Kohima, December 4 (MExN): A joint consultative border meeting of various Naga tribal Hohos, NGOs, representatives of the border villages and the Border department was held at Zonal Council here today.
In the meeting, which started from 10am and lasted till early evening, the Border department briefed the tribal hohos, NGOs, and representatives of the border villages on the progress and status of the ongoing Border Commission hearing and also displayed the various available maps of the border areas developed by the department which was also submitted to the Border Commission.
The department also sought the opinion and help from civil society in identifying places in the border areas. In the “fruitful” meeting, according to Nagaland Commissioner TN Mannen, the claims of Assam were discussed among others. In the meeting the tribal hohos reiterated that Assam government’s demand for settlement based on the 1925 demarcation would not be accepted. The Naga people want a settlement “beyond” 1925, the commissioner said informing of the meetings proceedings. Any process for a settlement should take into consideration the traditional Naga boundaries, the Naga land system and the ground reality of the Naga political issue, the meeting is said to have reiterated. “All these should be taken into account” Mannen said.
However, it was lamented that the Central government is not taking into consideration the ‘stand of the Nagas.’ This could tilt any settlement in favor of Assam, it was observed.
Civil society present in the meeting emphasized the need for conducting such consultations on regular basis. The need to instate a border committee consisting of various Naga tribal hohos, NGOs and border villages was evolved during today’s meeting.
Naga Hoho, Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho, Rengma Hoho, Zeliangrong Baudi, APO, Konyak Union and representatives of Kangtsung village, Jaboka village, Bura Namsang village and Kongan village attended the meeting.
.jpg)
