‘Public would react if appeal unheeded,’ Chakhesang bodies warn
Dimapur, June 10 (MExN): Reacting strongly to the continual factional encounters between the two NSCNs, the public of Phek would be holding a protest rally scheduled to be held June 13 at 10am at Phek Town. The rally is being organized jointly by the Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO), Chakhesang Mothers Association (CMA), Chakhesang Students Union (CSU), Chakhesang Youth Front (CYF), Chakhesang Baptist Churches Council (CBCC) and Phek District GBs at Phek town.
The Programme Committee has informed all the heads of area public organizations, area GB unions, area mothers’ associations to organize their respective teams for participation in the protest, arriving on their own personal arrangements.
Expressing strong discontentment and anguish at the continual factional clashes between the two NSCNs in public-inhabited areas, Chakhesang organizations have strongly warned that should the factions fail to desist from violence and killings as well as the law enforcing agencies failing to curb the situation early, civil organizations would not be responsib le for “our conscious actions to protect ourselves and the Naga nation”.
“Should the factions not heed our appeals and desist from fratricidal feuds and armed conflicts in civilian inhabited areas; and also, should the law enforcing agencies remain complacent and silent spectators, while the Nagas kill each other turning civilian areas into battlefields, we the civil societies shall not be held responsible for our conscious actions to protect ourselves and the Naga nation” a joint statement from the presidents of the CPO, CMA, CYF and CSU, warned.
The frontal Chakhesang organizations while expressing strong discontentment that appeals for peace and brotherhood have gone in vain, took specific mention of the June 6 clash between the two NSCNs that saw the death of an innocent citizen as well as the harassment meted out to two GBs, by what the CPO said was NSCN (K) cadres on May 31. “The (June 6) clash between the NSCN (IM) and the FGN at Chosaba village is a blatant contempt to the safety and well-being of the public claiming the precious life of an innocent citizen Late Kuhuduy rendering his wife a widow, his school-going children fatherless, besides critically injuring Mrs. Sovenulu” the statement reminded adding that the clashes has imprinted a lasting fear-psychosis, hopelessness, anger, frustration, suspicion and hatred among the Nagas. The organizations also condemned what they termed unjustified physical and mental harassment meted out to Head GB Zasetso Theyo (75) and GB Vechopra Resu (70) by a group of NSCN (K) cadres on May 31.
Further, the Phek organizations criticized law-enforcing agencies, maintaining that had they been more vigilant and responsive to the cry of the public, early warnings and concern, the unwarranted clashes could be avoided. The organizations demanded that the law-enforcing agencies be corrected at the earliest “least (they) be viewed as enabling factional feuds in civilian areas under the garb of peace and non-interference”. The organizations also appealed to the concern authorities and the state government for ex-gratia payment to the deceased’s family and also to Mrs. Sovenulu for her medical expenses.
