Wokha, August 14 (MExN): The Ralan Area Lotha Hoho (RALH) and Yamhon Area Public Organization (YAPO) on Thursday strongly objected to a large-scale plantation drive being carried out by the Assam government in the Disputed Area Belt (DAB) under ‘C’ Sector of Ralan area, and demanded an immediate halt to the activity.
In a joint statement, the RALH and YAPO stated: “We demand that such plantation activities be stopped and ceased with immediate effect. Until and unless there is a proper understanding and agreement between the Govt. of Assam and Nagaland, Status Quo must be strictly maintained in the DAB area.”
They cautioned that “without prior mutual consent between the two states, no further plantation or development activities should be allowed, and all ongoing works must be put on an immediate halt.”
“If the Assam Govt. continue to plant trees or initiate any form of development in the disputed area, the RALH and YAPO will oppose such activities in the strongest manner possible and protect our ancestral land,” the organisations warned.
The joint statement also said that should “any untoward situation arise, the Govt. of Assam and Nagaland shall bear full responsible [sic].”
RALH and YAPO expressed disappointment that their past cooperation with authorities during the recent eviction drive was now being disregarded. “We also place on record that during the recent eviction drive, the people of Ralan area and Yamhon area extended full cooperation to the authorities. Volunteers from these communities worked tirelessly every day in every possible manner to ensure smooth process,” the statement noted.
“It is deeply disappointing that this goodwill and cooperation is now being disregarded through unilateral activities in our land,” they stated.
The RALH and YAPO declared, “We stand firm in our commitment to defend our ancestral land and call upon the concerned authorities to act immediately in the interest of peace, mutual respect, and justice.”
