Ao organizations endorse ACAUT

Members of Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland today arrived at Mokokchung and held a programme at the Town Hall, attended by representatives from various organizations, village councils, ward chairmen and members from the business community. Prominent among the organizations that attended today’s programme were the Ao Senden (Ao Hoho), Watsu Mungdang (apex Ao women organization), Ao Students’ Conference (AKM), Mokokchung Town Aor Telongjem and the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) etc. The programme, which was organized by the MCCI under the aegis of the Ao Senden, sent out unanimous messages that the Ao Society supports the “peoples’ movement” initiated by ACAUT.

Ao Senden president, Prof. Sangyu Yaden, while declaring that the Ao Senden has already endorsed the ACAUT movement, asked ACAUT to be transparent in its dealing since it is a non-political organization working for the welfare of the people. Saying that ACAUT has attracted all the right thinking citizens in the society, Prof. Yaden asserted that the people of Nagaland are yearning for a change in the society. Besides, while pointing out that there is no society in the world which does not pay tax, the Ao Senden president said that the Naga people are willing to pay tax; however it is the multiple taxes which are burdening the Naga people today. He further encouraged the ACAUT Nagaland to tie up with the business community in the town while initiating different actions.

The Watsu Mungdang president also declared that it is always ready to cooperate with ACAUT Nagaland in its endeavor against unabated taxation and corruption.
The AKM representative also declared that whatever decisions the Ao Senden takes with regard to ACAUT Nagaland, the AKM will stand behind it.

ACAUT Nagaland member, Tia Longchar, highlighted about membership drive for ACAUT Nagaland and handed over some membership coupons to AKM and social media administrators. The membership is free of cost and once registered as an ACAUT member, one should be ready to fight against unabated taxation and corruption in the society, said Tia Longchar.

Confederation of Indian Industries Nagaland Chapter Chairman, Aotoshi also spoke at the programme.

 

Please systematize your taxation: KK Sema
 

 

Morung Express News
Mokokchung | March 26

Former bureaucrat and writer, Khekiye K Sema, who was the main speaker at today’s ACAUT Nagaland programme, appealed to the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) to systematize their taxation system.

Khekiye, who is a bold writer and a firebrand orator, said that ACAUT Nagaland is not here to fight the “factions” and that the people are not saying that they will not pay taxes.

“(All we are saying is) Please, please systematize your taxation,” said Khekiye.

Dwelling on the Naga political issue, Khekiye asked, “who or which faction holds the mandate of the 1951 Plebiscite?” None of the factions hold the 1951 mandate, because every faction declares that they are fighting for Naga sovereignty, said Khekiye. He said that the Naga National Movement is an honorable movement which has the support of the public; however the people want only “one sovereignty.” He therefore appealed the NPGs to come together under one umbrella, take the moral support of the public so that the people can stand by them and pay one tax.

Saying that the NPGs are collecting taxes for their personal use, Khekiye challenged whether the public “can have the courage to ask the factions how their tax money is being used.” He said that the public knows well how their tax money is being spent by the NPGs because it is evident from the fancy cars driven and big buildings being built by the “underground functionaries.” In this regard, he said that the public are the ultimate taxpayers because whatever money is being extracted from the business community is being recovered from the public ultimately.

He said that a time comes in everyone’s life to make a serious decision; that decision making time has come to Nagaland. Therefore, he asserted that it is time to make an individual decision to say “we will pay one tax to one government.”

Khekiye maintained that the UGs or the factions will have to listen to the people of Nagaland, because no organization can survive without revenue.
He encouraged the Ao community leaders to take a strong decision and give leadership on the issue of one tax one government, which would be a big encouragement for other tribes too.

“All eyes are on the Ao Senden and the Aos on what you can do on this subject matter,” said the former bureaucrat.

Khekiye also said that ACAUT is not only against unabated taxation from the NPGs but also corruption in the Nagaland State Government. He maintained that whichever party might be in power, a government system must operate as a government system, free of corruption and in a transparent manner. He therefore appealed for a “cleanup” of the government system of corruption so that our children would grow up under a corruption free government.