A.Z. Jami
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he troubles and tensions in Ralan Circle of Wokha district is not at all a Border Dispute between Assam and Nagaland. The area in question is well within Wokha district of Nagaland, no other argument whatsoever. The area is Plains Sector of Ralan Circle of Wokha district of Nagaland, cultivated fields of the Lotha/Nagas of the area. Previously, the deep jungle area was a reserved forest of the adjoining Lotha/Naga villages. Naturally hills people everywhere have sparse population. And this was the reason, that the deep jungle forest was inhabited by wild elephants, tigers, man eating bears etc and leeches and mosquitoes infested place. That is why previously the people of the area could not extend their cultivation in the absence of the so-called modern amenities of life. The area in question was used, therefore, for hunting and fishing and also for collecting log posts, canes, bamboos etc for household uses. People from the Assam side were not even allowed for fishing in the Zupza (Rengmapani) river on which banks the present Uriamghat town had been established. The most prominent member who established the Uriamghat was Late Abraham Ovung Lotha from Pyangsa village of Wokha district, Nagaland.The entire area from NEF Railways line (on the North) to the Zupza river and Doyang-Zupza confluence (South) were sparsely populated by migrant Nepalis and Miris and therefore, very few houses existed. The area was never counted as Assam state and no Assam government’s administrative machinery was there before 1956 as the Assam people counted the entire area as Nagas’ Land. The forest department of Assam exercised nominal supervision of the area (the Plains Sector).
But when the Nagas started armed-resistance against the Indian Army in 1956, the Naga armed personnel raided many small villages in the area between Railways line and Zupza-Doyang river mainly in search of guns. These raids of the Nagas alerted the Assam government and in panic the authorities and leaders of Assam started to encourage the landless people in Assam and illegal migrants to settle in the said area to create buffer zone between Assamese and the Nagas. These acts of the Assam government were not only in the present trouble area but entire stretch of the Plains Sector of Nagas Land, say, Merapani Circle, Jangpang Circle of Wokha district, Mokokchung district, Longleng District and Mon district. These acts of the Assam government were starting point of the so-called Assam-Nagaland border dispute. Before 1955 and early 1956 I had been frequent visitor as a school boy of Sarupathar (Horopathar) and Borpothar on foot for marketing. When we sold anything across the Railways line bazaar, taxes were levied from us. But when we sold our goods at the Railways line without crossing it, then bazaar taxes were not levied from us saying that we were in the land of the Nagas. I am a living witness still. The Assam people should go down to history why and how names Horopothar and Borpothar were given. What is the meaning of Pothar in Assamese?? Is it a town or a city??.
Coming back to the present conflict area - When development dawned in Nagaland after the creation of Nagaland state in 1963, people of the Ralan Circle and some willing partners began to cultivate the area as wet fields. The clearing of the jungles against all odds started by the people from early 1960s. From 1967/68 wet fields of the Lotha Nagas started to appear here and there. The entire area (wet fields) was cultivated mostly by the Lotha Nagas. They gradually used to employ some landless people from other parts of India mostly the so-called Adivasis. The local people, the landowners started to keep the tenants to cultivate their fields on share basis. At first the tenants were all loyal and given the due shares of the landowners every year without default. But gradually some devil-possessed persons and hypocrites entered among them and bad blood filled many of them. They started to defy the directions of the landowners and year by year they refused to give the due shares of the landowners. The dishonesty and disloyalty of the tenants were causes of frequent conflicts between the tenants and the landowners. To aggravate the situations the Assam government and the Assam police stepped-in. The Assam leaders and authorities emboldened and encouraged the tenants to defy the directions of the landowners and also forced them not to give the due shares to the landowners. The Assam armed police personnel always supported and protected the tenants. The so-called central Para-Military forces as neutral force always sided with the landless tenants. Such actions/attitudes of the people in authority were not based on legal or moral force, but emanated from the animal passion of disregard and hatred towards the Nagas. In such situations, the Naga leaders and authorities slumbered on their wealth and comforts. Therefore, how can the helpless hundred landowners withstand thousand landless tenants backing by the Assam government and armed personnel?
