Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 20
Nagas from across the society, cutting across tribal or political affiliation, today unanimously resolved to protect all forms of government property, particularly land and forests, from falling into the hands of groups or individuals. They have endorsed the state government to take effective steps to preserve government properties. A consultative meeting of all legislators and civil society including the Naga Hoho and ENPO convened by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio unanimously approved and adopted a resolution to extend full support and cooperation to any action of the state government to preserve the common property of the Nagas – that is, government property.
The meeting asked all encroachers within Intangki Reserve Forest to voluntarily vacate their settlements before action is initiated to evict them.
‘We have lost our values’
All representatives of the tribal bodies who spoke at the meeting agreed that “Naga united village”, located under the Intangki Reserve Forest area, is an illegal settlement and so they should be evicted. The meeting also resolved to set up a committee comprising of neutral bodies such as the Naga Hoho and the ENPO and headed by the State Forest department, to study the case of Beisumpuikam village and recommend to the state government for action.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the chief minister lamented that the Nagas have become too individualistic and losing their ‘main issues and taking up micro issues’. “We have lost our honesty and our integrity and our society is in danger”, Neiphiu Rio lamented. There is a serious need for reformation of Naga society, he said. “We have lost sight of even our sovereignty and independence. We have many factions but very little leaders”, he said and insisted that there is a leadership crisis in Naga society.
Maintaining that Nagas have lost their famous honesty and are now indulging in dishonest means for selfish purposes, he cited the example of the 2001 census, the bogus teachers’ scam, the NPSC scandal and rampant encroachment on government lands. Pointing out that encroachment has become the order of the day in any part of the state, Rio underscored the need for a collective effort to protect common property and challenged the people to decide whether to fight for own selves or to collectively fight for common holdings.
Rio also condemned the recent “eviction drive” carried out by the NSCN (IM) and assured to provide relief to the affected but given that they are willing to come outside Intangki. Urging those settling within the Intangki reserve forest to vacate the area voluntarily without confrontation, he assured that appropriate relief will be given if they come out of the reserve forest area voluntarily.
Today’s consultative meeting also saw the active participation of legislators from the Opposition Congress who also assured to extend full support and cooperation towards any initiative to protect and preserve government property. With the exception of the Ao Senden, all tribal bodies were represented in the meeting.
