Gogoi visits affected area within days; Rio courts Pranab in Delhi
Longrangty Longchar
Mokokchung | May 30
The Ao Senden bandh on the two roads connecting Mokokchung to Assam (Mariani and Amguri roads) enters its third day. The markets are scant of green vegetables and some shops have not opened their shutters. Goods from Dimapur have not reached yet. But popular support to the Ao Senden’s call for the bandh has not waned. “We have suffered enough at the hands of migrant workers from Assam. We have been harassed enough,” is a phrase you will hear in the peaceful town of Mokokchung.
This is one bandh called by the Ao Senden which has had overwhelming support from every section of society. Right from the Ao Student’s Conference, the Mokokchung Town Lanut Telongjem (youth organization), the MCCI, the Watsu Mungdang, the Mokokchung Town Aor Telongjem, and even the non-Ao tribes residing in Mokokchung have expressed their support to the Ao Senden: Enough is enough. The trigger was pulled on May 24, 2013 when a mob of adivasis reported to have been led by Mariani MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi assaulted innocent Naga travelers and damaged their vehicles.
While the matter was being pursued by the district administration of Mokokchung and Jorhat, the All Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association flexed its economic muscles and imposed highway blockade on Mokokchung which ended on May 27. The Ao Senden (apex organization of the Ao community) imposed a counter bandh and closed the Mariani and Amguri check gates and restricted entry or exit from these two gates. Except the borderline, there is no relationship between Assam and Mokokchung as of now.
Economic
Mokokchung remains one of the biggest trading partners for Jorhat. Besides, people from other districts like Zunheboto, Tuensang and Longleng have to pass through Mokokchung to trade with Assam. However, the plight of the Naga people is not just of the Ao people. Sumi, Chang, Phom and other tribes have also had their share of experiences during bandhs called by groups in Assam. Economic losses on both ends are quite noticeable; but neither side relents.
Political
“Our village area doesn’t fall under the disputed zone. We have enough documents to prove it. This Rupjyoti Kurmi, an adivasi, is trying to encroach on Naga land for settlement of his adivasi community,” said a Saringyim Village Council member on May 29 at the village. “We will fight tooth and nail against such encroachers.” Local MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi, who was allegedly involved in the whole issue, is a two time Congress MLA who was elected through the adivasi vote bank.
“Intellectual groups from Mokokchung feel it’s high time for the Ahom people to sieve the migrants from the indigenous people so as to safeguard the integrity of Assam state and Northeast in general,” expressed Akang Jamir, Editor of a respected vernacular paper in Mokokchung.
Traditional Relationship
Interestingly, there is no talk of conflict between the Nagas and the Ahoms. What everyone talks about is ‘temporary tea workers hell bent on encroaching on Naga areas’.
This is not an issue between the Nagas and the Ahoms. ‘The entire trouble is being created by migrant larourers at the tea estates who are desperate to get some land for their own,’ Naga intellectuals say. ‘Ahoms would never encroach on Naga land and Nagas never on Ahom land,’ a social leader opined.
“But these people take the name of the Assamese and take advantage of it and try to make it into an Assam-Naga issue, which is very unfortunate. Indigenous Assamese people need to rise up to the occasion,” said the teacher posted at Saringyim.
Exasperation
There is exasperation on the Naga side. “We heard that the Assam Chief Minister (Tarun Gogoi) visited the adivasis in Jorhat on May 28 and our Chief Minister (Neiphiu Rio) is away in Delhi inviting Pranab (Indian President) to the Hornbill Festival,” said a frustrated youth leader (who wished not to be named). He displayed a copy of the May 30 edition of The Morung Express where Rio is seen presenting a bouquet of flowers to the President.
The news of some Nagaland ministers and MLAs visiting Mokokchung on May 30 raised some hope; however, this ministerial delegation said that they will come through Tsutepela Gate which the Ao Senden opposed since it is ‘closed’. Thus far, these ministers and MLAs have failed to show up in Mokokchung. Only the Congress MLA from 27th Mokokchung Town A/C, C Apok Jamir, has expressed some concern on the issue.
No end in sight
The Ao Senden, during its emergency federal assembly on May 30, reiterated its strong stance that unless the Assam and Nagaland governments do something tangible action on its charter of demands, the bandh on the two roads will continue.
Besides, the May 30 Emergency Federal Assembly directed all Ao males, from the age group of 18 and above (Süngpu zünga nungi Puti tashi), to be prepared for any eventuality that may arise from this bandh and be steadfastly prepared till “victory is achieved”.
The Ao Senden also warned that any individual working against the resolution of the Senden will be taken to task sternly. The meeting resolved that a joint meeting be held between the officials of the different ranges and Ao Senden officials to discuss the issue. Furthermore, Ao Senden Federal Assembly resolved to approach the Mokokchung DC to provide security to vehicles plying from Mokokchung, especially night server for the security of travelers.
So where are the Naga Ministers?
That is a hundred million dollar question as of now for the citizens of Mokokchung. The pot is boiling.
