ENPO President Kekongchim
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 10
The Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organization (ENPO) on Friday informed of its decision to forgive the State Government for the May 26 Tuensang fiasco.
Speaking at a press briefing in Dimapur on July 10, the ENPO President, Kekongchim said that the organization has decided to accept the apology of the government which was issued by State Health Minister, Pangnyu Phom on behalf of the government on July 8.
Addressing various ‘comments and difference of opinions’ after the decision made by the ENPO, 6 tribal presidents and frontal organizations on July 7 in Kohima, the ENPO president said that the apology has been accepted in “true Christian spirit of forgiveness.”
He also said that while the people from the Eastern areas are termed ‘backward’, that does not mean they are uncivilized. We may be economically and socially backward, but as a sign of being civilized people, we are forgiving the erring officials connected to the May 26 incident, he said.
Right from the attainment of statehood till date, we have to get our rights through confrontation only, he said, referring to the discrimination faced by the people from Eastern Nagaland.
He further stated that if the erring official in the Tuensang incident happened to be from the ENPO area, “the Government of Nagaland would have initiated action within 24 hours.” However, maintaining that winning the war is not important, the ENPO president said that the decision has been taken “to save humanity and mankind.”
Forgiveness is not a sign of weakness, but rather we are brave enough to accept the apology of the government, he added.
ENPO General Secretary, Manlang Phom said that the decision has been taken unanimously by the 6 tribal bodies, the frontal organizations and the ENPO after repeated appeals made by the State Cabinet and Medical Department, and even the Chief Minister himself.
‘We will not forget’
But while the apology has been accepted, ENPO warned that it will not forget the incident. This is “a matter of forgiving, not forgetting,” ENPO said, adding that the incident “has to remain in the hearts and minds of everyone.”
According to the ENPO President, incidents of discrimination and negligence towards the Eastern Nagas have been continuing because they always chose to "forgive and forget." “But this time, we will not forget,” he asserted, adding that this should be the end of such incidents.
The ENPO further told the Government of Nagaland not to expect the same forgiveness in the future, forewarning that “things will be different.” The government should make this issue a beginning to the end of discrimination against people of Eastern Nagaland, it maintained.
“ENPO will not remain passive in the future if such occurrences of irresponsibility that is discriminatory in nature and injustice is meted out to the people of Eastern Nagaland. The organization cautions the government that it will leave no stone unturned to safeguard the rights of the people,” ENPO stated.
Addressing allegations regarding the decision, the ENPO president said that “ENPO is not for sale.” “Many people are commenting that ENPO and the tribal organizations have been sold out. We may be economically very poor but the people at ENPO are very rich at heart which cannot be bought by money,” he said.
The ENPO has always advocated peaceful co-operation with the State Government and would continue to do so for the larger interest of the people, he stated.
Required manpower still lacking in eastern areas
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the ENPO were not given a copy of the Joint Inquiry Committee (JIC) findings. But according to the ENPO statement, the State Cabinet admitted that as per JIC findings, it would not be proportionate to impose heavy penalty on the erring officers, but said that they may be reprimanded.
While the forgiveness towards the erring officials was ‘unconditional’, the ENPO’s May 28 representation to the Chief Minister had also included demands for more medical doctors and experts to Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire and to sanction required COVID-19 funds to these districts.
According to the ENPO President, some demands had been fulfilled but the required manpower is still not available in the area.
On being asked how long the ENPO is ready to wait for the fulfillment of these demands, the ENPO said that there is no deadline as such and that they will have to wait and see.
