DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 25 (MExN): Following the mass public rally held in Peren on October 22, several organizations have submitted the charter point draft resolution adopted during the rally to the Nagaland Governor, RN Ravi.
In their submission, the organizations urged that the Peren district boundary must be established by the state authority “as per the traditional history of the Zeme of Zeliangrong.” They demanded that the government must protect the district boundary from illegal intrusion and encroachment. The declaration also asserted that there would be no compromise on the rights of land with the government or any individual or community.
It affirmed that the “absolute demographic authority and rights over the land lies on the community land owners and ZB (N). The declaration added that “sold out land and owners do not hold rights to establish another village or community property other than private property rights.”
It asserted that the Zeliangrong indigenous people have their own traditional practices and ways to transfer of land ownership and settlement in any part of their land with their “kindered identity kept recognized.” It declared that “no outside state policy or politics can overrule customary laws as endorsed by Article 371 (A).”
The declaration also pointed out that deprivation by discrimination against the citizens is social injustice and a direct violation of human rights.
Calling for an end to such practices, the declaration lamented that the apathetic attitude of the state government towards “our people in respect of civil service administration in the district is an insult and direct hampering of development and progress of the district.”
Another appeal made to the Governor, was that all Zeliangrong citizens living in Peren “must be accorded equal citizens as sons and daughters of the soil as declared by traditional landowners.” In this, the declaration asserted that the state government must consider this with regard to the RIIN.
The declaration was appended by the Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland, Chairmen Union Peren District, GB Association Peren District, Zeliangrong Students’ Union Nagaland, Zeme Council Nagaland, Liangmai Council Nagaland, Rongmei Council Nagaland, Civil Rights Forum Nagaland, and the Zeliangrong Mipui Organisation Peren District.
