DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 11 (MExN): Against the backdrop of physical assault on the Wanching village leaders by cadres of NSCN (K) on Wednesday, the Wanching Village Council has demanded that the culprits be handed over before November 30, in order to settle the case as per the law of the land. In a press release, the village council took a stand that in case of failure to comply with the demand, the village and its public would not cooperate with the NSCN (K) any further and they would not be held responsible for any untoward incident.
The release issued by the village leaders led by the village Angh, Kemang, VDB Secretary and VC member T. Teihwang, pointed out to historic facts that among the Konyak village, Wanching one of the starting places of the Naga Political Issue, had undergone untold suffering at the hand of the Indian Army.
It continued that the NNC Office and G. Headquarter were opened at the village at 1952. The whole village and its granaries had been burnt down completely in the year 1956 and the village was dispersed twice by the Indian Army because the village had been actively participating and accepting without hesitation, to support the cause of Naga Freedom Movement, it stated adding that at that time the leaders, the old, young, weak and sick had to take refuge in the jungle without housing, food or water fearing the wrath of the Indian Army. “The village has been so far a heaven like place to rest/shelter for the National worker”, it stated.
As such, it stated that the village had always been supportive and actively involved with the cause of the Naga issue with everything it had, but stated that the November 7 incident and the action of around 30 armed cadres under the command of Col. Peyong, was highly condemnable. Giving minute details of the whole incident wherein the Village Council Chairman, GB and other village leaders were physically beaten up by the cadres, the Council stated that when the victims were inquired about the incident, no valid reason for the harassment could be found.
Therefore, in letter addressed to the Kilonser (Home) of the NSCN (K), with copies to the President Konyak Union, Konyak Students’ Union, Commander-in-Chief of NSCN (K), Chairman of Konyak Region, of the NSCN (K) and the Raja Peyou Nyupdang Range, the Council and the public of Wanching village demanded the handing over of the errant cadres before the month’s end.
NSCW member Ellen in tears
Member of the Nagaland State Commission for Women, Ellen Konyak said that she is “in tears” at meeting the Wanching village leaders beaten black and blue by NSCN (K) cadres on Wednesday night. Describing the inhuman treatment meted out on them, Ellen Konyak hit out at the faction saying that National Workers were not authorized to practice such wild attitude. She went on to add that for a fish, water is everything, similarly for the nation workers, the public is their water. “If the water dries up, no fish can survive” cautioned the NSWC member.
At the same time, Ellen Konayk also hit out at the people of Wanching village saying “after the cadres shut up your leaders in a house and beat them the whole night, you feed them to their satisfaction and escort them to another village without any question?” She asked the villagers to find out the reason for such brutality. She also appealed to the NGOs, women organizations, church, society, Human rights Groups, right thinking citizens and public in general to condemn such acts.
Meanwhile, the Wanching village women organization, Wanching Nyupuh Sheko Khong (WNSK), has strongly condemned the brutal harassment of the village elders by cadres of NSCN (K) led by Col. Peyong of Hanmoi village in Myanmar. Demanding reasons for the assault to its leaders, the Women group said that such action is contempt of the Konyak Customary Law, which teaches of utmost respect to elders, aged and leaders. The president of WNSK, Nyolong Konyak further charged that the assault was meted out with the intention to disturb peaceful atmosphere in the village and demanded immediate action against the culprits.
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