Kohima: The Southern Angami Youth Organization (SAYO), under Kohima district of Nagaland, has affirmed that there was no question of lifting the ongoing indefinite bandh along National Highway-2 under its jurisdiction till Manipur Government withdraws its security personnel stationed at Kezoltsa area under State.
Addressing the media persons at Kigwema on Friday, SAYO President Metekhrielie Mejura said the decision to lift the bandh now solely on the move of Manipur Government, as he asked the Manipur Government was hesitant to take “a simple step” of recalling its troops, who were illegally occupying Kezoltsa forest.
He pointed out that the claims put forward by Manipur were baseless and their occupation was “clearly a case of encroachment. He said that Nagas were unique in their traditional rights and cultural values and the Southern Angami people would abide and uphold the traditional decision making body.
The Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) under Kohima district, supported by SAYO, had called for a total bandh on March 21 within its jurisdiction, demanding the government of Manipur to withdraw its armed personnel and permanent structures at Kezoltsa area within 72 hours.
It imposed an indefinite bandh on March 24 after following the failure of Manipur Government to meet its demand. Meanwhile, the Tenyimi Peoples’ Organisation (TPO) on Saturday said that the best way to maintain peace and social harmony is to respect the traditional ownership and adjudicate disputes by trying to bring about understanding without harping so much on the state boundaries, and to march together as people and not as varied citizens of states.
In a statement the TPO charged the Government of Manipur of remaining “hell-bent on defying the good intentions of the people working towards amicable resolution of the dispute and restoration of healthy relationship amongst all concerned” despite various appeals and communications.
The Government of Manipur should understand that Naga people are arbitrarily divided into various states and administrative units; there are tribes of Manipur, whose lands are under Nagaland state jurisdiction, TPO said.
