Dimapur, December 8 (MExN): Zeliangrong Youth Organisation Nagaland (ZYON) on Thursday stated that the inaction of the State Government to resolve the Lamhai and Kiyevi land dispute based on the facts and records available with it and also letting the perpetrators of heinous crimes walk scot-free is disheartening factor.
“This cold attitude towards the Zeliangrong people may lead us to revisit the Zeliangrong People’s Convention (ZPC) Homeland movement, which has been kept in abeyance thus far, on the request of Naga Leaders in the larger interest of the Naga Political Movement,” the Media Cell ZYON cautioned in its press statement.
“However, this constant discrimination and step-motherly treatment and the inaction and inability of the Government to deliver justice to us will leave us no choice but to ignite the ZPC Homeland Movement once again to protect our land and resources,” it added.
ZYON stated that “Looking at the present trend, with sophisticated guns galore and criminals walking free with no action whatsoever for their crimes, there is total absence of governance in the State in every sense.”
Further reiterating its stand on the establishment of Kiyevi village, ZYON maintained that Kiyevi village was established in 1939 when Kiyevi and Lothavi after obtaining permission from Lamhai village paid one Anna to every household and 50 paise to the GB Puiteng of the host village.
“And as is customary, a feast was hosted by Lamhai village and Kiyevi village was thus established in the land of Lamhai. The boundary for the village was Ngeurezang Range in the North, Stone Pillar in the South, Duilongo Stream till Tehaiki confluence in the East and Nchuketikpereu (Kalapathar stream) till confluence of Nkwareu in the west,” it stated.
According to ZYON, and as time went by, Kiyevi village petitioned to the ADC Peren to shift the village to a new site in exchange of their present settlement with the reason that the village area is small for their growing population. The then ADC Peren, late M Kikon, visited the village and recommended their request to DC Kohima vide No.JUDL-2/68 Dt. 02/09/1977 and in his letter also referred to Political Case No.30/45 Dated 30/04/1954 passed by D.K Bora wherein it is mentioned that “Lothavi and Kiyevi is too small. They are allowed to cultivate the land between Ketikpereu & Tehaiki and Tanchuketikreu and Langlong on payment of Rampau to Lamhema.”
Thereafter, Kiyevi got the permission and the village was shifted to present Kiyeto village and recognised under Dimapur, it stated.
“This is a clear indication that the present settlers of Kiyevi village are illegal and the government has the authority to evict the village and also debar any new settlements in the name of Kiyevi village jurisdiction. Many illegal villages viz Khehoi, Phushito, Vihuto, Jacob Zhimomi, Officers’ Village (Ailiwo) and Hetoi have come up and rapid developmental activities being carried out unhindered despite the so call ‘status quo’ order of the Government,” it stated. ZYON added that “No village exists without an owner and no village ever existed with unlimited boundary as claimed by the so called present settlers of Kiyevi village. The worst part of all this, is the drastic steps taken through the barrel of the gun by the youths, equally embolden and backed by the elders of their community.”
“The ‘Might is Right’ approach of WSYF may seem to work for the moment but as Christian we believe that God will deliver justice on the lines of ‘Right is Might’ someday,” it stated and also requested WSYF to “come up with facts and something believable whenever you give out press releases.”
The organisation advised the team of WSYF to visit and sit down with the incumbent President of WSH Shikaho Zhimomi, who will have an in-depth knowledge and truth of Kiyevi village as he is a direct descendant of Kiyevi. “If he can openly admit the truth rather than bowing to the pressures of some section of his community, peace can surely be attained effortlessly,” ZYON suggested.
