Staff Reporter
Dimapur, June 5
United Naga Tribes Association on Border Area (UNTABA) today categorically reiterated that the ‘Naga Hill District of 1925 Notification’ was not the original Naga hill district and insisted that the subsequent notification by the British government of India in 1866-67 and rectified in 1875 should be amalgamated in the present Nagaland state.
UNTABA has strongly contested the Suit No. 2 of 1988 filed by Assam with the Supreme Court (SC) insisting the 1925 Notification as the basis of Inter-state boundary demarcation.
Addressing the officials of Zeliangrong Baudi (Nagaland), Zeliang People’s Organisation (N) and Kuki Inpi at Jalukie and Ahthibung town respectively, UNTABA chairman, Hukavi T Yepthomi, insisted that inter-state boundary demarcation should be settled basing on historical perspective. He added that 1925 Notification was against the historical fact of the Nagas.
Hukavi T Yepthomi said UNTABA had decided to abstain the ensuing SC hearing on the inter-state boundary demarcation scheduled on July 7 next. He said the decision to abstain from the hearing on the issue was resolved in the May 4 meeting in Dimapur.
In this regard, Hukavi said UNTABA had decided to file writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the 13th Amendment Act or State of Nagaland Act 1962 on the basis that the 1925 Notification of Naga Hill District and erstwhile Naga Tribal Area or Naga Hill Tuensang Area were never practically surveyed and mapped as duly submitted by the Survey General of India to the Supreme Court.
Hukavi maintained that arbitration on inter-state boundary demarcation basing on 1925 Notification would result in loss of about 5000 square miles Naga lands to Assam. Also touching on the Macmohan Line, UNTABA chairman said the international boundary between India and Myanmar which was arbitrarily extended from erstwhile NEFA and present Arunachal Pradesh to Manipur state thereby dividing the Naga areas was done without consulting the Naga people concerned.
UNTABA chairman had attributed the present boundary imbroglio with Assam to indifferent attitude of the successive state governments and bureaucrats which had dogged the people of the affected areas since attainment of Statehood. To ensure logical settlement of the inter-state boundary demarcation, Hukavi stressed that all politicians irrespective of party affiliation should take concrete step forward and also make the issue a mass movement.
While supplementing the chairman, UNTABA general secretary Imsumongba Pongen said it is an opportune time to settle the issue once and for all lest the future generation would question for the inherited legacy. He was optimistic that with mass support the inter-state boundary demarcation could be settled.
UNTABA executive member Richard Haolai accompanied the chairman and the general secretary.
Various doubts and queries raised by the participants were clarified by the visiting officials in both the meeting.
