WAPO to protest through every constitutional means
DIMAPUR, MARCH 20 (MExN): The Western Angami Public Organization (WAPO) held a general meeting on March 19 at Secu-Zuba in which it resolved to reaffirm the decision of the Emergency meeting held on March 16 and strongly oppose the Delimitation Proposal of the Delimitation Commission of India. The President of WAPO, Tsilie Sakhrie, in a press release stated that this move to erase the Western Angami Assembly Constituency to amalgamate with Chiephobozou was totally unacceptable to the Western Angami people. In the meeting, the WAPO also resolved to resort to all constitutional means to register its protest against the working proposal and to further launch agitation in its areas, the task of which was entrusted to the Western Angami Youth Organization while at the same time appointing a 5 member working committee on the said Delimitation.
Asangma village wants to be under 21 Tuli A/C
Mokokchung, March 20 (MExN): The Asangma Village Council has appealed to the Delimitation Commission to consider and retain the Asangma village under the present constituency in 21 Tuli Assembly Constituency.
Giving a brief highlight about the reason behind the appeal made by the Asangma villagers, a press release issued by K Aoba Jamir, AVC chairman stated that the inconveniences faced by the Asangma village is that, till 1973 Asangma village was under 23 Impur A/C and even the administrative jurisdiction was under Changtongya Town. However, the release stated, since 1974 general election Asangma village was brought under Tuli A/C, and the administrative jurisdiction was also shifted under ADC Tuli in 2004.
The release stated that the changing of the constituency proved very convenient for the villagers, since the Asangma village is also from Langpangkong range and Tuli being the nearest town which is just fifteen kilometers away from the village and this is the shortest distance compared with other constituency.
In this regard, the release stated, “It’s a matter of fact, few villages have been taken out from Tuli A/C and place(d) under their own Range constituency.”
The release also stated that the ‘Merangkong Reongsanger Putu Menden’ has given a press release in this connection with the delimitation. The release stated that the AVC whole heartedly appreciates the decision of the Merangkong Reongsanger Putu Menden.
Giving all the above points, the release finally fervently urged the Delimitation Commission to consider and retain Asangma village under 21 Tuli A/C and added that the village council awaited a positive response from the commission with regard to this issue.
Ghukiye Tokukujo says ‘No’ to delimitation
Dimapur, March 20 (MExN): The five villages of Ghukiye Tokukujo area i.e., Ghukiye, Nikuto, Zungti, Kulhopu and Xukhepu, under Zunheboto have expressed their opposition to what it stated is the “ongoing draft proposal on delimitation.” The villages through chairman Z Zhimomi in a note affirmed that they will not permit “this myopic act of delineation” and “mutilation of age-old heritage and kindredship (sic).”
The note stated that the decision to amalgamate the five villages with the erstwhile Aghunato division, in the name and style of Northern Zunheboto “does not hold any water if viewed from geographical aspect” and any attempt to mislead the people of the area by adopting any nomenclature “is outrageous.”
Asserting that since “time immemorial” Ghukiye Tokukujo has been an ‘intrinsic’ part of Satakha range, the note urged the concern authorities to review the draft proposal and “do away with the anomaly.” Failing to comply with the issue would invite an own course of action, it warned.
Atoizu prepared for tooth and nail opposition
DIMAPUR, MARCH 20 (MExN): An emergency meeting of the GB’s of Apukito under 32 Atoizu consisting of Naghuto (Old), Naghuto (New), Lokobo and Awotsakili villages at Lokobomi on March 2007 in connection to the Delimitation. The press release issued by the Sessional Secretaries Kanito Chishi and Inashe Achumi, stated that the meeting had resolved on the establishment of Atoizu town in 1952 under the leadership of Lt. Heikhu Khulu (EAC) along with Lt. Nivukhu Chishi, the then Head GB of Lokobomi and Lt. Kiyekhu Shikhu (former Speaker NLA) of Awotsakilimi involving the entire people of Apukito and hence the people of the particular area shared a sense of belonging and ownership of the area. Atoizu Area, having been represented to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly by Lt. K Shikhu and KL Chishi, the people of the area were proud of being its citizen and as such the proposal to displace them from the 32 Atoizu Constituency could not be digested by the people and stated that they totally opposed the move. However the GBs of Apukitop Area said that they would welcome any other area or village who wished to join Atoizu, either on their own accord or by any other arrangement. The meeting therefore resolved to oppose tooth and nail the present exercise by “some unscrupulous leaders” and added that the present legislators from Zunheboto District would be held accountable for any such arrangement.
