The Meluri Village Council cannot keep mum and is once again compelled to issue this rejoinder to Jessami Village Council so that they can speak out how much they are bargaining Meluri land and how sincere they are in their commitment to settle the issue.
The erection of stones pillars recently at Thechü/Jiji river and their denial again is not surprising to us because the Hohos are the witness and verified the same on the spot. The same issue was even discussed by the two Hohos on 31st May 2012, at Jessami meeting and confirmed of JVC hand. In retaliation, Meluri has hoisted the red flag on 28th May 2012. The habitual character of JVC to tell lies and denial what they do is their daily routine. Their every write ups in the papers is totally different in ground reality. One should not be misled by the JVC press statements without ascertaining the facts.
MVC likes to clarify to JVC who are ignorant of the traditional boundaries shown to TNL/PPF on spot verification. The place 4 kms from Jessami where red flags were hoisted was the original jhum cultivation practiced till the late 1970’s. The location shown by Kajirhü Hd. G.B. , Nyuthopa and Lesimo on 16th May 2012 was the line where jungle clearance is made as a precautionary measure to thwart off the spreading fire to fresh jungle while fields are burnt for jhuming . The stone pillar shown by Khevitho Nyuthe in 1991 about 5 kms from Jessami was the boundary line laid by 13 (thirteen) Jessami Villages and 17 Meluri Villages on 15th and 16th December 1949, we have come to know the contention and ignorance of JVC from their last rejoinder that there was no distinct boundary line until the coming of British. This is the reason why we say that present village location is a donated land of Meluri. The Villages existed much before the coming of British as such no traditional boundary between two villages is too surprising. Claiming the boundary line by J.H. Hulton in 1924 and Kevichüsa 1947 as traditional boundary will never be accepted by any Naga Village and is an insult to our Naga tradition . Our distinct traditional boundary never existed after the coming of British it is considered as imaginary boundary by Nagas at large. Traditional boundary is by tradition and not by judgements or orders of any authority. It is to remind the JVC that on 3rd May 2012 at BSF 111 , BN E Coy Camp Akash Bridge Meluri under PPF and TNL have given our undertaking to settle the issue traditionally. The NSF delegates on 12th May 2012, as also issued 4 points directives to 3 villages of Meluri, Matikhrü & Jessami to settle it traditionally and not on existing imaginary boundary lines to which all agreed. Therefore, the JVC has nothing to do with imaginary boundaries and bargain on it to settle the issues.
In all the cases and earlier judgements by various agencies we can see the JVC being penalized and fined for crossing the traditional boundaries except of 1947 judgment where Meluri people walked out in protest of the bias case. As such 1947 judgment was not officially accepted and for which the same case was re undertaken by Mr. L.Thanga Lushai EAC Kohima assisted by SDO Mr. Lorho Mao on 20th Feb. 1950 and in his own words have written as “The boundary laid by Kevichüsa and Khathing in 1947 was found to be otherwise of Dr. Hutton” and that “It is not fair to deprive Meluri Village of their land which is always being theirs”. As such, he left the case unsettled. His sketch map also clearly indicate that the present so called dispute land as far as to 4(four) K.M from Jessami also to belong to Meluri.
Meluri people never considered Jessami villagers as warring village rather we regard them as good neighbor however at times there arises petty issues leading to misunderstandings but seldom tackled as a warring village. May be their guilty feelings over us as a warring village has made them to take the extreme step of burning granaries? Some of our own villagers have migrated to Jessami village since time immemorial and their generation still exists. Even today Inter marriages between the two villages have occurred. Despite of this, we are branded as warring village which is beyond imagination. It is then doubtful and insecure to travel through such village when deep rooted with a warring ideology and motive.
Our traditional rights cannot be questioned by any authority and cannot be compromised at all cost. The JVC trying to garner support through distorted facts and lies in the press shall not bring solution to the case.
MVC henceforth affirm that no press statement unless pertinent shall be made and shall be followed up in action only as declared by JVC time and again as a warring village.
Sd/-
(RHOLETHO) (KUOTHOSIE)
Chairman Secretary
Meluri Village Council Meluri Village Council
