DNSU has endorsed the NSF's stand on ancestral lands, urging protection of customary land rights and indigenous institutions
DIMAPUR — The Dimapur Naga Students' Union (DNSU) has endorsed the Naga Students' Federation's (NSF) recent statement on the protection of Naga ancestral lands and customary land rights, while expressing concern over the Maova village land dispute and urging the state government to safeguard indigenous land tenure and traditional institutions.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the DNSU declared that it fully and unequivocally supported the NSF's August 1 statement, reiterating that the Naga ancestral homeland "is neither a commodity for negotiation nor a territory open to unilateral alteration."
The union asserted that the homeland, together with its customary institutions and traditional boundaries, remains inseparable from the identity, history and collective rights of the indigenous Naga people.
The DNSU also expressed concern over the actions of “certain Kuki settler groups and some Kuki individuals,” alleging that they had disregarded customary understandings, challenged traditional authority and advanced claims inconsistent with long-standing agreements governing settlement and land use.
Read more: NSF warns against challenges to Naga customary land rights
It maintained that residence within Naga ancestral lands had historically been extended through the goodwill of traditional landowners and said such hospitality should not be misconstrued as a transfer of ownership or used to undermine indigenous rights.
Referring to the recent Maova village land dispute, the union stated that the incident highlighted the consequences of the breakdown of customary land arrangements and established understandings. It added that the reported incidents of violence and property damage reinforced the need for strict adherence to customary laws and traditional authority.
Calling for respect for customary laws, traditional institutions and historical agreements, the DNSU urged the state government and other competent authorities to uphold and protect customary land tenure and indigenous rights in both letter and spirit.
Reaffirming its commitment to the issue, the union described the protection of ancestral lands as a sacred responsibility and said it would continue to uphold the dignity, heritage and rights of the Naga people, while cautioning that the patience and hospitality of the indigenous community should not be mistaken for weakness.