17th Chizami A/C rejects delimitation
DIMAPUR, MARCH 20 (MExN): An emergency meeting of the 17th Chizami A/C was held at Chizami on March 17 which was attended by all Village Council Chairmen and other village leaders and all political party leaders of Assembly Constituency segment. A press release issued by Veswupra D Vadeo, President of Secieku Public Organization stated that during the meeting, sitting MLA and Deputy Chairman State Planning Board, Deo Nukhu, ex-Speaker Z Lohe, former Minister KG Kenye and ex-candidate V Lasuh and various other leaders unanimously expressed concern and vehemently opposed the draft working paper of seven (7) villages of 16th Phütsoro A/C to be transferred to 17th Chizami A/C and seven villages under Sakraba circle are to be transferred to 19th Phek A/C. The release stated that this proposal was outrightly rejected by the people of the constituency and blame was laid on those who are involved in the new draft working paper.
The unanimous resolution adopted during the meeting was to stand by the Chakhesang Public Organization’s resolution of maintaining status quo of the existing Assembly Constituency in Phek district and also to write a representation to the Minister of Election about 17th Chizami A/C’s resentment and objection to the draft working paper under intimation to the Chief Minister and associate member of Delimitation Commission from Nagaland.
Phom union led support to delimitation JAC
Dimapur, March 20 (MExN): Phom Union, Kohima supports the newly instated Joint Action Committee for implementation of delimitation. The union took this decision at its executive meeting held on March 17.
The union urged the commission and the government to fully implement the delimitation of assembly constituencies without delay “to provide justice to the areas such as Longleng, Kiphire, Peren and Wokha districts etc., which have not been adequately represented to the highest policy making body of the state” stated a note from the union’s Vice President C Danted and General Secretary B Chingmei. The union also called upon the ‘affected people” to “rise up before it is too late” and also called for supporting full implementation of the act “without bias.”
Pochury society demands separate A/C
Dimapur, March 20 (MExN): An emergency executive meeting of Pochury civil society was held on March 15 where strong resentment and opposition was expressed against what was stated as “3rd Delimitation Working Paper.” To this, a separate Pochury constituency was demanded.
The meeting noted that the Delimitation Act 2002 stated that “all constituencies shall, as practicable, be geographically compact area and in delimiting them in this regard shall be had to physical features, existing boundaries of administrative units, facilities of communication and public convenience.” A note from the executives of Pochury Public Forum, Pochury Mothers’ Association, Pochury Youth Organization and Pochury Students Union stated that Doss represented the Pochury tribe from 1961-1963 as an interim member and Amon represented the tribe in the first Nagaland Legislative Assembly from 1964-1968 “without distortion within the land and villages of neighboring tribes.” However by the Delimitation Act of 1972, nine Chakhesang villages were added to 20 A/C Meluri. For this, the Pochury tribe was left unrepresented in the NLA for three consecutive tenures i.e., 1977-1988.
The Pochury organizations informed that the existing 20 A/C Meluri is the largest constituency in Nagaland covering more than 50% of the district land coverage. “Due to the vastness of geographical area it creates a lot of inconveniences for the administrative machineries where some villages like Reguri, Akhen, Avakhung, Old Thewati, Moke, Tezatsu (and) Kizari do not have road communications,” the note stated adding that the Pochury tribe being a distinct tribe, it should be given a separate Assembly Constituency to protect its identity. In view of these points, the organizations appealed to the Delimitation Commission to physically verify the feasibility “and accessibility of administration convenience and geographical coverage.”
