP, USSC and AST insisting to continue agitating if their ultimatum is not met are only aggravating the already fragile situation.
The YTC, through a press release, informed that in solidarity with the silent procession in Dimapur, separate rallies were held concurrently in Shamator town and Pungro town. Stating that the rallies in the two towns concluded peacefully, it added that the second phase of agitation will be decided soon.
