
Flays ‘brazen demands’ by NSCN/GPRN (Khango)
Dimapur, January 21 (MExN): The Business Association of Nagas (BAN) today condemned what it termed as “reprehensible extortion attempts” made by NSCN/GPRN (Khango-Hokato Vusshe) by allegedly demanding Rs 50 lakh from Aolemba, the Chairman of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) responsible for managing and operating the Common Facility Centre (CFC) for the furniture cluster.
In this connection, it called on the State Government to take a firm stance against such attempts and ensure that the rule of law is upheld. The Association further demanded that the State Government apprehend the “culprit and mastermind responsible for extortion and intimidation.”
“Protect citizens' rights by ensuring that citizens are not harassed or coerced by any organisations. Strengthen institutions and ensure that the government is effective in maintaining law and order,” it further urged the State Government.
The BAN further asserted that only “legitimate authorities must investigate and address any genuine concerns about corruption or irregularities” and said that it would continue to vigilantly monitor the situation, ensuring the rule of law is upheld.
“We will not tolerate any attempts to disrupt the established order, undermine governmental authority, or compromise the future of the Naga people,” affirmed the BAN in a statement issued by its President Mongkum Jamir and Vice President Dr Yan Murry.
Giving context to its demands, the Association pointed out that the present situation raises concerns about the government's effectiveness in maintaining law and order. The government's silence on this matter is particularly troubling, as it may be perceived as an inability to protect its citizens, it held.
As per the BAN, the lack of effective enforcement and political will has created a power vacuum, allowing NSCN/GPRN (Khango) to “exploit the situation and spread insecurity and hopelessness among citizens.”
The government's inaction and silence in the face of extortion attempts have emboldened such organisations, undermining the rule of law and eroding public trust in institutions, it claimed.
To this end, it urged the State Government to take immediate action to assert its authority, investigate and prosecute those responsible, and restore the faith of citizens in the system. It further conveyed that it stands firmly against corruption and supports legitimate authorities in taking action against anyone involved in corrupt activities.
The BAN also charged the NSCN/GPRN (Khango) with resorting to “moral policing as a last-ditch attempt to salvage their image” when extortion demands fail. However, such tactics only serve to reveal their true motives, eroding their credibility and exposing their desperation, it maintained.
Accordingly, the BAN put on record that it is “fully cognisant of the modus operandi employed by certain individuals who utilise various organisational fronts to perpetrate extortionist activities” and cautioned that such “actions and duplicitous intentions” would ultimately be exposed in due course.
The Naga people will not be taken for granted, and their rights and interests will be safeguarded, it asserted. The association also called upon the people to unequivocally reject the scourges of extortion and intimidation in the interest of the Naga people and its development.
“We must recognise that a life of luxury built on the hard work and sweat of others is morally reprehensible. Instead, we should be willing to make sacrifices in the present to pave the way for a brighter tomorrow,” it added.