Dimapur, June 19 (MExN): The Tenyimi People’s Organization (TPO) has expressed serious concern at the rampant encroachment inside Intangki National Park. A press note issued by the TPO welcomed the June 16, 2009 “eviction drive” carried out by the NSCN (IM) to drive out the encroachers who proclaimed themselves as “united Naga village” located in the same area where Inavi village earlier attempted to establish itself deep inside Intangki National Park. The drive is a welcomed step towards the protection and preservation of the national park and in the interest of the Naga people, it stated. “Perhaps, it is the duty of each and every Naga to protect and preserve the park in the interest and for the betterment of our future Naga generation”, stated the TPO press note issued by ZM Sekhose, president, Keku Zeliang, vice president, S. Daiho, information and publicity secretary and Velahü Puro, treasurer.
The TPO also expressed dismay at the indecision and inaction of the State Forest Department and the Forest Minister in protecting Intangki National Park. This has resulted in giving the illegal encroachers a free hand in its attempt to establish village illegally by forcible encroachment into the National Park, stated the press note. Apart from allowing rampant encroachment, massive destruction had been done in the Park in the form of logging, hunting etc. the TPO stated. “Adding more embarrassment, the State Forest Minister, who instead of performing his duty and take the initiative in carrying out evictions of illegal encroachers and protecting and preserving the Intangki National Park started making confusing, contradictory and irresponsible statement. His statement which appeared in a section of the press on June 18, 2009 speaks volumes and is rather inciting communal/tribal disharmony”, the TPO stated in strong terms.
Stating that it was unfortunate that certain people are openly supporting and encouraging illegal encroachers/land mongers and also comparing the landowners with that of illegal encroachers, the TPO pointed out that on the other hand, the attempt by a band of illegal land encroachers/grabbers/mongers to establish an illegal village on encroached land in the name of “United Naga Village” is nothing but an attempt to denigrate the Nagas by defiling all ethos, norms and practices of the inherent Naga traditions whereby a Naga respects fellow Naga of his right of land ownership, traditional boundary and jurisdictions.
The TPO stated that the claim made by the non-existing, self proclaimed United Naga village that it consists of people from altogether fourteenth Naga tribes is but more of an “amusement and an illusion”. The TPO strongly felt that “these bands of individuals land grabbers/mongers were never authorized by their respective tribe/tribal Hohos to represent their tribe(s) and encroached others land and illegally establish village”. Nagas, the TPO stated, cannot be fooled and taken for a ride by “a handful of land mongers”. Therefore, TPO has strongly felt the urgent need for all concerned tribe/tribal Hohos to “clarify and certify the same in written”.
The TPO has reminded that the “land of the present Intangki National Park has not come into existence out of the blue” and that the “land belongs to Beisumpui from time immemorial and it was generously donated and sacrificed by the Beisumpui villagers”. The TPO maintained that Beisumpui villagers had donated the vast track of land which now house Intangki National Park during the British rule. Beisumpui village had donated its land to the Government on 2nd May, 1923 purely for the purpose of creating Intangki Reserved Forest, stated the TPO while adding that the “State Government through separate official notifications later declared it as Intangki Wildlife Sanctuary and Intangki National Park respectively and not for setting up of village or logging and hunting”.
The preservation and protection of the Intangki National Park with its rich biodiversity and several endangered species are for the benefit of not only the Nagas but also the neighbouring communities and the entire world, the TPO stated while pointing out that one should be very grateful to the Beisumpui villagers for their generosity and far sightedness.
The TPO also argued that the “land of the present Intangki National Park having been donated by Beisumpui village which is an integral part of the Tenyimi community it very much belongs to the Tenyimi as a whole” and that “so also, Tenyimi being Nagas, it belongs to the Nagas as a whole”. As such the TPO stated that it will not tolerate any encroachment in the Intangki National Park by anybody; and “we shall go to any extent, to protect and preserve Intangki National Park”.
In this regard, the TPO has appealed to all concerned including the State Government, Naga National Workers, Tribal Hohos, Students, NGOs and civil societies as a whole to make sure that these illegal encroachers are evicted from the National Park and that they don’t come back again. The TPO further appealed to each and every Naga, to join hands together and protect and preserve Intangki National Park and also make sure that the Park is free from any encroachment, illegal logging and hunting even in the days to come for the betterment of our future generation.
