EMN
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 3
ACAUT has rejected the bond/agreement signed by its secretary and Eastern Dimapur Business Association president Solomon L Awomi for his release from the custody of GPRN/NSCN as “null and void” and said it is totally unacceptable to it and the Naga people since it was signed under tremendous mental and psychological pressure.
“The ‘agreement’ which was produced after tremendous mental and psychological pressure applied upon its member is totally unacceptable and stands null and void for the ACAUT Nagaland and Naga people,” the ACAUT Nagaland said in a release today. It also said Solomon’s release by GPRN/NSCN was not an act of grace since his detention was illegal, arbitrary and bombastic.
Strongly condemning what it called “inhuman act” meted out to its secretary, the ACAUT said he (Solomon) was illegally jailed by GPRN/NSCN from July 31 till August 2 and interrogated with his hands tied and eyes blind folded.
Giving an account of the incident, the ACAUT said Solomon was invited to Khehoi Camp and he, in good faith, complied accordingly. However, on reaching the camp, he was illegally confined in ‘jail’ like a common criminal and interrogated with his hands tied and eyes blind folded, it stated.
“This is a most condemnable episode, a serious breach of trust and cannot be justified under any circumstances,” the ACAUT said. It added that the GPRN/NSCN did not give any reasons for his arrest except that he was arrested on “public complaint”, making the issue all the more unjustifiable and which is totally unacceptable. The ACAUT demanded to know whether GPRN/NSCN is working for the Naga movement or it is an instrument of certain individuals and organisations to settle scores.
Maintaining that the so-called ‘release bond’ is designed to ensure that Solomon ceases to be its active member, the ACAUT alleged that taking advantage of EDBA-Purana Bazaar Village Council tussle, the GPRN/NSCN embarked on a deep-rooted conspiracy to derail a people’s movement.
Going strictly by legal definition, Solomon’s detention was an act of kidnapping, the ACAUT stated while seeking to know from the State government what remedial steps it took to ensure his release while pointing out that he was released though the untiring efforts of Naga Women Hoho Dimapur, Sumi Totimi Hoho and the village councils of Darogapather, Naharbari and Padumpukhuri. The ACAUT demanded that the State government take a very strong stand on such issues.
It also sought to know from GPRN/NSCN whether kidnapping is allowed in the ceasefire clauses.
Also, maintaining that it is the duty of any secretary of any organisation/movement, including Solomon, to append their signature/s on any decision/s taken, the ACAUT said to somehow conclude that Solomon or the co-convenor of ACAUT are solely responsible for the decision appealing to the HoDs not to deduct 24% salary of government employees for the Naga political groups is reprehensible and a conspiracy to single out the leaders of the ACAUT and crush the movement.
“Therefore, the agreement produced by GPRN/NSCN on Ist August- carried in all local papers, 2nd August- signed between Kilo Secretary G. Jimo and Solomon blaming Joel Nillo Kath, the Co-Convenor of ACAUT Nagaland for the said letter to HoDs was done under duress,” the ACAUT stated.
The ACAUT has also taken serious note of this “illegal agreement” and said it suspected that GPRN/NSCN is making a case against its co-convenor Joel Nillo Kath and all the ACAUT leaders possibly intending to reproduce the same treatment meted out to its secretary. It warned that if any leader/s of the movement is harmed, the GPRN/NSCN shall be held solely responsible.
Stating that its members have taken a pledge of “One for All and All for One”, the ACAUT said any threat against its members shall be construed as threats against all ACAUT members.
Leaving it to the wisdom of the Naga people to decide if “Release Bond” or any agreement signed between the captor and victim is justifiable, the ACAUT said it is clear to the Naga people that the real motive of the GPRN/NSCN is to derail this people’s movement.
The ACAUT also said it is a matter of concern for every Naga that such arbitrary and barbaric action practiced by the of the Naga political groups against the Naga people for over 60 years in the name of national movement and termed their actions anti-people. “Therefore, the Naga public shall be forced to question the credibility of GPRN/NSCN,” it added.
THE ACAUT Nagaland has announced six-hour ‘voluntary lightning shutter down’ of all business establishments all over Nagaland from 6 am to 12 noon on August 4 (Monday) to show resentment against GPRN/NSCN for the inhuman treatment meted out to its secretary Solomon L Awomi.
In a release today, the ACUAT said Solomon was illegally confined in ‘jail’ for three days like a common criminal and interrogated with his hands tied and eyes blind folded.
Therefore, the ACAUT said, it is left with no option but to appeal to the business community represented by all the district chambers of commerce - Kohima, Wokha, Dimapur, Peren, Tuensang, Kiphire, Mon, Zunheboto, Mokokchung, Longleng and Phek - to down their shutters in protest against the said barbaric act.
The ACAUT also appealed to all business establishments who support it to cooperate and voluntarily close their business establishments. It apologised to the public for inconveniences that shutter down may cause while reiterating that it is in the interest of the public whose safety is at stake due to the high handedness of the Naga political groups.