I also had about 18 acres of land, cleared the jungle and cultivated the land by the hands of my family members. Later on, I also employed and kept four houses of tenants. They never failed to give me my due shares for 31 years starting from 1969. But in 1999/2000 the Adivasis union and the Assam police forced them not to give me due shares. I have two affidavits signed between me and the tenants. Some 5/6 years back, the Nagaland Border Magistrate of the area basing on my rightful claims pleaded with her Assam counter-part not to forbid my tenants to pay me my due shares. But the Assam Border Magistrate was adamant and gave his stonewalled defense to the claims of the illegal migrants. This is only an example experienced by me.
There is no single inch of Adivasis land in the present troubled area. The entire area belongs to the Lotha/Nagas. The land is our ancestral land, no arguments and not to be disputed. In which century and in which generation did the Adivasis acquired this land?? Shameless hypocrites! If the so-called All Adivasi National Liberation Front (AANLA) want land and inheritance, they should go to the Central India from where they came and fight for their ancestral land there as we Nagas are fighting for our land and rights here. Why they came to Nagaland and create unnecessary troubles among the peaceful people?? Or they may demand land from the Assam tea garden owners or from their former British masters.
Secondly, All Assam Gorkha Student’s Union leaders should also see left and right, front and back and act responsibly, otherwise we will be compelled to speak a different language.
Thirdly, Abhijeet Asom, the so-called Chairman, ULFA (I) should think how and why ULFA was organised and how AGP in Assam was formed. ULFA was formed on the migrant’s issue. The Assamese people felt that they were becoming a minority in their own land and because of this the Assam Patriots formed the ULFA by learning something from the Nagas. Therefore, Abhijeet’s defense of the Assam migrants specially the Adivasis is very unfortunate. He has completely deviated from the aims and objectives and principles of the ULFA. He is answerable to the Patriots of Assam.
The Genesis of the present problem started from Lishayan, established sometime in 1968 by one Mr. M. Kithan and family. Since, they occupied a larger area and employed some more tenants. They (tenants) and their family members became a larger group of people. Sometime after one Catholic priest known as father Mathew (we don’t know his exact name) came and stayed with the tenants. He also opened a school. His mission to evangelize and educate the people is to be appreciated. But he had done a great damage to the area and the people. He instigated and encouraged the tenants, the Advasis not to regard the landowners and give their shares, rather they should own the land. This action was imitated by the Adivasis of the so-called Rajapukhri village in New Jantalashung jurisdiction. Hence the credit of the frequent quarrels, hostilities and killings in this area goes to father Mathew.
In the present trouble area (Plains Sector) there are more than ten villages, Viz. Raland old established in 1928, Yampha, Ronsuyan, Jantalashung B, Jantalashung New, Liphanyan, S. Wochan (Sophamo), Wochan (Kilopvuo) Tchujanphen (Matao), Yanlum (Tsanthungo), Soshan (Nchomo), Lishayan (Mhondamo) etc. The present so-called Kholapani oil drilling centre is exactly at the cultivated land of Tsumongo-Rapvuo brothers. This is well within Ralan Circle of Wokha district. This oil drilling centre is on the south bank of Zupza river. And beyond Zupza river on the north bank of the river, there are Sumi (Sema) villages. So how could it be Assam’s land?? Why not the government of Nagaland places claim on it??
The solution to the present crisis – Assam government should withdraw all the tenants (Advasis) from the area. There is practically no ground for the tenants to claim the lands. The other last resort - All the tenants, without exception, should be made to sign agreements before Assam and Nagaland government authorities in the presence of Post Commanders of armed personnel to pay the due shares of the landowners every year.
Since, the area is well within the Ralan Circle of Wokha district of Nagaland, the Nagaland government should, without hesitation, send sufficient police force for the security of the people and their wet fields.
The above statement is not a notion nor assumption nor speculation, nor a simple press write-up. It is a testament, and a living witness. Accept it or reject it. It is upto to the readers and the concerned authorities. I will not entertain any question or rejoinder relating to the statement above.
