Mon, August 2 (MExN): The Konyak Civil Societies (CSOs) have vehemently condemned the reported “custodial death” of Temzei Konyak, Chairman Konyak Region & Deputy Kilonser NSCN/GPRN (Akato) “presumably in the custody of the NSCN(IM) cadres” in Tizit on July 31.
“Irrespective of the case, no individual or group has any right to take the life of another. Even prisoners of war are entitled to humane treatment and not subjected to custodial death,” the Konyak CSOs pointed out in a joint statement, terming the death a “cold-blooded murder and goes beyond the ethics and ethos of humanity in a civilized society.”
The NSCN (IM) should take responsibility for the crime and ensure that the higher ups initiate fair investigation and befitting justice is served at the earliest against the cadres involved in the incident, the statement demanded.
The Konyak CSOs further pointed out that the NSCN (IM) has also violated the December 18, 2007 resolution of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organization (ENPO) that vowed to maintain a “bloodshed-free region.”
“The Konyak CSOs is deeply hurt by the incident which has been carried out in total disregard to this sacred Resolution of the ENPO,” added the statement appended by Konyak Union President, Tingthok Konyak; Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong (KNSK) President, Ponglem Konyak; and Konyak Students' Union (KSU) President, T Noklem Konyak.
We had always advocated and campaigned for peace and harmony in the Konyak region and the Tizit incident is a total violation of the advocacy of the Konyak CSOs and the ENPO, it asserted.
“Such dastard and inhumane acts shall not be tolerated on Konyak soil,” it added.
Accordingly, the Konyak CSOs urged all concerned parties to uphold the values of humanity and work towards maintaining peace and harmony in the region. “We must collectively strive to ensure justice is served, and that such tragic incidents are not repeated in future,” it noted.
The Konyak CSOs also expressed pain over the incident and extended their deepest sympathies to the bereaved family of late Temzei.
It must be noted here that the NSCN/GPRN (Akato) in a press release on August 1 charged the NSCN (IM) in abducting four of its active members, resulting in one death in Lapalampong village in the Tizit Area of Mon district.
The abducted members included three civil officials and one Naga Army personnel, it added.
