DIMAPUR, APRIL 24 (MExN): Reacting to an article entitled ‘Major eviction along Nagaland border soon?’ which appeared in the April 17 edition of an Assam-based daily, the Ao Senden today said it was impelled to respond to such an ‘unwarranted and baseless’ statement.
“The article claims that the Nagas have encroached the land that belongs to the Asom in the border tract measuring 22,000 hectares of land in three reserve forests of Jorhat-Dessoi Valley, Tiru Hills and Dessoi and 1.4 lakh acres in the districts of Sivasagar, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat and Jorhat in the name of unification of all Naga dominated areas and in view of the re-mapping of the Nagalim led by NSCN (IM).”
The article further states that therefore all structures including a petrol pump and brick factories located in New Chungtia, 30 kms from Jorhat may be evicted after the declaration of election results in Assam, it was informed. When the order is executed, this will affect the entire district in general and 10 Naga villages including the present NSCN (IM) designated Camp, the Regional headquarters located at New Chungtia village, the newspaper is said to have carried.
Vehemently refuting the report, Ao Senden President Temjenkaba said in a rejoinder, “This is a direct challenge to the Nagas particularly (during) the present peace process between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) for which they need to be prepared for any eventuality. It is no doubt an evil design with intention to sabotage the ongoing political dialogue.”
The people of Assam should know that they have not disturbed themselves by passing an impossible eviction order against the Nagas who are living in their own birthplace in the bordering Assam and elsewhere, the apex body of the social organizations within Mokokchung District said through its President. “It is the people of Assam who have arbitrarily encroached the land belonging to the Nagas before and after independence,” Temjenkaba said. He said the people of Assam have forcefully demolished the original boundary pillars that demarcated the boundary of Assam and erstwhile Naga Hills erected right from the time of the British Government, and illegally occupied the land belonging to the Nagas in different parts of Assam totaling an area of 4, 974.16 square miles as per the official records and documents including the original maps. “They are 131.12 sq miles under Sector A, 586.88 sq miles under Sector B, 2,825.76 sq miles under Sector C and 1,430.40 sq miles under Sector C that includes Naga reserved forests and tea gardens established in Naga soil during British regime.”
The Ao Senden has seriously noted the eviction order passed by the Assam Government as reported in the news item “because the Govt of Assam has no authority to impose even eviction order on the Naga villagers who are living in their own land.”
Having noticed the eviction order and its consequences, the social body has desired to know from the Government of Nagaland what steps it has taken so far “on such crucial matters for the interest of the people of Nagaland.”
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