Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 3
THE United Naga Tribes Association of Border Areas (UNTABA) has organized a “People’s Dialogue on Border issue between Assam and Nagaland” on August 9 next at Town Hall, Dimapur.
Announcing this in a news conference here today in Dimapur, UNTABA chairman Kuhavi T Yepthomi said the purpose behind the event was to “bring about a much needed tangible propositions towards the resolution of the border issue between Assam and Nagaland in particular.”
Crucially, the dialogue would seek to “educate” the Nagas and enlighten them on the “historical perspective” that surrounds the century old inter-state border dispute between Nagaland and Assam.
Yepthomi reasoned that, not just the common citizens of Nagaland, but also most of the politicians and bureaucrats in Nagaland were not aware of the legal intricacies, and provisions, involved in the border dispute with Assam.
“We will try to adopt a very pragmatic resolution (on August 9) and submit it to the government of Nagaland as well as Assam. The same copy will be submitted to the Union Home Minister,” he informed.
The resource person for the scheduled people’s dialogue would be the retired bureaucrat, TN Manen. The team of panelists includes retired bureaucrats Khekiye K Sema and TC Kithan, Principal of Tetso College Dr PS Lorin, Editor of the Ao vernacular Tir Yimyim K Temjen, Principal of City Law College Dimapur P Leonard Aier and Principal of Japfu Christian College Dr Visakhonu Hibo.
Other speakers of the day includes Dr Sangyu Yaden of Ao Senden, H Leisha of Phom People’s Council, GK Rengma of Rengma Naga People’s Council, Hokiye Yepthomi of Western Sumi Hoho, Raitu Elu of Zeliangrong Baudi, Yangpong Konyak of the Advisory Borad of UNTABA and retired IPS officer NN Ngullie.
On the same day, “short notes” would be delivered by the president of Naga Hoho P Chuba Ozukum, president of Eastern Naga Peoples’ Union Dimapur Neangba Konyak and a member of the Nagaland Tribes Council.
The UNTABA said that the present border dispute could only be solved “based on the historical perspective.” The UNTABA is aware that the present border issue between Nagaland and Assam is a relic of historical injustices starting from British colonial policy of divide and rule and the Indian government’s unwillingness to address the issue, it maintained.
Yepthomi informed that currently more than 4974.16 sq miles of land belonging to Nagaland has been occupied by Assam. “We are not saying that we want all of it back. But what we are saying is that we need to come to an amicable solution.”
The Nagaland government, according to the UNTABA, was not serious about the issue. Even in the recent State Assembly session the government refused to entertain any question related to the Nagaland-Assam border dispute, it said while adding that such incidents were no more than indications of the “negligence of the border issue by successive governments.”
As such, UNTABA members said, the proposed people’s dialogue on August 9 next would also seek to “strengthen the hand of the Nagaland government.” It also appealed to Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio to “pressurize” the central government “to expedite” the Nagaland-Assam border case lying with the Supreme Court.
Legal Advisor to the UNTABA P Pius Lotha said the UNTABA has been formed “not merely for the establishment of villages in Dimapur” but with a wider concept of protecting the interest of all Nagas sharing border with Assam.
“Wherever there is a boundary dispute, UNTABA will take part to protect the interest of the Nagas,” Lotha said.
