PEREN, February 5 (MExN): “T.R. Zeliang as Chief Minister has to resign for peace and normalcy to return to Nagaland.” This is the conviction and committed demand of “prudent” Zeliang elders, according to a press release from Itingtiebe Siang, Convenor of the Zeliang Elders’ Forum.
Reacting to a statement from the Zeliang Peoples’ Organisation Nagaland which claimed that there is no such organisation called Zeliang Elders’ Forum, the Convenor of the ZEF clarified, “Nagaland was burning and to contain the troubled minds of the people a need was felt to express the concern voice of the elders, so came the Zeliang Elders’ Forum.”
The ZEF maintained that the President of ZPO (N) has no right to disrespect or fail to recognize the supreme sacrifice of the two Naga youths late Khriesavizo Metha and late Bendangnungsang Longkumer in protecting the rights of the Nagas.
Insisting that lawlessness “as could be foreseen” was ushered in by the state government in Nagaland, the ZEF sought to lay the blame on the state government under TR Zeliang for having refused to heed the voice of the people. Reacting to claims from the ZPO (N) that the demand for resignation is “politically motivated”, the ZEF Convenor maintained that “No real issue here is politically motivated or politicized” and instead blamed the ZPO (N) for being constantly “ill-advised”.
Questioning the ZPO (N) decision to back the chief minister, the elders’ forum argued that the ZPO (N) is going against the wishes of the people of Nagaland. “Have things not turned lawless and order less under the reign of a party-less opposition-less state government headed by T. R. Zeliang?” the ZEF asked.
The elders’ forum also dared the ZPO (N) to be present at the Coordination Meeting convened by the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee at APO Hall, Kohima on Tuesday, February 7, 11:00 am.
The elders’ forum further remarked that the ZPO (N) be held solely responsible should any untoward incident or harassment befall any Zeliang hereafter.
