Dimapur, Feb. 16 : The Joint Action Committee and Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) of Kohima have declared that the governor and chief minister of Nagaland would be ‘held responsible’ for “any untoward eventuality” even more so now that both the heads have “left station together at such a critical juncture instead of taking preventive measures for any untoward adverse situation.”
The JCC-NTAC of Kohima issued a press release on Thursday.
“The JCC and the NTAC will hold the Chief Minister and the Governor solely responsible for any untoward eventuality detrimental to the interest of the people,” the press release stated. “
According to the groups, the “Naga people were not adverse to ULB election but we were asking for more time to fully understand the nitty gritty of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 and to hold elections after formulating an acceptable policy relevant and beneficial to the public at large.”However, the press released stated, “betrayed the agreement made on 30th January 2017 and subsequently unleashing violence on 31st January 2017 leading to the death of innocent youths and another youth succumbed to injury later.”
This, the JCC-NTAC stated, “made the Naga people to take a strong stand on preservation of human life which demanded the stepping down of Chief Minister TR Zeliang on moral ground.”
Subsequently, the call for bandhs and shutdown of government offices have paralysed the government machinery for the last fifteen days “causing immeasurable hardships and sufferings to the general public and yet the chief minister continues to be stubborn and adamant to step down from the seat of chief minister.”
On several occasions, the JCC and NTAC of Kohima continued, the organisation appealed to the governor of Nagaland “to intervene with appropriate action as deemed fit.” Further, the organisations also submitted several representations “with copy to the President of India, Prime Minister of India and the Home Minister, government of India” requesting to “take immediate necessary measures to alleviate the suffering of the people of the state.”
However, till date, the press release stated “we are yet to see the light of the day and the chief minister, the head of the government and the governor, the head of the state remains a mute spectator. We were further taken by surprise when both the heads left station together at such a critical juncture instead of taking preventive measures for any untoward adverse situation.”
The JCC-NTAC added: “The governor, as the constitutional head of the state, is expected to use his August office in the interest of the people instead of involving in solving political crisis.”
Rejoinder to advocate
The JCC-NTAC has also hit out at the statement of an advocate Akito Zhimomi “claiming himself to be a senior advocate, to accuse the NTAC leaders.” The group issued a press release on Thursday.
“He must know that the NTAC was formed by the tribal bodies to respond to the imminent impending danger of more bloodshed emerging out of the killing and bringing the two dead bodies to Kohima,” the press release stated.
“He must realise how Nagas value human lives and therefore has come out strongly against the killing of the two innocent Naga youths under brutal dictates of the government of the day and its merciless armed personnel and followed by the death of another youth in Longkhim connected with the conduct of ULB election in Nagaland against the wish of the people.”
The press release added that the “people’s movement” had so far revealed “the deep respect for right to life. It is only when life is preserved and valued; the other rights and privileges are relevant.”
At this juncture, the organisation stated, the “learned counsel to TR Zeliang is advised to be sensitive to the values and sentiments of the people instead of questioning the constitution of the NTAC and its activities who are espousing the cause of the people invested on them by the people.”
The Central Nagaland Tribes Council also issued a press release on Thursday defending a JCC leaders. “The Central Nagaland Tribes Council has completely derided the allegations made on the JCC convener Subu Jamir,” the statement said. “In order to ensure a proper and an in depth study of the ULB election matters from the grassroots level in relation to the 33%women reservation, Nagaland Municipal Act etc, an agreement was signed on Jan.30th between the state govt. and JCC in the presence of the NBCC (Nagaland Baptist Church Council) was solemnly pledged to postpone the ULB elections for two months as to educate and enlighten the masses.”
The Joint Co-ordination Committee was endorsed by the CNTC which was augmented by two brother tribes, the Angami and the Chakehesang which was further joined by the ENPO under the umbrella of the Naga Council of Dimapur, the CNTC stated.
“The sporadic chain of events led to the unfortunate death of three Naga brothers. Hence any misgivings or misconceptions about this issue as political are totally unfounded and baseless.”
The CNTC stated that the convener of the JCC was not representing “just some agitating groups with political agenda” as alleged “but collective voice of all the tribal hohos representing as voice of the Nagas.”
The CNTC has appealed to “everyone not to spread any false propaganda so as to mislead the people of Nagaland in these critical times.”
The bandh imposed by the Joint Action Committee of the Ao Senden in the Ao territory passed off peacefully on Thursday. Coinciding with the bandh, the Mokokchung Town Pastors’ Fellowship also conducted mass prayer service at the Police Point in Mokokchung town.
The prayers service started from 6: 00 am. The prayers saw leaders and members of twenty-one churches, led by their respective pastor, joining in the hour of prayer ‘to ease the current imbroglio and tussle between the civil organisations and the Nagaland government and to let peace prevail in the state.
During the prayer service, the Ao Senden’s Acting President C Angang Jamir and JCC Convener also gave a briefing about the movement concerning the current issue and the fight to ‘protect the future generation.’
The committee has informed that the bandh will resume from 9:00 to 3:00 pm tomorrow. The exempted sections will remain the same. They added that unless the NTAC provides new directives, the scheduled bandh will be enforced as usual.
Earlier, today two teams of Ao Senden officials toured the bandh-enforced areas under Mokokchung district to take stock of the situation. The team visited Mangkolemba, Tzurangkong, Tuli, Tzudikong and Changtongya.
Wokha
The fourth day of the statewide total bandh called by JCC-NTAC passed off peacefully in Wokha town. The bandh in Wokha was enforced by Lotha Hoho Joint Action Committee (LHJAC).
Volunteers from Humtso and Elumyo Village Youth Organization besides those from frontal organization took part in enforcing the bandh on the day.
The Spirit of Faith Church, Wokha, provided refreshment to the volunteers.
According to the convener of the LHJAC, R Nchumbemo Ezung, no untoward incident happened during the bandh. The convener informed that government offices and vehicles shall be strictly restricted. Commercial activities, school and colleges are exempted from the preview of the bandh from tomorrow till further notice.
Through its chairperson Mhonchumi Humtsoe, the Lotha Eloe Hoho appreciated the Wokha District Autorikshaw Union (WDAU) for rendering free services to the students’ community who are currently appearing for the Nagaland Board of School Education examinations.
