Dimapur, April 21 (MExN): The Naga Council of Dimapur and civil organizations from the district today made separate appeals for peace and calm, to the ceasefire monitoring group, the Indian military and the NSCN (IM) for the sake of the common citizens who are now as usual bearing the brunt from issues between the army and the Naga armed group.
The Naga Council informed today that it discussed with the deputy commissioner and superintendent of Police Dimapur the current standoff between the Indian military and the NSCN (IM).
After thorough deliberation, the Naga Council and Citizens Forum met the chairman of Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG) Major General N George and his members in Chumukedima to urge the CFMG to withdraw all forces posted and barricading roads near the armed group’s Camp Hebron. The army’s offensive has disturbed normal public life for three days, rendering local residents unable to commute or purchase ration, the Naga Council said in a press release received here today.
In the evening, Naga civil organization led by the Naga Council visited local areas in the periphery of Camp Hebron, it was informed. They later sat in a public meeting at the steering committee conference hall of the NSCN (IM) camp to appeal for peace and “coordination towards general welfare of all concerned citizens.”
“On return from Hebron, members of Naga Council attended the late night meeting of ATAN and various NGOs and tribe hohos of Dimapur and as also organisations from other districts to sympathize with ATAN at the hunger strike venue,” the council said.
On the “aggrieved teachers’’ hunger strike, the Naga Council visited the protesting persons at the DEO office complex and held a meeting with members of the Aggrieved Teachers Association of Nagaland in the morning.
The council stated in one length – “We urge the concerned government authorities to uphold its promise given to ATAN on 27/10/2011 to take up the case in Cabinet meeting of which failure till date, is the cause of resumption of the hunger strike. In view of the appalling condition of the teachers on hunger strike five of whom are hospitalized as of today, and also considering the length of indecision for 4 years over the issue, it is our strong appeal to the government of Nagaland to close the chapter on ATAN grievances in a just manner without further delay.”
