Thousands of protestors donning their traditional attire braved the heavy downpour today and expressed solidarity to the protest rally organised by the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO).
Held at the Old MLA hostel junction, Phoolbari, Kohima, the rally protested against “unabated illegal taxations, harassment, intimidation and death threat to common people.”
Following the death penalty issued to an Angami contractor by the Khango group of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, the AYO had declared non-cooperation against the group, and initiated the rally.
Addressing the Public Rally, AYO President Christopher Ltu pointed out that forming of new factions has become the biggest lucrative business and the National Political Workers has turn into mere private property just for the purpose of easy money.
Ltu reminded the people that the Naga pioneers did not start the Naga Nationalism to see a day like this where its only priority is extortion and taxation
He asserted that AYO does not take credit for the movement initiated today but it is only reiterating the 1993 resolution of Angami Public Organization which states, “If all factions do not come as one, no Angami Village or individual will pay tax to any faction.”
Earlier, short speeches were delivered by Naga Students federation, Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation, Business Association of Nagas, Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industry,Chakhesang Youth Front, Lotha Youth Hoho, Pochury Youth Organisation, Rengma Selo Zi, Sumi Youth Organisation, Zeliangrong Youth Organisation Nagaland and Dimapur Ao Youth Organisation.
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Following the rally, the AYO submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Nagaland urging the Government of India to strictly enforce the Ceasefire Ground Rules and ensure that cadres of the groups adhere to the agreed ground rules.
The AYO in its memorandum apprised the Governor that the GPRN/NSCN Khango group has also issued a directive to all Contractors under the purview of AYO (implying all Angami Contractors) to immediately cease activities and demobilize their manpower and machinery currently deployed across other districts in Nagaland.
Mentioning the public is “utterly fed up” with the activities of these armed cadres, AYO cautioned that it may not be long before unarmed public take on these armed cadres resulting in a civil unrest which will have worse implications and results than that of the prevailing situation in a neighboring State.
The organization demanded the armed cadres be confined to their designated camps and should be prohibited to move around with arms in civilian areas. The Government of India should stop legitimizing splinter groups by recognizing them if it wants an early settlement of the Indo-Naga problem.
AYO added that the Khango group, by issuing death threats and openly intimidating the common people, violated the ceasefire norms and that the Ceasefire Monitoring Group immediately take befitting action against the group if it fails to take corrective measures by withdrawal of the capital punishment issued by GPRN/NSCN Khango Group and withdrawal of the directive issued to all contractors under the purview of AYO (implying all Angami Contractors) to cease activities and demobilize their manpower and machinery currently deployed across other districts in Nagaland.
“In the event of any recalcitrant group continue violating the ceasefire ground rules, the Ceasefire Monitoring Group should abrogate the ceasefire with such group. Also, the concerned members should be strictly booked under the National Security Act of 1980,” stated AYO.
They further urged the state government to take the necessary action to protect its citizens and assert its authority if any such acts of coercion take place.
“The government should ensure that armed Groups cease and desist immediately from their activities of intimidation and extortion in the name or guise of ‘donations”, AYO added.
