Dimapur, April 12 (MExN): The United Naga Tribes Association of Border Areas (UNTABA) has asked the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur to review the prohibitory order preventing entry to the Daldali Reserve Forest. Terming the order as defying “all practical, logical and political wisdom,” the UNTABA, in a press release held that the DC should rather adopt means to safeguard the traditional and historical rights of Naga land owners.
According to the UNTABA, the Dimapur district administration’s stance of stopping Nagas from “occupying and developing our own land” is a portrayal of the Government of Nagaland’s disregard to the “factual history of our people” and a betrayal to the greater cause of the Naga people.
“… All the forests and Naga territories were handed over to Assam during British Rule and with tacit approval from the Government of India, our lands are being systematically deforested and occupied by people of questionable origins from Assam with the support of Assam Forest department and Assam Police.”
Basing on this, the UNTABA held that it is not the Government of Nagaland’s duty to assist the Assam Police against Naga land owners. It is the duty of the Nagaland State Government to ask the Government of India to re-transfer all the lands and forests to Nagaland as committed by the Government of India in the ‘9 Point Agreement’ and in accordance to Points No. 12 & 13 of the ‘16 Point Agreement’, the UNTABA said.
