Dimapur, March 18 (MExN): The Arunachal Citizens’ Right (ACR) has called for the “urgent intervention” of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), as well as the Government of India, following the attack on a doctor at Soha village in Tirap district by suspected NSCN (IM) cadres. The doctors were said to have been attacked after they refused to pay the cadres, who also landed up burning vehicles of the Circle Officer (CO) and Officer in-Charge (OC) of Deomali on Saturday evening.
“The people of Arunachal will not allow the state to be the dumping ground of the Indo-Naga political frustrations,” stated a press release from the ACR’s chairperson, Taring Mama, which appealed to the Government of India to immediately “prevent and check” violence victimizing innocent Arunachalis.
“Such incidents usually will aggravate already complicated atmosphere of the conflict and tension in the region,” the release noted. Stressing that the people of Arunachal and its citizens have no ill feelings towards the present peace endeavor of the Naga political movement, the release stated, “the failure on the armed group who is in the peace process with Government of India in restraining from the violent activities, following the ground rules, and respecting the neighboring state and their citizens is becoming very critical concern over the years.”
Though interested in the resolution of the Naga issue, the press release from Itanagar asserted that “death threat, murders and other criminal or human rights violations” will not be tolerated by the Arunachalis who have already lost much to the conflict between NSCN (K), NSCN (IM) and security forces. It has also been alleged that a number of government officers have been receiving “intimidation/threat leading to hampering of development activities in the state besides creating tension and fear psychosis among the common masses.” This, the ACR fears, might damage the friendly relations between Nagas living in Arunachal Pradesh for business or missionary work and Arunachalis.
In that, the ACR has asked NSCN (IM) officials and cadres to exercise tolerance to avoid “unproductive engagement” and create an atmosphere of “positive and durable peace” where “absence of violent activity, minimize the ethnic hostility and install meaningful lasting peace in the in the region.” The ACR has also requested the intervention of the FNR to “bring peace and avoid similar incidents in interest of various tribal communities of the region.”
