DIMAPUR, JUNE 25 (MExN): The Seyochung Area Students’ Union today stated that the question of consent and consensus does not arise as far as its formation is concerned. The students, in a clarification, said that at no point of time had ‘Sangtam ancestors’ sought “protection, assistance nor consent for existence and formation of Sangtam villages from the Sumis of the Seyochung area or any other tribes.”
“Now it is crystal clear that the Seyochung Area is purely dominated and inhabited by Sangtam since time immemorial with its distinct culture and tradition. Therefore, the formation of SASU was through the consent and mandate of the Sangtam for the welfare of the people”
The union further stated that it had never meted out any ‘flippancy attitude’ or ‘antisocial policies’ towards other communities within its jurisdiction but that it had provided ample opportunities and averted ‘preferential treatment.’
In regard to the hosting of the tenth general session of Kiphire District Sumi Students’ Union at Seyochung town in January 2006, the SASU clarified that the town being the headquarter of SASU, it had endorsed an official letter addressed to the president of the KDSSU dated December 26, 2005 “for not consulting with SASU to host its general session at its headquarter.”
“The letter also contains an appeal to intimate and hold consultations with SASU to host any social gatherings in the near future and not as stated by Sumi Union Seyochung Area.”
“In the light of the above statement the SASU had never misinterpreted nor twisted any situation within its jurisdiction.”
The student body further said it had issued the statement “to avert further confusion in the minds of the Sumis of Seyochung Area and the readers to maintain peaceful co-existence.”
.jpg)
