Through this column I would like to share some of my opinions with the general public in regard to Ntangki National Park/NP been reserved for future Naga generations about a century ago. I’m just a layman, not properly educated and brought from a poor family of a war-torn village of the dreamland ‘Switzerland of the East’. Therefore, my views and writing may not be digestible to many readers in comparison to the well educated Nagas brought up from the best educational institutions within and outside. No matter, I’m just as I neither am believer of the most vocal ones and no worldly treasure can null and void either of my valued conscience or taken away my wisdom while observing the NNP encroachment and subsequent evictions. Indeed, I am very much encouraged to see that public leaders from various civil societies raised an alarm and have shown farsightedness by resolving to strengthen the hand of the State Govt. in preserving and conservation of the NNP on 20 June, 2009 special consultative meeting called for the purpose.
Firstly, let me leave aside the harsh relationship issue amongst the Old Beisumpui, Beisampuikam and the so called United Naga village but allow me to go through chronologically as far as my findings from available angles is concerned. We have heard from reliable sources including the respectable Tenyimi Peoples’ Organisation that Ol “Beisumpui village had donated its land to the Government on 2nd May, 1923 purely for the purpose of creating Intangki Reserved Forest.” We have also learnt from other sources that “this reserved forest touches many Naga areas and not only Beisumpuikam alone. Some parts of Kukis, Dimasa and Kacharis even some other areas stretch to Assam mainland.” The Naga civilized society must be grateful enough to the land donors under whose traditional jurisdiction this historic wildlife sanctuary have been created out. The credit must also goes to the then NNO government during 1970s under the able leadership of Late. Vizol, the then Chief Minister of Nagaland for taken initiative in certifying the Ntangki to be a community reserved forest for preservation, promotion and protection of flora and fauna falls under the Ntangki and its adjoining areas. Meanwhile, according to the forest department’s Status Report on Intanki National Park” the INP was free from any encroachment till 1983. The first encroachment, the report stated started in 1984 by “so called Beisumpuikam” by constructing few huts on the bank of “Misapdisa nala” which is in between INP and “jhumland area”. It stated that they were immediately evicted by the civil administration, Jalukie during February-March 1984. After the eviction, the “Status Report Report on Intanki National Park” stated they shifted to about 500 metres away from “Misapdisa nala” outside the INP and established a village by constructing about 20 makeshift thatch shelters. On February 1989 Beisumpuikam villagers felled a teak plantation (about 2 hectares of 1970-71 plantation) just on the bank of Monglu river with the intention to establish another village inside National Park on the pretest that they had been permitted to establish village ADC, Peren, the report stated. However, on verification it was found that ADC, Peren had given the “Clearance Certificate” for log operation and not for establishing village as claimed, adding the order was subsequently cancelled by ADC, Peren. (Quote: Nagaland Post, June, 29 2009).
It is also interesting to note that, to some Naga thinkers it appears that the encroachers are the 21st century Columbus since most of them do not know the names of rivers and mountains in Ntangki Reserve as “it is a very foreign land” to them. Meanwhile, while the honourable Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is seeking for support from the powerful Naga Hoho, ENPO, NSF, NMA, other civil societies and legislators of NNP imbroglio the unfortunate evicted villagers are blaming the State Govt. for not safeguarding their interests by not maintaining status quo and taking the right decision at the right time whereby justifying themselves in the form of press releases with whatever available statements of the past. On the other hand, no sooner the so called Inavi/United Naga village was evicted by GPRN/NSCN-IM on 16th June, 2009 the TPO had slammed the forest minister, MC Konyak, for his “confusing, contradictory and irresponsible statement.” The Naga national workers too instead of going ahead with their genuine objectives are engaged in petty domestic affairs by alleging each others for “turning a large chunk into private orchards and farms” after logging away lakhs of trees worth millions of rupees from the INP. To get the matters worst it also appears that the State Govt. is trying to hide its failure and inactions in tackling the issue. This has been proved when the same relief materials meant for the June 16 evicted victims issued from the Dimapur district administration were destroyed on 24th June by the Peren district administration with the help of the police, IRB and forest officials. To me, this is a very amusing as the actions of the government are contradictory and amounts to inciting division among the communities. Allegations and counter-allegations, doubts and follow-up clarification in regard to encroachment within the INP may goes on and continue for centuries. But here I’m sad to note that the once hair splitting Intangki Reserve Forest is now turned into an open field with only few birds singing, no more hoolock gibbon. Porcupine, hornbill etc. as all such endangered species from this hapless forest are not available in the daily markets of the DMC and KMC meant mostly for the VIPs special dishes.
In conclusion I would like to suggest that since NNP is not reserved for giving shelter to terrorists and other outlaws, land mongers/grabbers and illegal loggers, the State Govt. be bold enough to invite the National Security Guards from Delhi and evict all the encroachers including the illegally occupied forest colony – the Hebron Camp, Beisampuikam (a refugee village of war widows from South Nagas) and self proclaimed United Naga (Inavi village/Inavi Brigade Hevito (as some Semas coined) who are justifying themselves as the rightful beneficiaries. Under the above stated circumstances, I appeal the honourable Chief Minister to be true to his words by evicting the whole encroachers and extend compensation and relief to the tune of Rupees 5 lakh per affected family household of the above localities. In the meantime, the forest department must be ready to plant some sixteen million tree saplings soon the NNP is cleared of encumbrances so that one of the remaining animals and plants kingdom on earth is preserved and protected. Otherwise, the dog never leaves the fresh bone lying in front of unless guarded watchfully.
Mesanyi Chakhesang
Dzüvürü, Kohima
