A six-hour shutter down protest called by the National Highway Area Village Councils’ Forum (NHAVCF) was peacefully and successfully observed on Tuesday across 13 villages along the NH-29 in Chümoukedima district.
The protest, held from 6 a.m. to 12 noon, was a symbolic expression of public discontent over the alleged lapses in the implementation of the Ceasefire Ground Rules (CFGR).
According to reports, shops and business establishments in the areas comprising 13 villages remained closed as a mark of solidarity, while other areas under Chumoukedima district remained unaffected.
The shutter-down did not affect traffic and other activities in the areas.
NHVCF comprises of 13 villages– Sovima, Unity, Thilixu, Chekiye, Ikishe, 5th Mile Model, 7th Mile Model, Tenyiphe-I, Kirha, Sodzulhou, Kozabe, Diphupar B, and Diphupar.
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Members of the National Highway Area Village Councils Forum handing over the Memorandum to the District Administration to be passed on to the Interlocutor for Naga Peace Talks AK Mishra on June 11 at Chumoukedima DC’s Office.
Meanwhile, the representatives of NHVCF submitted a memorandum addressed to Centre’s Interlocutor for Naga peace process, AK Mishra through Deputy Commissioner Chumoukedima.
In a memorandum, the Forum called for strict implementation and urgent rectification of the Ceasefire Ground Rules (CFGR), in the wake of a violent incident on May 23 at Unity Village involving armed cadres of the NSCN (Khango) faction.
It has demanded strict implementation and urgent rectification of the Ceasefire Ground Rules (CFGR), which the Forum claims are being blatantly misused by underground cadres under the guise of political activity.
It also demanded that provisions of the Ceasefire Ground Rules be strictly implemented in letter and spirit so that cadres do not roam around in uniform and with arms, or indulge in extortion/ illegal taxation, kidnapping or abduction for ransom.
The Forum reiterated that Ceasefire Monitoring Offices of the factions should be done away with because these places have been converted into safe havens for criminals, and all cadres of the factions be concentrated in their designated camps, and as and when identified criminals are found to be taking refuge in any place including designated offices or camps, the security forces should be empowered to enter and apprehend law breakers, for which the Cease Fire Ground Rules need to be amended.
It further said since the Naga peace talks have been concluded on October 31, 2019, as had been stated by the then Interlocutor, RN Ravi on the floor of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the Forum demand that a logical conclusion be brought about without any delay so that the people of Nagaland can live normal lives like any of their fellow citizens in the rest of the country.
