Dimapur, January 24 (MExN): The Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) will begin its second phase boycott against the teachers’ recruitment process from January 25. Except for the administration, medical and educational institutions, all other government offices will be shut down completely. Para- military forces and the media are also exempted from the shutdown. Also, no government vehicle will be allowed to “ply, enter or move out” of the four districts until further order from the ENSF.
“The federation has resolved to indefinitely close/shut down all four districts of Eastern Nagaland viz, Tuensang, Kiphire, Mon and Longleng from January 25 as an act of resentment against the State government’s failure to address ENSF’s genuine grievances in implementing the written assurance issued from the office of the Chief Secretary,” the ENSF stated in a letter addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of the four districts.
Pointing out that the chief secretary had agreed “in principle” to its five point charter of demand, ENSF president Hawang T Wangsha and general secretary Changsang Soted stated in the letter: “The Chief secretary of Nagaland had already issued a written notification to revert back about 1500-1600 posts transferred along with post outside Eastern Nagaland from SSA/RMSA’s newly created post but it was not implemented by the Department of School Education.”
The ENSF also directed all Eastern Nagas to abstain from participating in the Republic Day celebration. “The decision of the ENSF is a direct reflection of its resentment against the State government’s negligence towards the stand of the ENSF in seeking implementation of the chief secretary’s’ notification of August 14, 2011,” the ENSF stated.
Moreover, the ENSF also demands that the Education department “authentically” advertise the overall posts allocated to eastern Nagaland district wise vis-s-vis other districts of the State. The federation cautions that the recruitment to the advertised posts under SSA/RMSA should be appointed, and the appointment order should also be issued on the same date across the state.
The ENSF said it would initiate its 3rd phase of boycott in a “more severe manner” if their demands are not implemented. The ENSF appeals to all eastern Nagas to fully cooperate with the federation and respond positively to the call, adding that “the ENSF is working tirelessly and unconditionally for the welfare of the six tribes to ensure that it would not be allowed to be manipulated by the wrong policies of the State government.”
